Somerset Cricket Club Players Gallery. Massey Poyntz.

Edward Stephen Massey Poyntz (27 October 1883 – 26 December 1934)  played for Somerset in the early twentieth century as an amateur and right-handed batsman. He was also highly praised for his fielding ability, captaining Somerset in the two years prior to the First World War. He made his county cricket debut in 1905, hitting a half-century to help Somerset win their only match of that season.

In 1910 he captained Somerset for the first time, and scored over 300 runs in a season for the second of five occasions. His only attempts at bowling occurred during 1911, when he claimed eight wickets at an average of almost forty. He was named as Somerset’s official captain in 1913, and remained in charge for the following season. After serving in the Army during the First World War, he played two further matches for Somerset in 1919, after which he did not appear in first-class cricket again.

Photo from SCCC Players, Photographs and Statistics – available in the Museum and Library