In the 1738 English cricket season, there were a reduced number of match reports. London featured in all the games reported. Chislehurst became a prominent club. An advertisement in the Sherborne Mercury dated Tuesday 9 May 1738 is the earliest reference for cricket in Dorset. Twelve Dorchester men at Ridgway Races challenged twelve men from elsewhere to play them at cricket for the prize of twelve pairs of gloves valued at a shilling a pair.