Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/87

 That year the club was strong enough to play Twenty-two of Corsham, and win; and in 1866, Ross, Hereford, and Monmouth were also included. The last three were played in succession, commencing at Ross on the 10th and 11th September, and finishing at Hereford on the 14th and 15th. It was a most enjoyable week. The Twenty-two of Ross and District scored 35 and 40 to West Gloucestershire's single innings of 129. E. M. and myself bowled right through: E. M. had ten wickets for 14 runs first innings, and twelve for 21 runs second; I had ten for 18 first, and eight for 14 second.

The Twenty-two of Monmouth did rather better, scoring 47 and 57 to our 85 and 84. E. M. and I again bowled unchanged throughout. E. M. had thirteen wickets for 24 runs first, and twelve for 29 second; I had seven for 23 first, and eight for 25 second. Rather an amusing incident occurred in that match: E. M. and myself had taken our positions at the wicket to commence batting, when the captain of the Monmouth Twenty-two asked if we had any objection to playing with a ball which was slightly soiled and had been in use for a few overs. I did not see any particular objection to it, and was willing to go on; but E. M. insisted upon the rules of the game being observed, and would have none of it. There was no alternative but to send down to the town for another, and we had to wait patiently for over a quarter of an hour until the messenger returned. I was bowled first ball, much to the delight of my opponents.

The Twenty-two of Hereford was much the strongest combination, and defeated us by 43 runs.

The year 1867 was the last of the West Gloucestershire club. It had lived for more than twenty years, and held its own against all the clubs in the neighbourhood. Its last match was against Twenty-two of