A "small, thin and wiry" batsman,[1] Lawrence made his first-class debut in 1891-92, but scored only 27 runs in his first four matches over two seasons.
At 2.45 on the first day Lawrence and Len Cuff went to the wicket to open for Canterbury, and when a short tea interval was taken three hours later both men had scored centuries.
[3] Cuff's 176 set a new record for New Zealand first-class cricket, beating George Watson's 175 in 1880-81.
[4] William Robertson took 14 wickets on his first-class debut, and Canterbury won the match by an innings and 156 runs.
He scored 18 and 51 in the first match, putting on 112 for the first wicket with Ned Sale,[8] and his career ended a few days later on his 40th birthday when New Zealand beat MCC by 56 runs in Wellington to square the series.