Cricket Club—A general meeting of the members of this club was held in the Commercial-room of the Coffee Tavern, Rushden, on Monday, to consider the rules and regulations drawn up by the trustees of the grounds. Mr F Knight was voted to the chair, supported by Messrs C Claridge, G Denton, J Claridge, H Brown, C Bull, W Claridge, C Hewitt, Wilmot, H Colson, J Lewis, Smith, and Salter.—The Hon. Sec. having read the proposed rules, they were considered seriatim. These provided that the club should be managed by a committee consisting of five cricketers and two from each of the Rugby and Association Football Clubs. The footballers were of opinion that the representation should be equal.—Mr John Claridge moved that the Rushden Cricket Club be dissolved, and that all the property of the club rests in the trustees of the New Cricket and Football Club.—This was seconded by Mr Denton, and carried.

Opening of the New Cricket Ground at Rushden - The First Match

The lovers of cricket and football in Rushden are to heartily congratulated upon being put into possession of a capital ground for the playing of the popular winter and summer games, by the liberality of Mr. Herbert Sartoris, of Weekly, who by his interest in parochial matters and his many generous gifts is becoming as popular in the parish as his late lamented father, Mr. F. U Sartoris. During the last two years the cricket and football clubs have been very much inconvenienced by the uncertainty of their tenancy indeed during the last few months the football club has been in the unenviable position of having no ground to practice upon. As the result of repeated suggestions, an effort was made in the autumn of last year to combine the football clubs and the cricket club, and the members upon being approached quickly acquiesced in such an arrangement. A representative deputation was selected and waited upon Mr. Herbert Sartoris for the purpose of ascertaining if in the event of any change being made in the tenancy of the cricket field, which was then used, that gentlemen would be prepared to make them the offer of it. It was elicited that there was no probability of any change in the tenancy, but Mr. Sartoris then made the very handsome offer of sufficient land for the purpose, in the portion of the parish known as Nippendale. Later on he sent a letter to Mr. G. S. Mason, who was one of the deputation, embodying his offer in writing, and recommending the amalgamation of the football and cricket clubs. The ground was to be let at a merely nominal rent for 21 years, and was to be used solely for the purpose of the two games and athletic sports in connection with the club. The clubs, in response to the suggestion, agreed upon the amalgamation, and a field, nearly fiveacres in size, approached by roads on the Rock Estate, was selected. The field then did not look much like a cricket or football ground, but soon after the cropping was removed the executive of the club engaged Mr. Rogers, of Bedford and Oxford, who have had considerable experience in this kind of business, to make a proper ground, and that they have done this, was a fact patent to all visitors to the ground on Thursday, whilst the players who engaged in the opening match were profuse in praise of it, one being heard to remark “as true as a billiard table.” The approaches by road or the footpath are not of the best, but no doubt these will be altered before very long. The whole of the ground is enclosed by high boards and the path surrounding the grass is a circular one, which with a little extra expense can be turned into a good cinder track. Standing in a commanding position is an ornamental pavilion, fitted with every convenience. On the ground floor arrangements have been made for a dressing room and a refreshment bar. By a long flight of steps (the greater part of which are arranged as seats) a large room is reached, which can be used for luncheons and other gatherings, a commanding view of the whole field being obtained from the windows. This is the outcome of the generosity of Mr. Campbell Praed, who has spent nearly £400 on the erection. Messrs. Talbot Brown and Fisher, Wellingborough, were the architects, whilst the work was executed by Messrs. Freeman of Denford. Altogether the Rushden Club has spent about £400 on the laying out of the ground, £100 of which was raised by a bazaar at Christmas, and another £100 by private subscriptions, so that it will be seen that the club has a rather large balance against it at the bank. However, with such a fine ground, and with the endeavours which will be made to provide exhibitions of sterling sport there from time to time, it is hoping to receive some good “gates” which will help towards the reduction of this incubus. Yesterday (Thursday) was fixed for the opening day, when a match was arranged between the County Club and Ground, and an eleven from the Rushden Club. The day was avery auspicious one, the weather being beautiful, and though the visitors were not quite so numerous as was expected in the earlier part of the day, yet as the afternoon advanced a great many entered the grounds.

Play commenced soon after twelve, and the County winning the toss went into bat first, J P Kingston and Harris handling the willow. A long stand was made, and notwithstanding the changes in the bowling the batsmen were not separated until the score had been taken to 71, when Harris was caught by Mason, his contribution being 19. F. Tebbutt followed, and soon gave Sykes an easy catch, which he failed to hold. His stay, however, was not very long, as a few minutes later he was caught by Knight, after he had put on 10. The sore then stood at 92, which Starmer carried to 97, and having been bowled by Bull, gave place to TG Beale. The century went up on the telegraph board at 1.40.

The pavilion, possibly pre WWI, showing the steps and covered balcony, was for the use of Members & Players only

The luncheon was supplied by Mr J Affleck, of the Green Dragon, Higham Ferrers, and was an excellent one. Altogether about 40 sat down, amongst those present being Mr H Sartoris, J.P., Weekley; Mr Campbell Praed, Wellingborough; Mr W H Simpson, Town Clerk, Higham Ferrers; Mr E B Randall and Mr C H Simpson, Higham Ferrers; Mr G Mason, Mr J Ashdown, Higham Ferrers; etc.—At the conclusion of the repast, the Captain of the club, Mr F Knight, on behalf of the club thanked Mr Sartoris for his kindness in providing the ground, which was one of the best sites in Rushden. He trusted the club would be able to maintain it, and play some good cricket and football on it. The speaker also thanked Mr Campbell Praed for erecting such a handsome pavilion.—Mr Sartoris first replied, remarking that it was a great pleasure to him to be able to offer the club the site. In his earlier days he was very fond of cricket, but an accident prevented him from now playing. He congratulated the club on the way they had laid out the ground, and wished them every success.—Mr Praed also replied, remarking that Rushden was one of the most go-ahead places he knew. He first came to Rushden after leaving Australia.—Mr John Claridge proposed “The Honorary Members,” and Mr W H Simpson, in a reply spoke of a twenty years’ connection with the club.—Mr J P Kingston (Northampton), in proposing “Success to the Club,” congratulated its members on the possession of such an excellent ground and pavilion. It was, however, only their deserts, for better sportsmen he had never met with. Rushden had been the nucleus of sport, and it was only the reward of merit. If they had ten Rushdens in the shire, Northamptonshire would take a prominent position in all sports of this country. (Hear, hear.) He wished the club every success.—Mr C Bradfield suitably replied.

The New Cricket and Football Ground—In connection with the opening of the new ground, a match between the smoking and non-smoking members of Rushden Cricket Club, was played on Friday last in splendid weather, and before a fair number of spectators. After an interesting and amusing game the non-smokers were victorious by 169 to 66, H. Colson scoring 89 for the victorious team. During the afternoon the Rushden Temperance Band paraded the town, and played selections in the ground. A tea was also provided on the ground, when a good number sat down. At the conclusion of the game the band played for dancing until the shades of evening fell. On the following day (Saturday), a return match was played, when the smokers turned the tables on the non-smokers. Winning the toss, the smokers went in first, and succeeded in scoring 307. This was mainly owing to the excellent batting of J S Mason and C Claridge, who took the score from 109 to 288, the principal scorers being C Claridge (95), J S Mason (83), and C H Simpson (71). On the non-smokers going in, six wickets fell for 72 runs, the principal scorers being G Denton (35), G Willmott (15), and H Colson (15). Time would not permit of further play. After the match the teams met together in the pavilion, with a few friends, and sat down to a capital supper, provided by Mr. J Affleck, HighamFerrers, after which dancing was indulged in to the strains of the Temperance Band.

The Rushden Cricket Club, Wanderers Football Club, and the Robin Hood (Rugby) Club have been amalgamated, and now form the Rushden Cricket and Football Club, and by the kind liberality of Mr. H. Sartoris, a splendid ground has been provided, the first match being played on June 13th between the home club and the county. The football section has played some good matches; they were defeated by the Wellingborough Grammar School in the final for the Association Cup, the same team defeating them on Feast Monday, and a team representing Aston Villa, also came off victors the Saturday previous to the date mentioned. Since this, however, they have scored some splendid victories, commencing with the cup match against the cathedral city, whom they defeated 8 — 3; they beat Wolverton by 9 to nil, and their latest achievement was the drubbing they administered to Wellingborough Town, scoring 10 goals to none.

Rushden Sports Ltd. are erecting a grandstand on the Sports Ground, with players’ dressing rooms, bath rooms, etc., and a refreshment bar below. The six tennis courts have been and are in great demand, and the directors propose to procure more courts for use next year.