He began his professional cricket career 1867 at the Birkenhead Club, and stayed there for three years until he was employed at Grantham from 1870 to 1871.
He also played as a soccer midfielder for Grantham Town on 20 October 1874 against the Third Volunteer Lincolnshire RIfles.
Rylott was a left-arm fast bowler and took 456 first-class wickets at an average of 11.69 and a best performance of nine for 30.
He was a right-handed tail-end batsman and played 137 innings in 85 first-class matches with an average of 6.33 and a top score of 45.
He was the author of a book of verse called Our Bobby Rylott when a Boy.