players who are just outside the eleven. There will be more of them this year. Too many First Eleven matches of small importance, were arranged last season, to the serious detriment, in the writer's opinion, of the promise for this. Let it be recollected that the strength of our cricket is only temporarily represented by each year's eleven, and that the members of it cannot in public duty, claim an exclusive right to too numerous matches on a small ground like ours. One word more in regard to matches. It is to be hoped that the rumour that the Trentham match will not be played, is erroneous. To play up hard every member of the eleven, and to be beaten by a good club, is no disgrace whatever. It is, moreover, the very best possible practice, with a view to the defeat of lesser clubs. On the contrary, many of our present scratch matches are no gain if won, yet add much disgrace if lost. One example will sufficethe Basford match last year. Success is not to be measured merely by matches won. It may be that these remarks are unintentionally vigorous; but an entire reform as regards energy is necessary for the good of our cricket. There is every inducement, with seven vacant places, to urge a number of the School to work hard for their colours, and harder for their school. Our batting should be quite as good, our bowling certainly weaker, though with much more change, and our fielding, let it be hoped, far better. If Wardle ma. can assist us fairly often, even the bowling will not be so weak. It has often been said that we can never become a cricketing school, though we may succeed at football. Wishing the latter its merited success, it should not be forgotten that we live in a fair football district, where by weight alone, we shall often be defeated. But we are in the middle of one of the very feeblest cricket districts in England, with a ground, though small, close at hand, and with the chance of playing together. Really it is our duty to stand out for ascendency. As regards the school batting I should like to add three pieces of advice. In the first place, always try and keep to the same style, both in practice and in matches. Careless play for ten minutes, or any other fixed time, is worse than useless. In the second place, learn to open your shoulders; and, when hitting, hit hard and resolutely. Many wickets were lost last year by halfhearted hitting. In the third place, use light bats; never, if it can be helped, use a bat which seems heavier than you can thoroughly use. But after all, energetic and careful fielding will be found to give the most reliable strength this year, if only it can be fairly attained. School cricket everywhere, not merely at Newcastle, must depend on hard work, enthusiasm, and the abandoning of selfish interests. If we cannot command these we may as well challenge our foes to an interesting game of marbles, or to a competitive kite-flight. FIVES HANDICAPS, MARCH 8TH. HOUSE V. SCHOOL. Sides for House. Side for School. I. Mr. Kitchener & Dowson (Day) | I. Mr. Phillips and Knight ma. N.B. All play all on opposite side. I. on each side give to the others five points. The aggregate number to be counted for the winners. On Saturday, March 20th, this match, a rubber of five games, was played, Bull ma. and Rose representing the School, Patten and Dickinson the House. It was decided after four games by the School winning the first two and the fourth. The score was as follows: 1st game. The House started with a lead of seven, but the School gradually picked them up, and, passing them when a few points short of game, won. 2nd game. This was very closely contested, point by point, all through. At fourteen all the House set, and the score was again game ball all before the School won. 3rd game. The House continuing to play up well, started with a lead which they maintained all through, and won at 15-11. The 4th, and deciding game, was not so close as the others, the School winning with ease at 15—7. The play on the whole was decidedly good, and showed that a marked improvement had taken place during the term. More use, however, might have been made of the pepper box, and lower strokes would have saved several points scored for the ball going out of court. The rounds were many of them long, Rose and Patten most frequently eliciting applause by their play. It is to be hoped that this game may become an annual one; but, to ensure that, fives must become more popular among the day boys, as at present hardly any play. Consequently there was no doubt as to who was to represent them. The House pair were elected by ballot. The following matches have been arranged at present for the Cricket Season of 1880: Keele, at Keele, May 8th. Keele, at Newcastle, June 5th. Stone, at Newcastle, June 9th. Silverdale, at Newcastle, June 26th. Trentham, at Trentham, June 30th. Denstone, at Newcastle, July 10th. Silverdale, at Silverdale, July 24th. Besides these matches there are the Old Boys, the Governors, etc., which have still to be arranged. He Under this head we gladly record Clementson's success. succeeded, towards the end of last term, in gaining a £50 scholarship in Natural Science, at St. John's College, Cambridge, thus following worthily in the steps of Earl. This fact gives an additional testimony to the value of the science-teaching at the school, if, indeed, such were needed. W. P. Baildon (O.N) has passed the Intermediate for the Law. A. J. Henstock has passed the preliminary examination for the Law. Mayer English Essay: (1), Clementson; (2), Martin. Mayer English Poems: (1), None awarded; (2), Holtom. Honourable mention, Ramsdale, Governor's Latin Essay: Martin. Headmaster's Latin Translation: (1), Green; (2), Tennant ma., Hardeman. Sidgwick French Essay: Alcock, ma. SPEECH DAY. We hear that the Speech Day will probably be on the first Friday in June. There are some hopes the Bishop of Exeter, who laid the foundation stone of the School, may be able to be present. * It being impossible to take a limited as well as an open prize, Green has selected to take the limited prizes this year. A Big Side Levée was held in Mr. Phillips' room on Friday, April 16th. The meeting was convened in order to elect three and members on the Games Committee, vice Wildin, Malkin ma., Henstock, left. Six candidates were proposed. Voting was carried on by ballot, and after a short interval, Clementson declared the result, which stood thus: Patten. Wardle ma, who were accordingly declared elected. Day and Williams ma. have been made Præpostors, A confirmation was held in St. George's Church, on Saturday April 17th, at which twenty-one boys from the school were pre-, sented to the Bishop. The following books were added to the Library last term:- The Children of the New Forest. Life of Lord Macaulay (Trevelyan). Encyclopædia Britannica, Vols. VI and VII. It was also decided to take in the following periodicals : Punch. Nature. Nineteenth Century. Popular Science Review. The above figures speak for themselves, and we must congratulate the library on its continued prosperity. The following new boys have entered this term : |