Page:Jubilee Book of Cricket (Second edition, 1897).djvu/322

300 inevitable interlacing, such as is common everywhere. For the lower games there are subsidiary grounds. The selection and management of the school eleven are entirely in the captain's hands, though he is largely guided by the advice of masters and professionals. The other games, the control of promotion to them, &c., are managed by a mixed committee of boys and masters. On whole-school days about three hours are set aside for the netpractice of the upper boys, while for the juniors a system of interhouse matches is arranged, which causes plenty of keen competition. Special hours are also reserved for the practice of the juniors.

On half-holidays there are regular games, arranged by clubs or "grounds," for all boys, age and size being the standards of selection; consequently every boy, or nearly every boy, has two classes of game, proceeding on alternate days, in addition to regular practice at the nets. The standard of the out-matches is also very high, as outsiders have found that a weak side is liable to have to endure hardness at the hands of Reptonians; but the distance from London prevents many crack teams—such as the I Zingari, Quidnuncs, or Harlequins turn out—from visiting the school. The principal event of the cricket year is the annual match, played at either school alternately, with Uppingham, which has now been running for some thirty years, with varying results. Next to this is the Malvern match: this also is a home-and-homc game, so that every year there is one school-match played at Repton and one played away. Against Malvern, Repton has a good record of 15 wins to 9 losses; but of latter years Malvern has made such great strides that the balance, once very large, has been greatly reduced. The other important matches are with the Derbyshire Friars, Burton-on-Trent (which often includes several of the Derbyshire County Eleven), and the M.C.C. Matches are also arranged for the second eleven. The position of the scores of the Uppingham match is as follows: Repton has won 8 matches, Uppingham 10, and no less than 11 have been drawn.

The best-known Repton cricketers are L. C. H. Palairet, R. C. N. Palairet, C. B. Fry, W. J. Ford, A. F. J. Ford, F. G. J. Ford, A. H. J. Cochrane, A. Eccles, C. Tillard, A. C. S. Glover, W. T. Graburn, H. B. Steel.