MONTHLY ROUND-UP: APRIL 1868
The Royal Artillery Barracks have continued their wonderful start in the Metropolitan League, as the newcomers won all three games they played in the month of April to remain undefeated. That run culminated in a victory over an Angel Islington team who had themselves made an excellent start. Angel’s defeat to end the month allowed the City of London Club to move into a surprise second place, as they won all four games that they played in the month. The Regent’s Park had looked to be moving into contention to defend their title after starting April with two wins, but defeats at the hands of the Artillery and the Old Westminsters knocked them back to an even three wins and three losses.
That was a rare win for the Westminsters who had begun the year by losing four of their first five, as had the other new team Greenwich, before they also ended the bad run by defeating Kensington to end the month. Greenwich have in fact scored more runs than any other team, but their pitching has so far been poorer than expected. Well fancied Clapham continue to struggle, victory over the Old Westminsters being the only one they have recorded up to now, while Kensington lost all four of their games this month and they too have just one win, but from one game more than Clapham.
At Oxford University, the addition of midweek play means that the season is already almost half over and although nobody really backed Magdalen College to be champions, they lead the way with nine wins and three losses from their twelve games. Christ Church had been leading the chase on their own, but two defeats to end the month, including one against Magdalen, leave them two games behind. They share second place with Trinity College, while everyone else has a losing record for the year.
