Rye entertained Cuckfield 2nds in their first league game of the 2018 season, in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera. Rye skipper Harry Smeed won the toss and elected to bat first.
Rye got off to a bad start losing early wickets and were struggling at 27-2 but Harry Smeed (55) and Hamilton (39) took the score to 71 when Hamilton was dismissed, but Hatter and Smeed combined to take the score to 122 and this allowed the lower order to play their shots. Tom Williams (19) and Cleon Reece (18) moved the score along and with Tobias Farrow (11 not out) played a handy role allowing Rye to post a very competitive total of 193-8 off their 45 overs.
Rye felt that the score was above par for the wicket and outfield and a win would be attained, as long as they did the basics well.
Cleon Reece picked up an early wicket and things seemed to be going well until Wynn (52) and John (39) took the score along to 101-1 and the game looked to be moving in favour of Cuckfield. Then Smeed introduced himself into the attack and he produced a masterclass taking 5 wickets in 4 overs to reduce Cuckfield to 119-7, the other wicket falling to Thomson (1-25). Smeed finished with figures of (5-7) from 8 overs and when Cleon Reece returned to the attack to clean up the tail he had figures of (4-26) and Rye had claimed their first win of the season, bowling Cuckfield 2nds out for 136.
The “Concepts of Rye” MOM (Man of the Match) Award went to skipper Harry Smeed for his all-round performance.
Rye 2nds in the newly restructured Sussex League, find themselves up against several 1st XIs with a inexperienced squad of youngsters, mixed with some older hands. The first test last Saturday was against Lewes Priory 1st XI. Skipper Ben Clifton won the toss and invited Priory to bat. Fourteen-year-old Spencer Sharkey made the first inroad thanks to 15-year-old wicketkeeper Luke Payton’s stunning one-handed leg side catch. Gary Willis struck at the other end, and Lewes were 25-2. Lewes’s Chris Baker (62) and Imran Khan then shared a 100-run partnership, threatening to take the game away. However once Khan was dismissed by Harry Rhys Jones, Lewes faltered. Baker was the final man out in the 48th over with the score on 180. Lewes had been tied down by Ben Clifton, 4-63 off 17 overs, and Martin Blincow, 2-17 off 8.
Rye’s reply faltered with the loss of two early wickets, as the bounce got lower and lower. Mark Cook (25) and Spencer Fielding (28) shared a positive stand, but both were undone by subterranean balls. Rye then settled for a draw as Ben Clifton (19 not out) and Martin Blincow (4 not out) steered Rye to 107-6 with no dramas. A solid first game of the season.
Rye 1st XI travel to Rottingdean tomorrow to face fellow title contenders, whilst Rye 2nds host Crowhurst Park 2nds in a match sponsored by The Mermaid Inn. The 3rd XI host Hailsham 4th XI at Icklesham. The team are keen to get their season under way, after last week’s cancellation, as Bexhill 5th XI withdrew from the league.
Last Tuesday Rye U15s got their season started with a nine-wicket victory over Boughton. Boughton were bowled out for 96. All of Rye’s players bowled. There was a stand-out performance by Toby Channon, with a wicket, run out and a stunning catch. In reply Luke Payton (47) and Ewan Fricker (48) not out saw Rye to victory.
On Monday the U11s travel to Egerton, both the U15s and U13s have a free week. The All Stars programme starts on May 18 at 6pm, and the Rye Summer Coaching programme continues every Friday. For details of how to get your son or daughter involved, contact Martin Blincow on blincsfamily@aol.com
Photo: Martin Blincow