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A view of the crowd in front of the Seedhill pavilion. A previously unpublished image.

From a report by Don Smith:
West End dreams of glory splintered on the flailing bat of a tall young west Indian, Collis King. His 125 took Nelson into the final of the Worsley Cup against Church and yet Lowerhouse were not without honour in defeat. They dismissed Nelson for 189 and they failed to reach this total by 45 runs. A simple analysis means that King carried the Seedhill score for the amateurs to share 64 between them. King's innings is typical of a chapter of cricket which is doing so much to revive interest in the game in Nelson. The West Indian is so reminiscent of other great players including the stupendous L. N. Constantine. His driving power, the ease of his stroke play, his timing of shots and the way in which he leans into a scoring stroke to the off and uses his feet to get to the pitch of a delivery makes his performances exciting if not always memorable. King is fiercely aggressive but by his obvious delight in hitting the ball gives the fieldsmen the occasional chance.

Lowerhouse made a great start to this encounter and must have had a boost to morale when Benneworth scooped up a snick at slip off Alan Holden to send back the captain David Reeves at 10. Before the home supporters could recover Benneworth bowled Chris Hartley. The initiative was with the visitors, but there was the looming menace of Collis King. When he was joined by Frank Taylor, there came a gradual change in the situation. Despite some brilliant Lowerhouse fielding the King/Taylor partnership took the score from 13 to 97 when the amateur was run out. King was 125 when Trevor Jones in the 33rd over, rattled his wicket. The score was 180 for six and the remainder was anti-climax.

The Lowerhouse reply had a heartening start with Mick Swift and Brian Higgin clocking up the runs comfortably in an impressive opening partnership of 54. Then came Benneworth who made a watchful start as his partner Swift moved towards a score which would have brought a well-deserved collection. However, at six short of his 50 when he tried to drive, failed to hit hard enough and was caught by King. Benneworth's downfall was caused by a lightening stumping by wicketkeeper Alan Haigh. This was the vital blow to the West End - the turning point. The West Enders could beat Nelson - but not King, the man as yet uncrowned by a West Indies Test honour.