At the urgent request of a few enthusiasts in the game, it has been decided to insert at this point a partial record of the cricket matches played between Leith and its greatest rival, Owen Sound, from 1870 until 1885 inclusive. This record is incomplete, as some of the score books have been lost, but, such as it is, it will revive old and pleasant memories in the grizzled veterans of the game—now, alas! so few—still remaining among us.

The first game was played at Owen Sound, Sept. 20th, 1870, between Owen Sound and an eleven chosen from the Annan and Leith clubs. Owen Sound won with ten wickets to go down.

Owen Sound vs. Leith, at Owen Sound, July 28th, 1871. Leith, 1st inning, 103; 2nd 35. Owen Sound, 1st inning, 117; tied the score in the 2nd with seven wickets to go down. As this is the first game of which there is authentic record of the names of the players, the per-sonell of the two elevens is given, as follows: Leith: W. McNeil, Archie Ainslie, J. McKeen, Alex. Ainslie, W. Wilson, R. Henry, H. Rixon, A. Spence, Neil McNeil, R. Glen and W. Moore. Owen Sound: M. Kennedy, M. Firby, W. C. Hoar, J. Gale, T. B. Miller, Christopher Lang, W. Kennedy, D. Morrison, J. Gordon, Dr. Smith and S. Redfern.

Owen Sound vs. Leith, at Owen Sound, June 15th. 1872; Leith, 1st inning, 53; 2nd 74. Total 127. Owen Sound, 1st inning 69; 2nd, 39. Total 108. Leith won by 19 runs. For Owen Sound M. Kennedy took 6 wickets in Leith’s 1st inning.

Owen Sound vs. Leith, at Owen Sound, July 12th, 1S73. Leith won by 9 wickets.

The two rivals united for a match this year, and played Orangeville at Owen Sound on August 23rd, this being the first game played with that town after the opening of the T. G. & B. narrow gauge railroad. The score: Owen Sound and Leith, 1st inning, 55; 2nd, 62. Orangeville: 1st inning, 55; 2nd, 29 for six wickets down. Game was not finished but was declared a tie on the first innings. J. McKeen and W. McNeil of Leith top scorers for their side.

If a game was played in 1874 between Leith and Owen Sound, all trace of it has been lost. However, Owen Sound played Briar Hill on June 6th of this year, the game going the full two innings, and Owen Sound trimming their opponents by 21 runs.

In 1875 the two teams met again at Owen Sound on June 13th and played a one innings game. Leith scored 81 and Owen Sound 80, the doughty McGregor making his first appearance with Leith in this match. Leith won by one run, so it must have been a heart breaking finish. Leith eleven: R. Glen, P. C. McGregor, J. McLean, N. McNeil, W. McNeil, John Ainslie, W. Wilson, J. Turnbull, J. Fawcett, James Turnbull, eleventh name lost.

Return match at Owen Sound, Aug. 21st, same year. One innings game. Owen Sound won by 16 runs. Leith batted in 2nd innings, P. C. McGregor and W. McNeil making 30 and 16 respectively. Owen Sound did not bat and game decided on 1st innings.

Owen Sound vs. Leith, at Owen Sound, June 10th, 1876. Owen Sound, 1st inning, 95. Leith, 1st inning 34; 2nd, 54. Owen Sound won by an inning and 7 runs. Leith eleven: Messrs. W. McNeil, Ainslie, McGregor, Wilson, McKeen, Henry, Day, R. Fawcett, J. Fawcett, M. McNeil, Telford. This was J. P. Telford’s first appearance for Leith.

Owen Sound vs. Leith at Owen Sound, May 24th, 1877. Owen Sound 45 and 68 in 1st and 2nd innings respectively, Leith 39 and 63. Owen Sound won by two wickets and two runs. Ainslie took 5 wickets in Owen Sound’s 2nd inning.

Return match for 1877 played on Leith grounds, July 6th. Leith won by 66 runs. McNeil, McGregor and McKeen highest scorers for Leith.

Owen Sound vs. Leith at Owen Sound, May 24th,

1878. Owen Sound, 1st inning, 66. Leith, 1st inning 75; 2nd, 96. Owen Sound did not bat in second innings and game was decided on the first, Leith winning by 9 runs. M. Kennedy took 4 wickets in Leith’s 2nd inning and J. Ainslie made 31 runs in the same Leith’s eleven: W. Wilson, M. Scott, J. Ainslie, W. McNeil, J. P. Telford, P. C. MacGregor, Somerville Ross, J. McKeen, W. Reid, N. McNeil and R. Glen.

Owen Sound vs Leith at Owen Sound, May 24th, 1879. 125; did not bat in 2nd. Game decided on first innings. Owen Sound winning by 73 runs.

In 1879 Owen Sound claimed to have the best cricket team in Northern Ontario, and their long string of victories would seem to substantiate the assertion.

Owen Sound vs. Leith, at Owen Sound, June 12th, 1880. Two innings game. Owen Sound made a total of 85 in the two innings and Leith 55. Owen Sound won by 30 runs.

Owen Sound vs. Leith at Owen Sound, June 4th, 1881. Owen Sound, 1st inning, 22; 2nd, 34. Leith, 1st inning, Leith: 1st inning 52; 2nd, 105. Owen Sound: 1st inning, 59. Leith won by an inning and 3 runs. Top score for Leith made by Telford, with 19 runs. Leith eleven : Messrs. Wilson, Glen, Fawcett, Telford, Ainslie, McNeil, McGregor, Saunders, Reid, Armstrong and Cameron.

Owen Sound vs. Leith at Owen Sound, May 24th, 1882 Scores on this game are not available. Leith won by fou wickets and ten runs. Ainslie did not play.

For some years previous to the last date the annual game between Leith and Owen Sound had, by arrangement between the two clubs, been played on May 24th, the anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth, or on a later date if the weather was unfavorable. In 1883, owing to the presence of the two far-famed athletes, Ross and Keating, at a huge sports’ demonstration in Owen Sound on that date, the annual game was postponed and if it was subsequently played that year the record has been lost. In 1884, for some reason, no game was played.

Owen Sound vs. Leith, at Owen Sound, May 24th, 1885. Owen Sound: 1st inning, 55; 2nd, 49. Leith, 1st inning, 112. Leith won by one inning and 8 runs. Leith eleven: Messrs. Scott, Reid, Ross, Clark, McNeil, Alexander, McGregor, Hare, Glen, McDougall and Day. Alexander took 6 wickets in Owen Sound’s second inning and scored 52 runs for Leith. In all round cricket, bowling, batting and fielding, Alexander had few equals in the game. .

A close scrutiny of the above tabulation reveals the fact that of the fifteen games played, Leith wtrn eight and Owen Sound seven. If the complete record were available it might possibly be found that Owen Sound had leversed this showing. Everything considered, however, the two clubs were very evenly matched. For continuity in the game the best showing is made by Walter McNeil and Robert Glen for Leith, and Matthew Kennedy for Owen Sound. The names of the two Leith men appear in the first and last games covered in the list ,and McNeil played in every game between.

If the same list were extended to include all the games played with Walters Falls, Balaklava, Briar Hill and other points in the township it would fill a small sized book. The mettle of the Walters Falls Club is best attested by the fact that in two games played with Mea-ford in 1869 they won both; the first by 5 wickets and the second by an inning and 41 runs. On July 1st, 1870, at Owen Sound, they played a one inning game with the eleven of that place and trounced the town by 75 runs.

They never fared so well in North Sydenham, however. One of the worst beatings they ever experienced was administered to them at Leith at the hands of the village’s eleven, and when they were most confident of winning. Taken all through the showing made by Leith against neighboring clubs was a most meritorious one.