Robert Relf, brother of A.E. and EH., was a consistent right-hand opening batsman and right-arm fast medium bowler who played 283 matches between 1905 and 1924.
He scored 13,533 runs including 22 centuries average 28.31 and took 292 wickets at 27.32 runs each including 5 wickets in an innings 11 times and 10 wickets in a match once. He scored 1,000 runs in a season six times and hit three double centuries with a highest score of 272 not out against Worcestershire at Eastbourne in 1909.
His career with Sussex ended in an unfortunate manner. During the match against Surrey at The Oval in 1924, Percy Fender, the Surrey captain, objected to his playing on the grounds that he had played for Berkshire during the previous season and had thus broken his qualification. After fielding for a short time Relf was withdrawn from the Sussex side and returned to play for Berkshire.