The School 1st XI did not enjoy as successful a season as usual. This was only to be expected, since eight new players had to be found. These naturally were inexperienced and lacked confidence. But in victory and in defeat the team spirit remained consistently high, and all played together as a team. There were in addition several young players in the side and these should all be able to distinguish themselves in the coming season. Two of the team played in representative matches: Gymer for Essex schoolboys, for whom he scored 50 on one occasion, and Kelham for Essex Grammar Schools.
There were two very exciting matches: one against Buckhurst Hill, in which we lost by only one run, with about two minutes left for play; and one against Palmer's (perhaps the best of the season), when we were all out for a low score, and then succeeded in dismissing our redoubtable rivals with eleven runs to spare. On one occasion we dismissed the opposing side for 12. This match seemed to change our fortunes: on the following day we beat the Old Boys, and in our next match, against a strong team of Mr. Miles's, the School needed only a few runs to win when stumps were drawn. We did, however, lose to the Parents for the first time within Mr. Curl's memory.
On the whole it was not an unsuccessful season, although the results do not flatter the team.
Sincerest thanks are extended to the groundsman who did a truly excellent piece of work in making the new table fit for play; to all masters who umpired matches, and to Thorne for arranging such an attractive fixture list, and Head for scoring.