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The Wake Cup
The Wake Challenge Cup - A Famous Cricket Competition for Prominent Clubs in South Yorkshire in the 1880's
With 1880 came the announcement by William Robert Wake, the Sheffield Registrar, of a Cup competition for prominent clubs in the Sheffield area within a ten-mile radius of the Parish Church. It was named the Wake Challenge Cup. The Cup, a solid silver trophy costing 50 guineas, attracted much attention and was fiercely competed for. Hallam won it the first year in 1880 and due to the interest created the boundaries were extended to 15 miles from 1881.
1881 Competition
In 1881 Willie Oates, the captain of Elsecar cricket Club, had competed for Wentworth in the Wake Challenge Cup but they were knocked out in the first round. With the extension of the boundaries Elsecar were eligible to compete and the Elsecar committee agreed to enter the competition. Amid mounting enthusiasm in the village Elsecar beat Manor Grange, Darnall, Hallam and then Kilnhurst and won through to the 1881 final. Johnny Wilson scored 75 not out at Manor Grange and 77 against Darnall. Willie Oates took 6 for 10 at Manor Grange and scored 67 not out against Hallam. The Final was against Chesterfield at Pitsmoor. Chesterfield included no less than 5 Derbyshire players including the fearsome William Mycroft. A crowd invasion and suspension of the match followed Elsecar trailing in the first innings by 55 runs. The match was resumed two weeks later and Mycroft who was reported using foul language to the umpires was prevented from playing. Without his tenacity Elsecar recovered to take the Wake Cup for the first time. Johnny Wilson was again the star with 79 runs and 5 wickets.
1882 - Wake Cup won Again
In 1882 Elsecar took the cup for the second time, beating Independent, Clarence, and Mortomley, and resisted a strong attempt by Hallam in the third round to deny them. Ebeneezer Sayles took 7 for 13 against the Independent and Mathias Hutchinson 7 for 16 against Clarence. Johnny Wilson was revelling in the competition, with 65 against Clarence and 68 not out against Hallam. Lockwood Brothers team succumbed in the final by an innings and 66 runs, with Johnny Wilson (54) and Willie Oates (45) putting on 102 for the first wicket. All Sheffield cricket circles were now talking about the Elsecar team and the clubs were determined to prevent their success.
1883 - The Wake Cup - Elsecar's permanent possession
Willie Oates and the Elsecar committee, with equal determination, recruited two professionals, John Thomas 'Turkeycock' Rawlin, later to achieve fame with Yorkshire, Middlesex and the M.C.C., and Alexander Merlin Corbett who would also play at county level with Yorkshire. They also engaged W.Slinn an ex Yorkshire player to coach the team. A difficult tie against Hallam followed an easy first round success against Manor Grange, in front of 2,000 people. The crowd increased to 3,000 for the Hallam match. Elsecar were, however worthy of the task, with Ebeneezer Sayles dominant with 7 for 12, and proceeded to a third round with Renishaw. An unexpected collapse saw Elsecar back in the pavilion with only 55 runs scored and the Renishaw supporters confident of victory. With six wickets down and 12 needed Johnny Wilson was brought on with his slow underhand lobs. This proved the turning point and Elsecar came out victors by 4 runs! Next came a semi final with Pitsmoor, W.R.Wakes' team and the most prominent club in Sheffield, with professionals and county players. Various estimates put the crowd at Pitsmoor between six and ten thousand, such was the interest and excitement. John Thomas Rawlin (4 for 20) and Charlie Cutts (6 for 49), an Ecclesfield lad, carried the game with their batting and bowling and Pitsmoor were vanquished by six wickets. Nether Hallam Rangers proved the last obstacle between Elsecar and the Wake Cup. There was however to be no mistakes as Elsecar occupied the crease the full day to score a club record 321 runs. Willie Oates and Johnny Wilson established a partnership of 148 for the first wicket with Willie scoring 84 and Johnny Wilson 57. In two innings Nether Hallam could only muster 154 and the Wake Cup became the clubs permanent possession. The scenes of celebration began at the ground and continued into Elsecar where thousands of people cheered to the echo the Elsecar team, conveyed in a waggonette and pair and preceded by a brass band playing See ye conquering hero comes.
The Wake Challenge Cup - A Famous Cricket Competition for Prominent Clubs in South Yorkshire in the 1880's
With 1880 came the announcement by William Robert Wake, the Sheffield Registrar, of a Cup competition for prominent clubs in the Sheffield area within a ten-mile radius of the Parish Church. It was named the Wake Challenge Cup. The Cup, a solid silver trophy costing 50 guineas, attracted much attention and was fiercely competed for. Hallam won it the first year in 1880 and due to the interest created the boundaries were extended to 15 miles from 1881.
1881 Competition
In 1881 Willie Oates, the captain of Elsecar cricket Club, had competed for Wentworth in the Wake Challenge Cup but they were knocked out in the first round. With the extension of the boundaries Elsecar were eligible to compete and the Elsecar committee agreed to enter the competition. Amid mounting enthusiasm in the village Elsecar beat Manor Grange, Darnall, Hallam and then Kilnhurst and won through to the 1881 final. Johnny Wilson scored 75 not out at Manor Grange and 77 against Darnall. Willie Oates took 6 for 10 at Manor Grange and scored 67 not out against Hallam. The Final was against Chesterfield at Pitsmoor. Chesterfield included no less than 5 Derbyshire players including the fearsome William Mycroft. A crowd invasion and suspension of the match followed Elsecar trailing in the first innings by 55 runs. The match was resumed two weeks later and Mycroft who was reported using foul language to the umpires was prevented from playing. Without his tenacity Elsecar recovered to take the Wake Cup for the first time. Johnny Wilson was again the star with 79 runs and 5 wickets.
1882 - Wake Cup won Again
In 1882 Elsecar took the cup for the second time, beating Independent, Clarence, and Mortomley, and resisted a strong attempt by Hallam in the third round to deny them. Ebeneezer Sayles took 7 for 13 against the Independent and Mathias Hutchinson 7 for 16 against Clarence. Johnny Wilson was revelling in the competition, with 65 against Clarence and 68 not out against Hallam. Lockwood Brothers team succumbed in the final by an innings and 66 runs, with Johnny Wilson (54) and Willie Oates (45) putting on 102 for the first wicket. All Sheffield cricket circles were now talking about the Elsecar team and the clubs were determined to prevent their success.
1883 - The Wake Cup - Elsecar's permanent possession
Willie Oates and the Elsecar committee, with equal determination, recruited two professionals, John Thomas 'Turkeycock' Rawlin, later to achieve fame with Yorkshire, Middlesex and the M.C.C., and Alexander Merlin Corbett who would also play at county level with Yorkshire. They also engaged W.Slinn an ex Yorkshire player to coach the team. A difficult tie against Hallam followed an easy first round success against Manor Grange, in front of 2,000 people. The crowd increased to 3,000 for the Hallam match. Elsecar were, however worthy of the task, with Ebeneezer Sayles dominant with 7 for 12, and proceeded to a third round with Renishaw. An unexpected collapse saw Elsecar back in the pavilion with only 55 runs scored and the Renishaw supporters confident of victory. With six wickets down and 12 needed Johnny Wilson was brought on with his slow underhand lobs. This proved the turning point and Elsecar came out victors by 4 runs! Next came a semi final with Pitsmoor, W.R.Wakes' team and the most prominent club in Sheffield, with professionals and county players. Various estimates put the crowd at Pitsmoor between six and ten thousand, such was the interest and excitement. John Thomas Rawlin (4 for 20) and Charlie Cutts (6 for 49), an Ecclesfield lad, carried the game with their batting and bowling and Pitsmoor were vanquished by six wickets. Nether Hallam Rangers proved the last obstacle between Elsecar and the Wake Cup. There was however to be no mistakes as Elsecar occupied the crease the full day to score a club record 321 runs. Willie Oates and Johnny Wilson established a partnership of 148 for the first wicket with Willie scoring 84 and Johnny Wilson 57. In two innings Nether Hallam could only muster 154 and the Wake Cup became the clubs permanent possession. The scenes of celebration began at the ground and continued into Elsecar where thousands of people cheered to the echo the Elsecar team, conveyed in a waggonette and pair and preceded by a brass band playing See ye conquering hero comes.
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