Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 24 July 1903

Mexboro’ v. Denaby & Cadeby

There was a muster of over 1,000 spectators to witness the encounter between the above local rivals on Saturday.

The result was a most decisive victory for Denaby, the first they have ever recorded against their neighbours. The victory, so splendidly achieved, was well deserved, and is the sixth match which the Denaby team have won in succession.

After the heavy thunderstorms the wicket was in a sodden condition and very dead.

Winning the toss, Mexboro’ batted first. The commencement was inauspicious, for with only four runs scored Barker bowled Nicholson with a beauty.

Bennett filled the vacancy, but was rather unlucky, caught out off a lofty hit without scoring. Turner came, and both defended in fine style, notwithstanding the many bowling changes tried. Pepper was missed in the long field off Robinson, and the life proved costly. Fifty runs had been added for the wicket when Barker, who had just commenced to bowl for the second time, and who was proving by far the most dangerous bowler of the Denaby side, bowled Turner with a beautiful ball, which kept low and came across the wicket. Turner had made 24 very valuable runs at a critical time.

Three wickets were thus down for 54, and the prospects for Mexboro’ looked rather rosy. But from this point to the end of the Mexboro’ innings the batting was a display of dismal failure. One after another of the batsmen failed in the most disappointing fashion, and Pepper alone was keeping his end up and notching runs. After scoring 42, one of his best innings this season, he was bowled with a shooter by Scott, being the first man in and the eighth wicket down.

The end soon came, the total reaching 78.

Barker had five for 25, Scott three for 9, and L. Robinson two for 29.

The general opinion, even among Mexboro’ supporters, and there were a great number on the ground, was that the runs scored were insufficient, and so it proved.

Denaby won handsomely with five wickets in hand.

Smith and Scott opened against the bowling of T. Hakin and Fearn. Scoring at the outset was rather slow. The batsmen exhibited a tendency to steal runs, and both should have been run out if the fielders had exhibited any smartness. Smith was forcing the game in a proper and sportsmanlike manner, and the telegraph was mounting slowly but surely.

A double bowling change was tried, and in J. Hakin’s first over Smith was badly missed in consecutive balls by Mitchell and Turner. Profiting by his good fortune Smith smote the bowling in gallant style. Further changes in the bowling were made, and 40 runs had been made when Scott was caught off Nicholson.

Luther Robinson came in, and the score rose to 56 when Smith was caught in the slips. He had made 32 runs, and practically gave the victory for his side.

Moore came next, and with 10 runs added was out. With the score at the same total Luther Robinson was out lbw to Hakin. A. Robinson and Scott became associated, and by vigorous methods made the victory complete, amidst the wild enthusiasm of the Denaby supporters.

Continuing, the score was taken to 86, when Hakin bowled Robinson.

J. Hakin had five wickets for 35.

Scores: