The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-08
SPORTING In ENGLAND.
FROM our LONDON CORRESPONDENT.


Oxford and Cambridge Cricket and Tennis
Matches.
LONDON. June "a, 1868.
The great annual cricket match between the uni
versity clubs Of oxford and Cambridge began at
Lords ground on Monday ana was ended this after
noon. The result is, in BRIEF that Cambridge has
beaten Oxford as badly at cricket as Oxford usually
beats Cambridge at boating. This thoroughly Eng
lish match was played in thoroughly English wealth
er Every day the sky was clouded, an eastery wind
blew and at intervals the rain fell SO heavily that
play had to be temporarily suspended.
The attendance at Lords on each day was some
thing wonderful. Eight thousand people on Monday
six thousand on Tuesday. and Ave thousand to-day
sat or stood through the rain, In spite of the COM
paratvely embarrassing game they had come to wit
ness. And these people, too were among the best
in England. Although royalty was not represented
every rank OF the arstocracy was. and finer set or
gentlemen than those who stood four deep around
the ground could not be seen anywhere else in the
world. Most OF them were university men, past or
present and their enthusiasm was delightful to wit
ness
AS for the ladies, they present in their newest
and brightest costumes, and although they under
stood nothing OF the game, and although the ram
came heavily down to spoil their gay apparel they
sat out the match most conscientOusly. Behind the
four ranks Of gentlemen were triple ranks of splen-
did equpageS, from the towering drag to the little
pony chase. It was worth journey to London only
to see these carriages and horses Rotten Row and
Hyde Park seemed to have empted themselves into
Lords ground Hundreds OF ladies and gentlemen
were on horseback. Many OF the carriages had been
stationed upon the ground over night in order to
secure good places. The New York Park itself could
not have furnished more brilliant display.
The immense crowd sported the colors OF the two
universities In every conceivable form. In this
spect the gathering resembed the crowd along the
river at the annual boat race but the cricket match
is the university Ascot the boat is the univer-
sity Derby. Coachmen wore the oxford dark blue or
the Cambridge light blue ribbons tied to their whlps
gentlemen wore them neckties rosettes, as hat
bands ladies' wore the cOlors in dresses, bonnets
parasos and gloves. Everywhere the eye was
caps and waist belts OF dark blue and the Cambridge
the same OF light blue. The effect Of the uniformity
OF dress IN the clubs was most excellent and ought
to be more generally adopted. What with cheers OF
the universities for various colleges, for good hits
good bowling and good fielding everybody was shout
most animated and exciting.
Cambridge went first to the wckets on Monday
ting The felding Of oxford was very bad the grass
wet and slippery. Mr.. II. T. Reid kept wicket and
lodged every ball, as usual, losing many good
Kenny, FelIOwes and FOrtescue were the Oxford
bowlers. Kenny bowls so well as almost to rank
much, and the 'ssows;' of Fortescue were safe for
any number of runs. On the whole, the spectators
were disappointed in their hopes of seeing anything
like close game, and the betting, which had been
Oxford 'e''''
In their first innings the Oxford men only scored
49, Cambridge delded beautifully and the catches
were admirably made and heartily applauded
Messrs. Absolom and Bruno did the bowling. The
former Is 80 good that he has been asked to play
with the gentlemen in the great scientific match,
Gentlemen vs.. Players which Is to come of next
land are to be engaged Bruno bowls very true balls
but cannot put on the pace There was no very good
batting aan IN the 0 nS Then
score OF 236-347 for the two innings Mr. Green,
the Cambridge captain, made So although he was
been seen even at Lords. Absolom made
second innings did not score ninety runs, the play
being worse than ever, and at halfpast three to-day
the last wicket was knocked down, and Cambridge
was declared the winner. Thus the defeat of the
boat race was In measure redeemed.
THE TENNIS MATCHES
Attached TO Lords ground Is an excellent tennis
court and there the annual University matches are
played The foui-handed game was won by Oxford
the single a o match ey Ca this
match. Tennis is not very popular game. and so
the spectators could be numbered by tens, while in
cricket. Play began at two o'clock-Messrs Goschen
and James taking the racquets for Oxford and
Cambridge. The Cambridge men were a very curious
team. Mr. Bafour is tall and wears spectacles, and
In personal appearance Is the exact counterpart OF
the famous "Verdant Green" who was called gig
lamps" by his friends. Mr.. Knnaird Is very short
active and earnest. Both the oxford gentlemen are
fine, athletic fellows, about the same height and
playing well together
There was very little real tennis in the game, and
that was played by Mr.: Balfour, who was in very
bad luck, however and actually threw away the
match. The balls were Knocked about well enOugh
but when ] say that nobody In the game even at
tempted "cut," professional readers will under
stand that the play was below the average. The
match was soon played out and oxford won
by three sets to one. The single match
came of to-day, Messrs. Kinnard and James repre-
senting Cambridge and Oxford respectively. In an
hour and half the struggle was over Cambridge
stlcs OF the rhanded game were repeated In THIS
There was plenty OF strength displayed, plenty OF
activity plenty OF wind, but no scientific tennis.
Indeed when the brothers Tompkins, who are the
best professional players In England took the rae
quets for match game at four O'Clock the represent
tatves Of oxford and Cambridge came In to learn
and to applaud. There has been great deal OF bet
ting on both the cricket and tennis matches, and 80
far the general public have taken any interest in
the result the vicOrs OF Cambridge are very popular