A HISTORY OF HERTFORDSHIRE 



four years the scores were remarkably close, 

 Cheltenham winning in 1894 by the narrow 

 margin of i run, a result perhaps due to a 

 mistake at the finish by the scorer. The last 

 four matches in succession have been won, 

 and the record for the series stands at present 

 played 8, won 4, lost i, drawn 3. 



Besides the regular fixtures the School 

 played Rossall at the Oval in 1874 and won, 

 while Haverford College, U.S.A., have paid 

 visits in 1896 and 1900, the matches result- 

 ing in draws on each occasion. 



The colours are white flannel blazer edged 

 with magenta, white caps with magenta peak 

 and stripes of the same hue. 



METHOD OF TEACHING AND ORGANIZATION 

 OF GAMES 



The organization of the cricket at Hailey- 

 bury depends almost entirely on the house 

 system. The games fall into the two general 

 divisions of big and little sides, big side con- 

 sisting of the 1st and and elevens only 

 who play and are coached separately, while 

 little side comprises all the rest. Each house 

 supplies three elevens, excluding those on big 

 side, and these elevens compete against one 

 another on the league system for a ' little 

 side cup,' marks being given for wins and 

 drawn games for each separate eleven, though 

 ist elevens naturally count more than the 

 others. In addition to these games one day 

 in every week is set aside for the playing of 

 house matches, properly so called, that is, 

 matches in which the best eleven in the 

 house, big side included, plays. For this 

 another cup is offered, and owing to lack of 

 time the houses are drawn against one 

 another and gradually weeded out instead of 

 playing on the league system. With the 

 exception of these house matches big side 

 play separately, the games being either eleven 

 practices or pick-up games. 



One great advantage of this system seems 

 to be the interest given to the games played 

 throughout the term. There is always some- 

 thing to be played for, and this makes a great 

 difference towards the end of a term. On the 

 other hand it has the disadvantage of making 

 small boys sometimes play with others too big 

 for them, and this does not always improve 

 the cricket. 



METHOD OF COACHING 



Three nets are set aside for practice for 

 big side exclusively. Two of these are 

 generally taken in hand by masters and the 

 third by a professional. With the aid of 

 these each boy gets from three to four half- 



hours of coaching every week privately in 

 addition to the big side games played. A 

 second professional is engaged exclusively for 

 smaller boys, generally under fifteen. Under 

 his supervision the most promising of these 

 are given practice times at the nets, and take 

 part once a week in what are called ' colts' 

 games.' These generally take place on 

 Saturday afternoons, so as not to prevent 

 their playing in the ordinary house games, 

 which do not go on during a foreign match. 

 Colts' teams play in addition two matches 

 during the term against similar sides of 

 Dulwich and St. Paul's School. The 

 remainder of the coaching is done, generally 

 in the evening, by big side boys at the little 

 side nets, one of which is reserved for each 

 house. 



EMINENT CRICKETERS PRODUCED 



Comparatively few have attained to first- 

 class honours in the game, possibly owing to 

 the large number who enter the service. 

 Only four have played in the University 

 match, two for each side. Mr. Vere Kemball 

 Shaw was in the Cambridge Eleven of 1876, 

 and subsequently appeared for Kent in several 

 seasons, being a fairly good bat and a fast left- 

 handed bowler. In 1877 and 1879 Mr. 

 F. G. G. Jellicoe proved useful as a slow 

 left round-arm bowler for Oxford, his best 

 figures being 8 for 36 v. Gentlemen of Eng- 

 land. He was a remarkably crude bat, and 

 subsequently was at times found in the Hamp- 

 shire side. Mr. W. D. Hamilton was the 

 most notable of three Irish brothers, who 

 have done good service for the game in the 

 sister isle. He was a free left-handed hitter, 

 who obtained his colours for Oxford in 1882 

 for capital scores against the Gentlemen of 

 England, when he punished Mr. Hugh 

 Rotherham's fast bowling with severity. He 

 was also a fine field, especially at long leg. 

 Mr. A. H. C. Fargus in 1900 was a member 

 of the Cambridge Eleven in consequence of 

 his effective bowling for Gloucestershire v. 

 Middlesex at Lord's (12 for 87). He also 

 played for Gentlemen v. Players at Scar- 

 borough. 



Colonel James Spens, who was in the 

 eleven in 1868, 1869 and 1870, proved a 

 powerful hitter. In 1882 at Portsmouth for 

 the United Services v. Nondescripts he scored 

 386, and he at times assisted Hampshire, 

 making 74 and 71 v. Somersetshire in June, 

 1899. The late Captain R. P. Spurway, 

 a capital bat and hard-working field, was fre- 

 quently found in the Somersetshire team. 

 Others who may be mentioned are Messrs. 

 E. Maiden, K. McAlpine and L. L. H. 



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