Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia

Held on Friday, Saturday & Sunday
10th, 11th & 12th April 2026

Oxford v Cambridge ‘The University Match at Lord’s’ 1841, Seventh Varsity match held. Original scorers sheets from the match played on the 14th, 15th & 16th July 1841, these sheets were compiled by the Oxford scorer. The sheets are handwritten in a neat hand and are laid down to card, sheets to both sides. Handwritten titles of the match, dates to the top of the sheets. The first sheet shows the innings of Cambridge who made 103 in the first innings, J.B.R. Bulwer top scoring with 31, Lowth taking four of the wickets to fall, the second sheet shows the Oxford first innings where they also made 103 with A.E. Dryden top scoring with 28, Sayers, five and St. Croix, four, taking the wickets for Cambridge. By the close of play Cambridge has set Oxford a total 120 to win the match by themselves scoring 120, Bulwer again top scoring with 30 runs, the next day Oxford were out for 112-9 and lost the match, with R. Garth top scoring with 40 not out. However Lord Ward was absent and is marked on the sheet has ‘absent’ and could not be found and probably lost the match for Oxford needing on eight runs to win. In addition to these sheets there are the original sheets for the Marylebone Cricket Club v Oxford University match played two days later. In this match M.C.C. won by six wickets, Oxford making 157 and 105, M.C.C. making 123 and 140-4. The majority of the sheets are back to back on the card with two exceptions. Good condition
There are several printed notes with the sheets, one which sounds like a first hand description of the match which notes ‘An early morning shower made the grass wet, as the last day began. A passing horse had flicked mud on to the scorer’s notes as he settled in to record an exciting last day’s play.... Just before Dinner, Oxford were well set at 95-5 until suddenly Mr Sayres clean bowled Lord Loftus and Mr Mills with consecutive balls. Lord Ward was due to face the hat trick ball but could not be found anywhere! Almost ten minutes passed before the Oxford men finally gave up hope of finding him leaving Cambridge to celebrate an unlikely victory. Lord Ward, whose absence was almost entirely to blame for the defeat was soon forgiven and went on to become the First Earl of Dudley and the M.C.C. President in 1864. Our scorer went back to his lodgings that night and carefully filled in these pages.... from his mud spattered notes. ’The scores sheets were purchased from the M.C.C. in 1987 and have been part of the Roger Mann collection until fairly recently.

Back to top