Having broken with Game, on whom they had usually depended for "instruction and reproof," they boldly claimed the services of Bloomfield, and even pressed the willing Mr Parrett into the service.
Mr Parrett pulled a very long face the first afternoon he came down to look at them.

He had been coaching the Welchers for a week or two past, and therefore knew pretty well what their opponents ought to be.

And he was bound to admit that the young Parretts were very much below the mark.
They had a few good men.

Parson was a fair bat, and King bowled moderately; but the "tail" of the eleven was in a shocking condition.
Everything that could be done during the next few days was done.

But cricket is not a study which can be "crammed" up, like Virgil or Euclid; and, despite the united efforts of Bloomfield and Mr Parrett, and a few other authorities, the team was pronounced to be a "shady" one at best as it took its place on the field of battle.
Riddell had kept his men steadily at it to the last.