W.G. Grace, aged 25 and at the height of his powers, brought his cricket circus to Feethams. His United South of England XI took on a Darlington District XVIII.
The ‘homesters’ batted first, all out at 4.45 p.m. for 197. W.G. Grace opened for the South, and the crowd swelled to 3,000. But he was off-colour; J.T. Mewburn, shorthand secretary to Sir Joseph Whitwell Pease MP, dropped him on a single. ‘After three-quarters of an hour’s play, he struck to square leg, which fell into the hands of Leatham, who retained it,’ said the Echo. ‘This circumstance was very disappointing to the Darlingtonians, who were very anxious to see some tall hitting.’
The next day, when the South’s top scorer was caught out by a substitute fielder, an apparently incensed W.G. – a great showman – stormed out of the pavilion and remonstrated with the umpire.
On the final day, Grace’s side needed 162 to win. ‘At 56, Grace struck a bum-ball, which F. Mewburn handled, and the crowd clapped, imagining that Grace was caught out, and he kept up the illusion by walking away a short distance,’ reported the Echo. ‘Much laughter ensued when he again took his stand at the wicket.’ Despite this entertaining piece of cheating, the great man was out a second time without adding to his score and his XI lost by 32.
(‘Memories’, The Northern Echo, 2013)