The first cricket match

As the cold weather gives way to warmer days, a sport of warm days begins.
Cricket is almost as much our sport as rugby and it's been around for hundreds of years.
But the first recorded game is from December 20, 1843, and mentioned in the diary of Church Missionary Society leader Henry Williams.
His pupils at his mission school in Paihia in the Bay of Plenty were given a day off. They had sat exams the day before and sorely needed some play.
Williams himself played, conceding a run to a five year old bowler.
It was not until three years later that Charles Darwin wrote about a game during his nine day visit to New Zealand on the HMS Beagle in the Bay of Islands.
The first officially recorded cricket match was in Wellington on December 28, 1843 played between two teams just named red and blue.
Henry Williams was born on February 11, 1792, to lace manufacturer Thomas and his wife Mary Marsh.
At 14, Henry went into the Royal Navy looking to become an officer, but it was harsh hard work and after 10 years seeing active service, he was discharged.
Despite trying a job as a drawing master he began to prepare to be a missionary.
He married Marianne Coldham on January 20, 1818.
Henry then offered his service to the Church Missionary Society and was ordained before leaving for New Zealand arriving in the Bay of Islands in 1823.
Their idea was to convert people, especially Māori, but Henry’s first job was to stop the trade for food and arms.
He also wanted to devote more time to spiritual teaching and wanted missionaries to learn Māori to better preach.
Henry also preached peace, negotiating in intertribal disputes.
Increasing numbers of Māori began to be baptised, Henry sent missionaries to other areas, greatly increasing the reach of the CMS.
He was trusted by different Māori so when the Treaty was to be signed he explained its provisions.
When race relations began to sour, he tried to negotiate peace but the conflict over land became more and more hostile leading to him being accused of betrayal by both times.
Henry himself had purchased land and the validity of his claim was challenged and he was forced to defend it, along with his personal integrity but CMS found him an embarrassment and he was dismissed.
He became Archdeacon of Waimate in 1844.
He died on July 16, 1867 and is buried in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church in Pakaraka.
Picture by Matthew McLennan.​