The 1921 summer opened with a good victory against Aldridge
129-92. L. Hayward (48). Pelsall continued their good form
by beating Hingerleys away 123-45 Hartshorne (6-17) and then
Sunbeam away ,160-50. J. Rogers (7-15) being the destroyer.
On June 4th, 1921, Pelsall recorded their highest score on
home ground by defeating Wednesbury Road Congregational 212-35,
A. Stackhouse (Capt.) (49), V. Hayward (53). For the bowlers,
W. Lead-beater (6-11) and Hartshorne (4-21). Two other good
games during this season were against Birmingham Alexandra
Works 178-99, A. Harrington (90 n.o.), F, Rogers (55), and
away against Wednesbury II team 195-124, A. Harrington (61).
L. Dilks (50). Pelsall opened the 1922 season with a home
match against Hingerleys 167-53, the match being drawn in
Pelsall's favour, E. Breeze (83) with bowling by G. Breeze
(4-18).
In
a home match against Mayers Green. Pelsall equalled their
home scoring record 212-65, W. Hyman (115), L. Dilks (60).
Pelsall set a new ground scoring record on 6th August, 1923,
when they defeated Coseley 269-136. A. Stackhouse (66 n.o.),
G. Duce (36), A. Knight (31). Top batsman for the season was
A. Stackhouse (336) runs, and top bowler. G. Breeze (76) wickets.
It is now lime to look at some of the players in 1924 - W.
Clayton, J. Sutton, A. Stackhouse, G. Breeze. J. Whitehouse,
H. C. Gardner, A, Whitehouse, A. Harrington, H. Breeze, G.
Duce, D. Wright and last but not least S. Williams. We now
turn our attention to 1925 where we find the Pelsall "A"
team winning at home against Moor End 101-78. A. Harrington
(4-28), G. Breeze (3-23) and then against Elwells away 154-115,
G. Breeze (85). H. G. Gardner (39) being the top scorers.
Not to be outdone, the "B" team were giving a good
account of themselves. The most notable games being against
NORTON away 133-8-42, J. Brown (4-17), H. Stackhouse (3-9)
and HAMMERWICH 145-44, top bowler being J. Law (6-19) with
top batsmen being S. Law (48) and J. Brown (36). Pelsall opened
the 1927 season with a home match against WEDNESBURY P.C.
144-7. top batsman W. Clayton (53). There were some very good
individual performances this year, notably A. Harrington (73
n.o.), against ELWELLS. A. Dilks (67 no.) against WEDNESBURY
CONGREGATIONAL and for the bowlers A.G. Stackhouse taking
(103) wickets over the season.
The 1927 season, however, belongs to Mr. G. H. Breeze, for
at the age of 61. he was still showing some of the younger
members of the team how to use a bat. When playing PENKRIDGE
away 134-1 dec., G. H. Breeze scored (88). and in the return
match at Pelsall 178-5 dec„ he scored (89) runs. His total
runs for the season being (387).
In 1928 Mr. G. H. Breeze was again in form when playing away
at WILLENHALL 183-3 dec. he scored (901) runs. also J. Hayward
(39 n.o.) and again when playing a home match against ELWELLS
155-179, G. H. Breeze scored (771) runs. Other highlights
of the 1928 season were when playing at home against WALSALL
' A" 151-120. H. F McCarthy (71) and in a drawn game
in Pelsall's favour, F. Manning (62 n.o.). In a home match
against HINTS, Pelsall "B" team scored a notable
win 126-70. P. Duce being top batsman (52) and bowler (3-18).
In 1929 the great all-rounder Mr. G. Breeze was in the limelight
yet again. In a home match against ROUND OAK 183-154. he bowled
and took (3) wickets with the last three balls of the last
over, and in the return match. although Pelsall lost 189-227.
G. Breeze at the age of 64 notched up his first three figure
score for a Saturday match by scoring (106 n.o.).
The end of season records show that the Pelsall -A" team
had totalled 3.596 runs. top batsman being H. F. McCarthy
(468) runs and top bowler A G. Stackhouse (85) wickets. The
team's end of season total being 2562 runs top batsman and
bowler being A Stretton, with (277) runs and taking (67) wickets.
On 30th July, 1931. Pelsall won the Walsall C,C. Knockout
Competition and Mellor Cup at Gorway beating RUSHALL with
a moderate score of 69-30. W. G. Davis (37). G. Breeze (3-19).
The highlights of 1932 were the victories over ROUND OAK 199-150,
W.G. Davis (88), H.F. McCarthy (66), and against WIMBLEBURY
178-30, W. G. Davis (52) and also (5-10). There was also some
good bowling from J. Holmes (6-17) against BRIERLEY HILL 93-32.
The policy of playing "A" and "B" teams
of equal strength continued to work. In the "A"
team H.F. McCarthy was very consistent with the bat. In 1933
playing away at BARTON-UNDER-NEEDWOOD, Pelsall won a close
match 127-123, H. F. McCarthy (69) and again against MAYERS
GREEN 208-54, McCarthy (74), L. Hayward (40 n.o.). H. F. McCarthy
was again involved in helping to establish a new club record
score against HINTS 296-68 when playing for the "B"
team scoring (67), J. Taylor (52) and best bowler that day
being A. Richardson (8-26). The "B" team also did
very well in defeating at home BARTON-UNDER-NEEDWOOD II 126-52,
F. Manning (5-10). It was noted in the match against COSELEY
125-88 that G. Breeze, who by now was 67 years old and had
been nicknamed the "Peter Pan" of minor league cricket,
scored 39 runs.
Let's now look at some "A" team players of 1934,
G. Breeze, E. Breeze, W. Clayton, C. Harmer, H. F. McCarthy,
A. Richardson, D. Wright, J. Holmes, A. Stackhouse, W. G.
Davis and H. G. Gardner. There was some good bowling results
in 1935, notably F. Manning (5-25) against MARSH & BAXTERS
160-53, A. Richardson (53) and (5-9) against KENDRICK &
JEFFERSON 133-33, but the best display of accurate bowling
was by F. Holmes (9-27) against MARSH & BAXTERS 124-104
in .the return match. In 1936 his brother J. Holmes did slightly
better in a match against WALSALL PHOENIX 77-70 when he bowled
(9-10), A. Strerton for the "B" team bowled very
well against ELWELLS away, by taking (7-15).
It is not very often the wicket-keeper has a mention, but
in a match against WILLENHALL away 188-88, E. Fairfield had
3 players stumped and 1 caught to his credit off the bowling
of J. Holmes (5-35) and A. Stackhouse (5-40), best batsman
of the day was C. L. Harmer (68).
It is also worth mentioning at this point that on July 11th,
1936, in an away match against ALBRIGHTON and DONNINGTON 112-98,
George Breeze celebrated his 70th birthday by scoring (14)
runs for Pelsall "A". George actually joined the
Albion Cricket Club, as it was then, in 1904. Prior to this
he had played for Bloxwich, Walsall Unity (1892) and several
clubs in the Wolverhampton, Walsall and Cannock leagues.
In 1937 D. Wright (110 n.o.) became only the second Pelsall
batsman to exceed three figures on home ground in a drawn
match against ENVILLE 187-1-89-6. A few weeks later, however,
three figures were again exceeded by C. Stringer (103) against
ALBRIGHTON & DONNINGTON 226-38.
Pelsall also won the Walsall Cricket Club Knockout Competition
and Mellor Cup at Gorway for the second time (the first in
1931) by beating Walsall "A" team 112-91, A. Stackhouse
(59), J. Hayward (4-12).
1938 saw another century maker in the form of F. Wardell (102
n.o.) in a match at home against ASTON MUTUAL 169—105. For
the bowlers F. Kendrick (8-45) did very well. A typical Pelsall
"B" team for 1938 would be selected from J. Harris,
H. Witcutt, E. Breadon, J. Reeves, C. Stringer, L. Edwards,
E. Brown, A. Stretton, E. Williams, F. Smith, C. Booth, F.
Wardell and F. Kendrick.
The most notable performances of the 1939 era were against
WYLDE GREEN 151-44, B. Fairfield (60 n.o.) and A. Stackhouse
(5-13), also C. Wright (70), and again A. Stackhouse (5-13)
in an away match against ELFORD. In another away game against
FORDHOUSES, Pelsall won the match 117-112 with two minutes
left on the clock. J. Reeves scored a very useful (52 n.o.)
against LITTLE ASTON 126-118.