As I said, it was some time ago that I attempted to find out more about the Greenwich Cricket Match, so over my early morning cup of coffee I decided to see what the internet had to offer. I am pleased to say that I found much more information than I did originally.
Although the details of the game, including the final result, were basically the same as I outlined earlier, there were some differences. The match was not played at the Royal Hospital itself but at Aram's New Ground, Montpelier Gardens, Walworth. The match was scheduled for one day but extended to two and was played on the 16th and 17th August 1796.
The match was played for a purse of £1000 and such was the players enthusiasm for the game that five wooden legs were broken. The match was very well attended and created such excitement that there was very nearly a riot.
The score card for the game can be seen at
http://www.cricketarchive.comA similar game was held at Camberwell in 1841. This match was between two teams of mixed amputees representing the Greenwich and Chelsea Hospital Pensioners. The Chelsea Pensioners, having more one-legged men and being older, came off worst and lost by 19 runs to 176. A coloured etching depicting the game in progress is on display in the M.C.C. Museum.
Finally, in 1848 a re-run of the original one-legged versus one-armed match was held between two teams of Greenwich Pensioners at the Priory Ground. This was a two-day match.
Part of the reason the Pensioners were so keen to participate may have been the "substantial luncheon before each day's play" and the fact that "their dinner was a profusion of roast and boiled beef, and lamb, accompanied by plenty of heavy".
At the conclusion of the match both teams "marched to the Bull Inn, headed by an excellent band who had been engaged throughout the match. Each man had free passage to and from the Royal Hospital, a glass of grog to drink to Her Majesty's health and ten shillings for his two days' exertions".
The certainly bred tough sailors in those days!
Re the question of an official Royal Navy cricket team being in existence in the late-18th and early-19th centuries. Unfortunately no such team existed but it is a pleasant diversion to consider which characters from naval history would have been in the side - I personally favour Lord Cochrane as captain and opening bat!
However, there are accounts from this time ofcricket matches being organised between the crews of various ships.
Pete