ON THIS DAY by Paul Hargreaves
8th August 1925
Lowerhouse vs Todmorden
Lowerhouse batted first, but soon lost their most experienced amateur, skipper Arthur Spencer, for just 2. Spencer was a long serving club servant who played 403 League games for Lowerhouse. He scored 4,614 runs with a personal best of 94. After so many games it must have been heartbreaking to get so close to a maiden century.
Spencer’s career total also fell agonisingly close to being the most by a Lowerhouse amateur pre-Second World War. He was in touching distance of Joe Cook (4711) and Tommy Shutt (4687). This left things open for Herbert Lawson to win the race to 5000. Going into the last game of the 1941 season versus Enfield at home, Lawson needed 22 runs. He just did enough, making 23.
H.N. Haworth (26) and Sidney Smith (24) were the highest scoring batsmen. Only extras with 25 and Billy Wade, with a valuable 14 batting at No. 10, were other double figure contributors. Lowerhouse had battled to 116 all out.
In Todmorden’s reply opener Charles Helliwell top scored with 29, and their top four batters all reached double figures. Besides Helliwell these were Stephenson (14), Heyhirst (14) and Sunderland (11). The latter had a very good day having taken 4-19 in 16 miserly overs in the ‘House innings.
They got themselves into a favoured position but all their lower order failed and they finished 13 runs short at 103 all out. J.W. Halstead, a Hall of Fame amateur bowler, was undoubtedly the star performer, with his crucial 6-31. He was backed up by pro’ Claude Carter who took 4-53.
Lowerhouse could be proud that they’d defended a relatively low target. Carter was the Club’s first ever overseas player and only their second ever Test player. (Yorkshire born Walter Lees was the first in 1912)
Carter had toured twice with the South Africa Test team, the first time pre-War in 1912. He played in 10 Tests for his country but never played on a winning team.
Although Lowerhouse had overcome Todmorden on this day they finished four places below them in the final League table. Todmorden were seventh and Lowerhouse down in eleventh. Not that great really but there was a small consolation for local pride. Burnley finished mired in rock bottom in 1925!