SPORT ANCIENT AND MODERN 



he displayed superb form for 140. Mr. H, G. 

 Garnett came into prominence as one of the 

 most attractive left-handed bats of the day. At 

 the close of the summer Mr. McLaren resigned 

 the captaincy and announced he would play for 

 Hampshire, but in 1902 he appeared as usual, 

 playing a particularly fine innings at Trent 

 Bridge. 



Encouraged by the success that had attended 

 his fast bowling in Australia, Barnes was brought 

 into the side, but like Webb, who now disap- 

 peared, he never seemed able to bowl with spirit 

 when the luck was at all against his side. 

 Several bowlers were effective, the attack being 

 more diversified but less excellent than when 

 Briggs and Mold bore the burden. Deficiencies 

 in bowling still gave trouble in 1 903, when fourth 

 place was taken in the championship list. Barnes 

 at Leyton claimed 8 for 37 and 6 for 33, but 

 he proved unequal and eventually declined to 

 renew his engagement. Mr. W. Brearley, an 

 energetic bowler of yet greater pace, came into 

 the team, and the county had the joy of seeing 

 Mr. R. H. Spooner once more in the field. He 

 obtained 247 at Trent Bridge and generally dis- 

 played most brilliant power on the off side. 

 Tyldesley and his captain did magnificent work, 

 averaging 44 for 1,618 and 40 for 1,565 respec- 

 tively. Each exceeded the second century, each 

 oddly enough at Liverpool. 



In 1 904 Lancashire had its finest season, win- 

 ning the championship and showing an unbeaten 

 record. Until the end of July the side was one of 

 the best that ever played. In August they were 

 stale and lucky to escape defeat. They had last 

 attained unbeaten honours in 1 8 8 1 , Hallows now 

 bowled with splendid judgement ; Mr. Brearley 

 showed a marked advance ; and Cuttell regained his 

 finest form. With them in June, by qualification, 

 was joined Kermode, a powerful man who sends 

 down a fast ball. Tyldesley claimed eight cen- 

 turies, hitting with greater power than ever, and 



Mr. Spooner became the English Trumper. He 

 made four centuries by the middle of June ; then 

 three consecutive zeros, and after that 215 at 

 Leyton. Hallows took 108 wickets and scored 

 1,058 runs, a fine contribution. Yet another 

 Australian came into the team, Mr. L. O. S. 

 Poidevin, a diminutive batsman possessing con- 

 siderable judgement. The secret of Lanca- 

 shire's success was all-round efficiency. 



Unbeaten until July 1905, Lancashire had 

 ultimately to be content with second place, 

 Yorkshire alone being superior. The huge total 

 of 627 was compiled at Trent Bridge, Mr. 

 Spooner obtaining 164 and Tyldesley 250. The 

 same couple against Yorkshire at Old Trafford 

 added 257 in two and a half hours, during which 

 the amateur's wicket was struck without the bails 

 being removed. Sharp displayed ability in every 

 department, and Mr. W. Findlay — subsequently 

 secretary at the Oval — proved admirable at the 

 wicket. The year 1906 saw the County Palatine 

 in the fourth position, the loss of Mr. Brearley 

 — through dissension — being much felt. Tyldes- 

 ley's benefit beat every financial record except 

 that of George Hirst. Useful results came from 

 the bowling of Huddleston on sticky wickets, of 

 Harry, a medium-paced bowler, and of Dean, 

 left-handed with a swerve. Against Kent 

 Tyldesley scored 295 not out and Sharp was 

 redoubtable. Excellent fielding and an apparently 

 inexhaustible reserve of efficient bowlers are 

 valuable adjuncts towards winning matches. 



Altogether, Lancashire has won 365 and lost 

 177 matches, beating every county, with the 

 exception of Middlesex and Yorkshire, more fre- 

 quently than it has hauled down its own flag. 

 Since the county became first class the following 

 is the run-getting result to the end of 1907 : — 



Lancashire has scored 201,887 runs for 9,958 

 wickets averaging 22*7354. 



Their opponents have scored 197,116 runs 

 for 11,064 wickets averaging I7'9028. 



RUGBY FOOTBALL 



The hereditary rivalry between the County 

 Palatine and Yorkshire found expression in the 

 first instituted inter-county football fixture on 

 record. This was played at Leeds in 1870, and 

 with the exception of the year 1879 the match 

 has been repeated in unbroken continuity ever 

 since. In the first twelve matches Lancashire 

 showed marked superiority, winning seven to 

 Yorkshire's one. Of the remaining four, which 

 resulted in draws, two, according to the present 

 methods of scoring, would have increased Lanca- 

 shire's wins, as at that time a match could not be 

 won by a superiority of tries unless a goal were 

 scored. During the period of Yorkshire's supre- 



macy in the football field Lancashire had to put 

 up with a sequence of defeats, but of recent 

 years honours have been fairly equally divided. 

 The record to date between the two rivals reads : 

 matches played thirty-seven, Yorkshire sixteen 

 wins, Lancashire eleven, drawn ten. 



By 1875 the number of Lancashire clubs had 

 so largely increased that the county was 

 awarded two seats in the English governing 

 body, Messrs. J. McLaren and E. Kewley being 

 the two representatives chosen. At the time of 

 the institution of the great annual match 

 between Lancashire and Yorkshire, and for some 

 years afterwards, the Manchester Club, being the 



493 



