SPORT ANCIENT AND MODERN made 185 in the first and 131 in the return with Hertfordshire, whilst Dible made 114 and Mr. E. O. Powell in for the same county against the shire under consideration. These were the only centuries made that season by the southern county. Improvement came in 1887, as the annual victory over M.C.C. at Lord's was supported by a double discomfiture of Northants and a 7 wickets success over Staffordshire. These had to be set against three defeats. Pearce, Hearn and Rev. C. M. Sharpe, who had been in the Cambridge eleven of 1875, were the century-mongers, and Mr. A. Butcher proved a steady bat. 1888 was marked by a brace of successful contests with Northants set against five defeats. Only once was the second hundred passed (in the draw with Staffordshire), but the team was only twice out under three figures. Mr. Charles Pigg took 42 wickets for a dozen runs apiece. The form of the county was not main- tained in 1889, for one defeat (by Surrey 2nd Eleven) had no compensating game to the credit side, the remaining seven fix- tures being drawn. The Wykhamist, Mr. A. J. Boger, came into the team and was useful with the ball, in which department the brothers Pigg and Titchmarsh had to do the chief part of the destruction. Titchmarsh also scored the highest innings, a hard-hit 90, Rev. W. H. Heale making 85, the largest he ever contributed for the county. Whilst playing occasionally during a number of years, Hertfordshire were not good enough to play among the second-class counties in 1890, their nine fixtures being with Nor- folk, Northants, Northumberland, Durham, M.C.C. and Surrey 2nd, which alone defeated them, whilst two victories were noted. Rev. E. D. Shaw, taught to play at Forest School, who had been in the Oxford eleven of 1882, scored 140 at Norwich, otherwise the useful analysis of Mr. Charles P'gg was the only feature above mediocrity. In 1891 for the first time Hertfordshire defeated Surrey 2nd by 72 runs. This solitary success had to be confronted by defeats at the hands of Lincolnshire, Devon- shire, Norfolk and M.C.C., whilst five fix- tures were drawn. Thirty cricketers played more than one match for the county. Mr. G. W. Hillyard, the crack lawn-tennis player, who was afterwards so effective as a fast bowler for Leicestershire and who had been tried years before for Middlesex, whilst still in the navy, appeared for Hertfordshire and took 24 wickets for 15 runs each. No one made a century, though Hearn came within two of the coveted figures. Titch- marsh was by far the best all-round man on the side. The fixtures were even less extensive in 1892. Mr. T. N. Perkins scored 102 on his solitary appearance, and Mr. Herbert Pigg 91. Mr. Charles Pigg, the honorary secre- tary, was only moderately successful, and the brunt of both departments fell on Titch- marsh. For 1894 no figures were contributed to the annuals upon the game, but victories were gained over Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire and Norfolk, Mr. E. L. Swift scoring a century in each innings of the victory over Bedford- shire. By deed of gift the county cricket and recreation ground in Clarence Park, St. Albans, with its accessories and adjuncts, was conveyed to the Corporation of St. Albans on July 23, 1894, and at a special meeting on March 19, 1895, the club formally recog- nized it as the Herts county ground. The offer of such a ground had first been made to the county cricket club by Sir J. Blundell Maple during the season of 1891. At the general meeting held on December 4 of that year a long discussion on the subject took place, but no decision was arrived at, although a sub-committee was appointed to inquire into the matter. Nothing further is on the books of the county club in reference to it until a letter was read on November 3, 1892, from Sir J. Blundell Maple, wherein he offered a cricket and recreation ground to St. Albans, to be used as a county ground under certain conditions. At the general meeting held that day details of this scheme as affecting the county club were left to a fresh sub-com- mittee, with the result already mentioned. The year 1894 saw victories over Norfolk and Bedfordshire (twice) set against a defeat by the invincible Surrey 2nd Eleven, who did not lose a match that year, and a quartet of unfinished contests. Titchmarsh bowled in excellent fashion. Mr. H. J. Hill came out with the best batting average and made the longest score of the year (95). The Carthu- sian wicket-keeper, Mr. G. E. B. Pritchett, shaped well, whilst the fielding of Mr. J. O. Anderson was fine. Mr. C. Pigg at this time acted as both captain and secretary. Next year things were worse. Only Staffordshire was lower in the Minor Counties' Competition ; but a touch of pride was felt at Norfolk and Worcestershire both being soundly beaten, they being the top counties encountered. White did a lot of hard work with both bat and ball, his medium-paced deliveries effecting some havoc. That old Cantab, the Rev. F. W. Poland, had luck in 377
