Thus in a Cup first round match against Ulster in 1925 he had 7-20, dismissing the Ballynafeigh men for 92 and setting up a 7 wickets victory. He was, however, on the losing side against the same opposition three years later when, despite a remarkable bowling feat bringing him 9-72, a fine innings by Stanley Watson, saw Ulster post what proved to be a winning total. By the time Lisburn lifted the NCU Challenge Cup in 1929, John had moved to NICC. It may have been some consolation that the following season, when he made 10 appearances for North taking 18 wickets at 18.88, he reserved his best bowling figures for the match against the Wallace Park side, returning an analysis of 15-4-25-3.

He also made some appearances for Queen's, none better than in 1924 at Ballynafeigh when he took 8-31 against Dublin University, rescuing his side from a first innings collapse for 88. Though Queen's were 31 behind they went on to win by 46 runs. Besides several Irish internationals, John also took the wicket of Samuel Beckett. The Trinity men collapsed against him again two seasons later when he guested for North Down at The Green when his "5 for" included George McVeagh and prepared the way for the hosts to win by 4 wickets."

John also made three appearances for Ulster v Leinster taking 4-41 on his final appearace in 1929, though this was not enough to prevent a Leinster victory. He had more success when playing for the Province against the touring Cambridge University Crusaders. In a drawn match in 1926 at Ormeau he took 6-32 in the visitors' second innings. following this, he had 4-45 in the second innings the following year. On this occasion, however, the Crusaders were too strong for their hosts."

Of his seven matches for Ireland, four were played at Ormeau and five against MCC. The former figure suggests that he may, sometimes at least, have owed his selection to the desire of the Irish selectors to choose a side which would augment the gate at Ormeau. Though he was not an outstanding success in all of his games for the national side, this, if true, seems a rather unjust reflection on his ability.

His debut match - played at Ormeau, was also his best, though Ireland, captained by William Pollock, ended by losing to their visitors, Wales by 9 wickets. Ireland, winning the toss and batting were bowled out for 134, John at 10 falling to Glamorgan all rounder Trevor Arnott for 0. Arnott was a very good medium pace swing bowler, who narrowly missed test selection, touring the west indies in 1934/35. Opening the Irish bowling with Pollock, John had the highly creditable figures of 11-1-34-4, removing the two openers Frank Morton and John Bell before returning to help dispose of the tail. Bell, of Yorkshire and Glamorgan, who later became a first class umpire, scored almost 9000 first class runs, including two double hundreds. He was probably the most distinguished wicket of John's career. John's figures do, however, present a mystery. The match was closely fought in the first innings until the last three Welsh wickets added 175. During this time John's bowling seems to have been ignored, match reports not suggesting that he was off the field. Less successful bowlers bowled twice the amount of overs. His rather strange treatment continued when Ireland batted again. Pollock took him in to open the innings. Unsurprisingly he was out for 7. Wales, needing only 63 to win, had little difficulty in reaching their target.

His one other match of note for Ireland was against a weakish MCC side at Ormeau in 1928. Rain on the second day saved the visitors from defeat after they had been routed for 85 their first innings by excellent bowling from the hosts pace attack of John, who came on first change, and the Dublin University pairing of Tom Dixon and Pat Thornton. Dixon had 5-30 while John finished with the commendable figures of 10-4-18-3. The best known cricketer whom he dismissed was Charles Hill - Wood, who, however, as a clever medium pacer, was much better known for his bowling than his batting.

John was probably better known as a footballer playing as a midfielder - left half for those such as this writer whose knowledge of the game is based on antediluvian childhood memories - for Cliftonville, where he played alongside fellow cricketer Billy McCleery, and later Glenavon. He appeared both as an amateur and semi-professional, winning four amateur caps for Ireland / Northern Ireland between 1919/23, captaining the side on one occasion. He also gained two full caps for Northern Ireland ( then despite partition still playing as Ireland ) between 1921 and 1924. Unfortunately both matches were lost, Wales being the winners in 1921 and the touring South Africans in 1924, the margin being 2 - 1 on each occasion. John also gained one Irish League Cap in 1921.

In 1930 John married Norah Scott, daughter of a prominent Antrim doctor, shortly afterwards the couple moved to Jamaica where he had been appointed Principal of Kingston Technical School. In this role he helped develop technical education and its teaching in the island. Later he took up a senior academic appointment in Lagos from which he retired in 1950. Back in Belfast he became Secretary of the Northern Ireland Civil Servants Association, but had been ill for some time when he died. He was survived by Norah, who lived until 1971 and their three daughters.

I am considerably indebted to David Holmes in providing many personal details of John Harris and also to Clarence Hiles' History of the NCU Challenge Cup , published October 2011.

Edward Liddle, May 2011; updated September 2012 & December 2021