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JUBILEE HISTORY TEXT, 1911. Chapter X - 'With Bat and Ball'.

JUBILEE HISTORY TEXT, 1911. Chapter X - 'With Bat and Ball'.


The following text is an excerpt from the Jubilee History Text published in 1911.

With Bat And Ball

'For some reason cricket has always taken a subordinate place in games at Geelong College. In the beginning there were good reasons for this. No turf grounds—on which schoolboys would be allowed to play—existed in Geelong. There was indeed no proper practice ground, while such luxuries as school ovals, pavilions, and special coaches were unheard of. In 1873, however, a piece of turf was laid down at the College, and cricket practice under proper conditions became fairly regular. Matches were played before this. In 1868 the College played a Highton XI and beat them. That same year a combined team from the College and Grammar School were defeated by the Second XI of the Corio Club. Othermatches had no doubt been played before this, but there is no record of them. The next mention of matches having been played was in 1874, when the Doctor in his report announced that during the year the College had "met with one defeat at cricket."

The first match of which there is any record was with Geelong Grammar School in 1876. It was won by the Grammar School by an innings and 40 runs. After that matches with the Grammar School, except during periods of controversy, were played every year, and the results are on record. Most of those matches were played on the Corio ground. But before the schools met there they played several times on a ground in Kardinia Park. On one occasion— the year is in doubt—the College won on that ground by 5 wickets. The College team had no wicket keeper. The long stop was moved up to short stop and a long slip provided. This happened many years before the Australian XI "originated" that method of placing the field. The short stop caught 3 men out, and there were no byes. The experiment was successful.

Cricket continued to be a neglected game at the College until modern times. In 1877 there were two matches, one against Geelong Grammar School and the other against Hawthorn Grammar School. The College lost both. In 1881 four matches were played. Three were won, against Ballarat College, Kew High School, and Hawthorn Grammar School, and one against Geelong Grammar School lost.

Every few years there appeared at the College afew keen cricketers, who infused some degree of enthusiasm into the other boys. Constant practice and a good team then resulted, and matches were won. It was so in 1882, when the two Boyds, Walter MacPherson (the bowler of the team), A. Simson, and H. McLean, were the backbone of the team. That year fivematches were played, and the College won them all. A match, probably the first, was played that year on the College pitch. Kew High School were the victims.

The following year the team was still a strong one, and again five matches were won. A game against a second XI of the M.C.C. resulted in a defeat by 50 runs. Norman Morrison was one of the leading members of the team. The comment on his play was as follows:—"Fair bat, can bat when he likes, but weak in defence; throws in well."

Then the interest in the game began to fall off again. The tennis court had been built in 1881, and its attractions had grown superior to those of the cricket pitch. In 1884, out of four matches, the College won two. In 1885, out of fivematches, they won three. There was a slightly better year in 1886, when three were won out of five and one drawn. The matches that year were against 2nd Geelong, Kew High School, Essendon, 1st Geelong, and Geelong Grammar School. The first three were the victories, the fourth the "draw," and the last the defeat.

For some reason cricket is not referred to in the report for 1887, though two matches were certainly played, one against Scotch College and one against Geelong Grammar School, both of which resulted in overwhelming defeats, which perhaps helps to explain the silence of the report. It was the same the following year—1888. Three matches are known to have been played—two against Geelong Grammar School and one against Scotch College. All were lost.

Compared with the fine football and tennis records of the College for that year, these results were very poor, and the report did not mention them.

The college halved the matches of 1889—two being won and two lost. Gus Kearney was captain of the team and Clive Morrison reputed the finest field in it. Matches were played with any school with which they could be arranged. the Scotch College match being the only fixture. In 1890 there were only three matches, and the College won two.

With the advent of Norman Morrison asviceprincipal in 1891 cricket revived somewhat. Preparations were being made for the production of a good team. The pitch was handed over to Houston, the Geelong coach, and put into good order. That year, however, the three matches played were all lost. They were against Geelong, Queenscliff Artillery, and Scotch College.

Next year the Schools' Association cameinto existence, but it was still difficult to arouse any real enthusiasm for the game. Only two matches were won out of six played in 1892, and in 1893 only one. In 1894 out of seven matches the College won four, defeating the weaker private schools, but being beaten by Haileybury College, Scotch College, and St. Xavier's. Two matches out of seven were lost in 1895. "There is a slight improvement this year in the efficiency of the team," said the report, "though the boys do not enter into this game with much enthusiasm."

Then came one of those periodic revivals. Ernest Baird, the best batsman the College has ever had, was vicecaptain of the team, in 1896. His average for the season was 52.5, his best score being 116 against Geelong Grammar School, while he had a bowling average of 11 wickets for 7.8 per wicket. That year the College were runnersup for the cricket premiership of the V.S.A. Next year second place was again secured. Baird's average was 45.2, with scores of 144 (not out) against Geelong Grammar School, and 131 (not out) against Haileybury College.

In 1898 Ernest Baird was captain of the XI. C. Over, the M.C.C. professional, was brought down to coach the boys, and great improvement in the play resulted. The College were beaten in thefinal match for the V.S.A. premiership, and again obtained second place. For the first time in the history of the College, a victory was secured over Scotch College by 62 runs, while Geelong Grammar School were also defeated in one match. Bairdfinished the season with the wonderful average of 87, his best score having been 123 (not out).

Baird left the College at the end of 1898, and the two crack bowlers (D. Robertson and B. Dixon) went with him. The next year's team was comparatively a poor one. Nine matches were played, four won, three lost, and two drawn. T. De Gruchy had the best batting average, with 38, while H. Collocott was second with 36.2, his highest score being 109 (not out).

Next year was worse still. Eight matches were played and only two won. In 1901 the high water mark of College cricket was reached. The boys were keen on the game, and the team went through with an unbeaten record, winningfirst position in the V.S.A., and defeating Scotch College and Geelong Grammar School, the latter twice. H. Collocott had an average of 57.8, and thisincluded 182 (not out) and 103. G. A. Melville's bowling average was 5.66— (8 wicketsfor 102 runs).

This high standard was maintained in 1902, when the champion pennant of the Victorian Schools' Association was again carried off, though Scotch College and Geelong Grammar School avenged their defeats of the previous year. G. A. Melville, the captain of the XI, headed the batting averages with an average of 41, hishighest score being 167. Herbert Fry had been brought from the M.C.C. as ground bowler. In 1903 the College won five matches out of 9 played.

Something of a record was made in the match with Carlton College that year, when G. A. Melville and M. C. Jacobs, going infirst, made 353 without being separated. Melville made 193 and Jacobs 131. The innings was then closed, and the match won on that score. Then in the match against Brighton Grammar School, Melville and J. F. S. Shannon dismissed the whole of their opponents for 2 runs. Melville accomplished "the hat trick," though the whole of the Brighton score was made off his bowling. Shannon got the other 7 wicketsfor 0 runs. Again, in amatch against Geelong Grammar School, Melville and Shannon distinguished themselves. The Grammar School entered on their second innings with 45 to make in order to win. They made only 19. Melville got 7 wicketsfor 9 runs and Shannon 3 wicketsfor 8.

In 1904 the championship of the Schools' Association was again won by the College. The only defeat was sustained at the hands of Scotch College. The new oval was made in 1904, though it was not ready for use till the following year. Melville had the best batting average, including 277 not out against University College. M. C. Jacobs and E. J. Pipermade scores of 124 not out and 136 not out respectively. Still, Melville's bowling average was 54 wickets for

6.46 runs per wicket.

The season of 1905 was not so successful, the College being second in the V.S.A. competition. They regained the Premiership the following year. Two playersmade scores over the century—A. G. Maclean, with 119 not out, and A. H. Campbell, with 118 not out. The championship was retained in 1907 when the only match lost during the year was that against Scotch College. J. R. P. Mackenzie had the fine average of 59.2, including a score of 150, while H. R. Collier took 49 wickets at a cost of 6.4 runsper wicket.

With the entry of the College into the Public Schools Association in 1908, a great change came over the cricket records. Only one match was won—that against Scotch College. G. C. McNeilage made 112 against Wesley College—the only century of the year. T. Warne, the CarIton professional, acted as coach. The following year, the XI were a little more successful. They won two matches out of the five. In 1910 there were in the cricket XI only 3 boys who had played first cricket the year before. The College did not succeed in winning amatch. Good material, good coaching, and constant practice are essential to success in public school games, where the standards set by the Melbourne schools are very high indeed. In 1911 the College began the first half of the season by defeatingGeelong Grammar School by 6 wickets. Then they played a drawn game against Wesley College, and were beaten by the Melbourne Grammar School by an innings and 203 runs.

Matches with Geelong Grammar School
Since 1876 there have been recorded 45 cricket matches between Geelong College and Geelong Grammar School. Twentyeight of these matches have been won by the Grammar School, sixteen by the College, while one has been drawn. There were games before 1876, but no record of them has been kept. The following is the list of matches up to 1911:

1876, C.E.G.S, By innings and 40 runs. 1877, C.E.G.S, By 57 runs. 1878, 1. C.E.G.S, By 7 wickets and 55 runs. 2. Draw, after 2 days' match. 1879, 1. C.E.G.S, By 37 runs. 2. C.E.G.S, By 1 wicket. 1880, 1. C.E.G.S, By 38 runs. 2. College, By 5 runs. 1881, C.E.G.S, By 5 wickets. 1884, C.E.G.S, By innings and 199 runs. 1885, 1. C.E.G.S, By 21 runs. 2. C.E.G.S, By 3 wickets. 1886, 1. C.E.G.S, By 5 wickets. 2. C.E.G.S, By 59 runs. 1887, C.E.G.S, By 45 runs. 1888, 1. C.E.G.S, By 91 runs. 2. C.E.G.S, By 31 runs. 1889, College, By 64 runs. 1896, College, By 10 wickets. 1897, 1. C.E.G.S, By innings and 8 runs. 2. College, By 85 runs. 1898, 1. C.E.G.S, By 179 runs 2. College, By 6 wickets. 1899, 1. C.E.G.S, By 246 runs. 2. C.E.G.S, By 10 wickets. 1900, 1. C.E.G.S, By 7 wickets. 2. C.E.G.S, By 6 runs. 1901, 1. College, By innings and 44 runs. 2. College, By 85 runs. 1902, 1. College, By 7 wickets. 2. C.E.G.S, By 308 runs. 1903, 1. C.E.G.S, By 74 runs. 2. College, By 25 runs. 1904, 1. College, By 88 runs. 2. College, By 6 wickets. 1905, 1. C.E.G.S, By 9 wickets. 2. College, By 21 runs. 1906, 1. C.E.G.S, By 185 runs. 2. C.E.G.S, By 3 runs. 1907, 1. College, By 147 runs. 2. College, By 88 runs. 1908, C.E.G.S, By 140 runs. 1909, College, By 110 runs. 1910, G.E.G.S, By 85 runs. 1911, College, By 7 wickets and 3 runs.

Matches with Scotch College

With the exception of 1892, Geelong College and Scotch College havemet every year at cricket since 1886. That first match was a remarkable one. It was a bowlers' match, played on an excellent wicket. E. Simmons, playing for the College, took 11 wicketsfor 58 runs—7 for 31 in the first innings and 4 for 27 in the second. He just missed "the hat trick" by one ball in the second innings. For Scotch College, C. E. McLeod took 10 wicketsfor 32 runs and R. W. Ainslie 9 for 19. Scotch made 69 and 83, while the College scores were 38 and 29. Altogether, 25 matches have been played in 26 Years. Of these, Scotch College have won 19 matches. Geelong College have won 3, while two matches have been drawn. The complete record is asfollows:

1886, Scotch, By 85 runs. 1887, Scotch, Byinnings and 99 runs. 1888, Scotch, By 54 runs. 1889, Scotch, By innings and 101 runs. 1890, Scotch, By innings and 9 runs. 1891, Scotch, By innings and 111 runs. 1893, Scotch, By 365 runs. 1894, Scotch, By innings and 137 runs. 1895, Scotch, By 279 runs. 1896, Scotch, By 2 wicketsand 87 runs. 1897, Scotch, By 138 runs. 1898, College, By 62 runs. 1899, Drawn. 1900, Scotch, By 141 runs. 1901, College, By 86 runs. 1902, Scotch, By innings and 3 runs. 1903, Scotch, By 62 runs. 1904, Scotch, By 9 wickets. 1905, Drawn. 1906, Scotch, By 114 runs. 1907, Scotch, By 119 runs. 1908 College, By 187 runs. 1909, Scotch, By 8 wickets. 1910, Scotch, By 6 wickets.'


Sources: Sources: Geelong College. History, Register, .. And Records by G, McLeod Redmond. Melb; Sands & McDougall, 1911. pp 95-107.
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