eighty five to win

[Vimto]

can anyone tell me please where i can find the poem "eighty-five to win" which describes the victory of australia over england at cricket at the oval late in the 19th century?

[factor-fiction]

I know it was written by John Masefield

[kettledrum]

Do you mean Vitai Lampada by Sir Henry Newbolt ?

... Ten to make and the match to win ..."

There's a breathless hush in the Close tonight -
Ten to make and the match to win -
A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
An hour to play and the last man in.
And it's not for the sake of the ribboned coat,
Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,
But his Captain's hand on his shoulder smote -
'Play up ! play up ! and play the game !'

The sand of the Desert is sodden red -
Red with the wreck of a square that broke; -
The Gatling's jammed and the Colonel's dead,
And the regiment's blind with dust and smoke.
The river of death has brimmed his banks,
And England's far, and Honour a name,
But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks:
'Play up ! play up ! and play the game !'

This is the world that year by year,
While in her place the school is set,
Every one of her sons must hear,
And none that hears it dare forget.
This they all with joyful mind
Bear through life like a torch in flame,
And falling fling to the host behind -
'Play up ! play up ! and play the game !'

Sir Henry Newbolt

[factor-fiction]

There is a poem "eighty-five to win " by John Masefield as vimto describes.

[kettledrum]

Thanks factor30. I can find a reference to it, but not the actual poem. Do you have a link?

[factor-fiction]

I can't find the full poem on the web but it is included in this book that's available from Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Breathless-Hush-Anthol ogy-Cricket-Verse/dp/0413775917/ref=sr_1_1?ie= UTF8&s=books&qid=1245655368&sr=1-1


http://books.google.com/books?q=%22eighty-five +to+win%22&btnG=Search+Books

[factor-fiction]

Any luck, Vimto?

[Vimto]

Sorry for the delay, I've been down "south" to Derby to watch the cricket; Freddie scored 93 which is a bit of a relief with the Ashes almost imminent .
Thank you all, especially factor30. I'm chuffed and will order the book from the library today.

[factor-fiction]

Yes, saw the game on TV- he looked to be enjoying himself.... but what a catch to get him out.

[ossetepoau]

I have an audio recording of this poem, read by the late BBC announcer John Snagge. Let me know if you are interested.