With practically all last year's eleven still left, it was not
unreasonable to hope for better success than fell to our lot in 1899,
and so far that hope has been justified by results, as out of six
matches three of the four Club matches have been won, and though
the first Dean Close match resulted in an overwhelming defeat,
the return afforded a most exciting finish. The chief point for
congratulation, however, is that the cricket all round has made
a great improvement. Runs are made in better style, and
though there is an obvious tail, several of the failures are due
to lack of patience rather than incapability. Our strong point, in
Club matches at any rate, has been in the bowling, which,
except in the Dean Close match, has never been really collared.
Connop has proved much more reliable, and though Nutman
for a time seemed to have lost his last year's accuracy of pitch
he came out in his best form against Leominster. Our new
professional has also been most useful. Several of the others
have improved, Lofthouse and Porter being probably the best,
but it looks as if Connop and Nutman will have to get most of
the wickets and runs if we are to win the School matches.
In batting the improvement has been marked. Connop,
always a big hitter on the on side, has developed both defensive
and cutting powers. He has still to get rid of a slight flourish,
and might exert himself more in running between the wickets.
Nutman, though he has done very well on the whole, has
hardly so good a defence as last year. He has, however, a
good cut, and plays nice cricket when once settled down.
Porter, too, has come on greatly, but is too anxious to begin
scoring, while Woods suffers from the same fault, and is also
dead out of luck.
Of the new hands Carver has shown excellent form, and
promises to be quite good, and Lofthouse should be useful;
but Wilson must cultivate a defence.
The ground fielding, though fairly sound, lacks smartness
in gathering, and especially in returning the ball; but the
catching varies greatly, from almost brilliant as at Leominster
to very bad as in the last part of the Ludlow match. Nutman
has been consistently good in any position. We are also short of
a wicket-keeper; Woods (who is a safe out-field), though he
takes the bowling well, being very uncertain in catching behind
the wicket.
The fixture card is much the same as usual, the Lug-
wardine matches being dropped for one with Ludlow and a
return with Dean Close. If the latter fixture is to continue,it would be well to fix it, and also the County match later in
the season, when there is a better chance of the team being
in form.
We have been lucky to have in our new professional
Shore a most useful cricketer and a painstaking coach ; and we
cannot conclude without thanking the Headmaster and Mrs.
Ragg for so kindly providing tea at the home matches.