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Early W.A. Cricketing Memories
F. D. North Was Fine Sport
In recent issues short accounts have been given of the progress of cricket in W.A.
in the early days, and so perhaps a few incidents in connection with some of the games
played and the players concerned may be of interest.
The name of the late F. D. North
figures largely in these reminis-
cences.
Now this player was one of the
greatest batsmen who ever played
in W.A., and in the days when
most of the games were played on
the Esplanade it was quite a com-
mon sight to see 400 to 600 spec-
tators present when he was play-
ing.
Such was bis skill that when
other players were practising on
other parts of the ground during
the week they would often leave
toff in order to watch "F.D." have
his "hit."
On one occasion a crowd had
gathered behind the net when a
spectator exressed a wish to have
a bowl at him. North was a fine,
upstanding figure of a man, a
typical English gentleman in the
true sense of the word.
There he was Io his creams,
dressed immaculately, while the
man who wanted to bowl at him
waa only in his old working
clothes. His request to have a
bowl was granted, and after a few
minutes he succeeded in bowling
North, whereupon that batsman
walked down the pitch to the
bowler, shook hands with him.
remarking, "Fine ball, my man,
beat me all the way," at the same
time handing a sovereign to the
bowler. This was typical of North,
the sportsman.
DISPUTED DECISION
Great interest was taken in all
the games played, and an incident
occurred in 1899-1900 when Clare-
mont were playing against North
Fremantle which will live in the
memories of those old players who
took part in the game.
Arthur Douglas, playing for
North Fremantle, hit the ball
twice and ran, and in answer to an
appeal the umpire. Sam Lawrence
(recently deceased), gave the bats-
man ont. The North Fremantle
barrackers rushed the ground and
a general melee was only averted
by the arrival of the police.
It would appear as if North Fre-
mantle and Claremont were bitter
rivals in these days, for another
match for the premiership in
1902-3 was full of interest.
Feeling ran high throughout,
and the decisions of one particular
umpire were always adverse to
Claremont, and matters became so
bad that the captain, Geo. Wood-
house, called his men off the field.
A protest was lodged by Clare-
mont, but after a long deliberation
by the committee the protest was
lost on the grounds that Claremont
should have played the match
through.
Writing of umpires recalls the
story of the umpire who appeared
on the field in his bathing suit.
When asked by the other umpire
the reason for this peculiar attire,
he replied, "The last time I um-
pired on this ground they threw
me into the river."
ERNIE JONES
lt may be newe to many to know
that Ernie Jones, the Australian
XI. fast bowler, once played for
the old Claremont-Cottesloe Club,
of which F. D. North was captain.
A game against North Perth was
in progress on the W.A.CA.
ground and the day was extremely
hot, so during the afternoon (there
was no afternoon adjournment in
these days) North asked the op-
posing captain if his team might
adjourn for a drink, which was
agreed to.
He took his men to the mem-
bers' bar and suddenly remember-
ing that Jones was playing his
first game on turf in W.A., rushed
to the door and called him in.
After the other players had
ordered drinks (whiskys and
sodas) North turned to "Jonah"
and asked. "And what would you
like, Mr. Jones?" and received this
reply, "If it's all the same to you,
Mr. North, I'd like a bottle of
beer," and seeing the temperature
was well over the century one is
inclined to be a little with "Jonah"
in his order.
Good performances were not
allowed to go unrecognised in
these days. In 191-2, playing
against Australs, Claremont were
given 97 runs to make in 30
minutes, and the feat was accom-
plished for the loss of three wic-
kets.
The large number of onlookers
were so enthusiastic over the per-
formance that a substantial sum
was collected on the ground, and
during the next match the Mayor
of Claremont made presentations
to Messrs. Woodhouse, D'Arcy and
Edwards in recognition of their
efforts.
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