Soon Leinster were moving in even more exalted circles. In 1869 with an innings victory over Phoenix to boost their morale, they embarked on their first Channel tour, boasting as their tour motto "cricket in it's best form". Then came the piece de resistance: W.G.Grace was asked to bring a side across to Rathmines!

In September of 1873 Leinster put 22 players in the field against Grace's XI, which included his brother G.F. and nine professionals. The talent-loaded visitors struggled to escape with a draw. At the finish Leinster needed only 30 to win and had 14 wickets to fall.

As Grace had been enjoying his tenth and best season in first-class cricket, his performance was something of a let-down for the large and expectant attendance. He did not bowl in Leinster's first innings of 212 and then opening the innings, his batting was uncertain and lacked sparkle. In the first innings he fell for 36 and made only four runs more on his second visit to the wicket. There were even suggestions that not only had he been caught behind in the early stages of each knock and given "not out" but at other times Leinster fielders had flagrantly messes easy chances to catch him out.

The two famous brothers came back again the following year when it was an altogether different story, W.G. making 153 and G.F. 103 in a grand total of 431, - the highest tally ever mustered against a team of 22 fielders. Leinster's XXII aggregated 245 between them (W.G. claiming 8 for 88( and 34-3 in the limited batting time in the second innings.

July 18, 1874 was indeed a day of significant co-incidence. It was the last time that W.G. and his brother Frederick would score centuries together in the same match. It was W.G.'s 26th birthday. It was also the day on which the great W.H.Lambert was born within a stones throw of the Leinster cricket ground.

The only discordant note was struck by the honourary secretary who had to report that "although the attendance was considerable it was not at all what we expected it would have been; and we regret extremely to record that the expenses incurred were not covered by the receipts" - seemingly because the match had a rival attraction in the Kingstown Regatta.

On the occasion of the Grace's first visit the Freeman's Journal saw much merit in Leinster's display. Their cricket correspondent commented: "Mr Grace's play was an exception to his general style and though his score fell far below his customary figure, it cannot be attributed to any falling off of form. His being disposed of so easily reflects no small credit on the bowlers and if we may particularise, Mr Neill especially, off whose bowling he was missed ere he had scored a double."

All of Ireland's cricketers and fans of today must list W.G.Grace's 1874 visit to Rathmines as the match they would have loved to watch had they been born a few generations earlier.

Points to make?

Try the LCC Forum