First Game in 1897
THE BIRTH OF VALLEY CRICKET – THE FIRST GAME IN 1897/98
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Thanks to the wonderful work of cricket historian, Warwick Torrens, here is for the first time the scorecard of the first game played by Valley District Cricket Club, known at this time as Fortitude Valley. This match was part of the first round of fixtures to be played under the new electorate system. Rain prevented play on the third scheduled day of the match.
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FIRST GRADE – FORTITUDE VALLEY v NORTH BRISBANE
2, 9 & 16 October, 1897, at Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Bowen Hills
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Captains:
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JM (John) Blackstock (V) & CA Richardson (N)
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Match Result:
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Match drawn
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Toss Won by:
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North Brisbane
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North Brisbane Batting
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Runs
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CA Richardson (c)
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c. Kenny b. Kerr
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28
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AVH Hewitt
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c. & b. MH Austin
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0
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HW Chapman (w-k)
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c. AEJ Austin b. Kerr
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23
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JP Clark
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c. Jack b. AEJ Austin
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28
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G Dyer
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LBW b. Kenny
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2
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EPC Wells
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b. Kerr
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2
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O Agar
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b. MH Austin
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39
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TTT Long
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c. Macdonald b. Kerr
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48
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T Moran
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Not Out
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41
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WS Gower
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stpd. Vallely b. EAJ Austin
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32
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J Doran
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c. Morgan b. Kerr
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9
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Extras
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7
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TOTAL
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259
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Valley Bowling
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Runs
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Wkts.
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AC Kerr
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105
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5
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MH Austin
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58
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2
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WF Kenny
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45
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1
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AEJ Austin
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44
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2
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Valley Batting
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Runs
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AEJ Austin
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c. Chapman b. Long
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4
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R Macdonald
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Not Out
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62
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EP Vallely (w-k)
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c. Dyer b. Wells
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23
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JM Blackstock (c)
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c. Doran b. Hewitt
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2
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J Jack
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Run Out
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9
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G Hunt
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b. Long
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1
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CF Morgan
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LBW b. Moran
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11
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C Musgrove
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Not Out
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3
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WF Kenny
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DNB
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AC Kerr
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DNB
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MH Austin
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DNB
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Extras
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23
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TOTAL
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6/138
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(North Brisbane Bowling not available)
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PLAYER NOTES:
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Austin, Arthur Edward John
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Played a couple of non first class games for Queensland and was with the Oakfields club until 1897. He was a Brisbane City Council Alderman, Nundah Ward, 1934 – 1937. Born 13/10/1872; died 25/5/1949 Burleigh Heads, Queensland.
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Austin, Moffat Horn
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Originally came from Sydney to Brisbane to play rugby union. Born 13/10/1873 in Sydney; died 21/2/1942 at Lidcombe, NSW.
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Blackstock, John McDonald
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Played one first class game for Queensland against New South Wales in 1896/97. Born 16/1/1871 Edinburgh, Scotland; died circa 1945 Sydney, New South Wales.
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| Hunt, George |
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Kenny, William Francis
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Also played for Nundah, South Brisbane, and University (1918/19). Born 22/2/1877; died 23/10/1950.
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| Kerr, Alexander Charles |
Later played First Class cricket for Auckland in New Zealand, as did his son. Born 1876 in Australia; died 30 April 1953 at Auckland, New Zealand
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Macdonald, Robert
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Also played for the Brisbane club, until Electorate cricket was introduced in 1897 at which time he joined Fortitude Valley. He represented Queensland in first class matches from 1893/94 to 1903/04, being one of the State’s most successful batsmen in that time. He played three seasons of county cricket for Leicestershire, in 1899, 1901 and 1902. He was involved in the administration of the game and was secretary of the Queensland Cricket Association in 1894/95. His professional calling was Doctor of Dentistry. Born 14/2/1870 Clunes, Victoria; died 7/3/1946 Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Brother of Valentine Macdonald.
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Macdonald, Valentine
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Didn’t play in this first match but did play in the second. Also played for the Brisbane club, until Electorate cricket was introduced in 1897 at which time he joined Fortitude Valley along with his brother, Robert. He was a successful club player but was unable to force his way into the Queensland team. He was a member of the Queensland Cricket Association Executive Committee in 1902/03. Born in Clunes, Victoria, died 5/11/1930 Fitzroy, Victoria.
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Morgan, Charles Frederick
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Born in Sydney and played his school cricket with Victor Trumper at the Crown Street Public School. Played seven first class matches for Queensland from 1899/00 to 1905/06. Born 10/01/1877 in Sydney; died 12/7/1942 in Brisbane.
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Vallely, Edward Patrick
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Attended Brisbane Grammar School from 1887, and was later an articled clerk. Born 27/5/1871 in Brisbane; died
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