Rye travelled to Southwater on Saturday with high hopes of securing victory against the bottom of the table side.
After some decidedly inclement weather the Southwater skipper didn’t hesitate to insert Rye into bat after winning the toss on a pitch that looked as though it would be challenging for batting.
Despite the conditions Rye got off to a relatively solid start with openers Dan Seabrook and George Wathen establishing a partnership of 24 before Wathen (13) was caught and bowled by Dan Skett (1 for 35).
Seabrook continued to play well in combination with Hugo Nel (15) to take the score along to 65 before the latter was dismissed by a brute of a delivery from Nick Baker. Baker (3 for 28) continued to gain assistance from the pitch and reduced Rye 107 for 5 after the dismissal of Seabrook, falling just two short of a deserved half century.
The remainder of the Rye innings was a succession of batsmen getting starts but then succumbing to accurate bowling of the Southwater attack. Mickey Toomey was the second highest scorer of the innings with 19 as Rye eventually found themselves 167 all out.
At the interval the consensus was that 167 was a more than competitive total on a dicey and decidedly under-prepared pitch. Initially this optimism was well founded as Rye reduced Southwater to 70 for 4 inside the first 20 overs of their reply.
However, Johann Brower (58 not out) and Daniel Skett (47 not out) forged a 97 run partnership to break the back of the Rye attack as the pitch started to dry despite the best efforts of Harry Smeed (3 for 34) and Fin Thomson (1 for 40). Southwater then went past Rye’s total to score 168-4 and leave Rye’s hopes for promotion very much diminished.
Rye 2nds 185-7 53 overs Burgess Hill 2nds 186-3 40.1 overs
Rye 2nds were competitive in this game against one of the teams pushing for promotion until three squally showers put a true dampener on the afternoon, as Rye had just secured a threatening position with Burgess Hill 48-3. Prior to that point Rye had lost the toss and were invited to bat. Early on the Rye batsmen made a cautious start moving to 48-3, when Spencer Fielding 85 not out and Mark Cook 30 shared a 52 run partnership as Fielding dealt mainly in boundaries. Jack Dudley joined Fielding and they took the innings on to 151, before James Smeed 11 not out and Martin Blincow 10 saw Rye through to 185-7.
After tea the opening partnership of Jack Dudley 1-46 and James Smeed 1-17 reduced Burgess Hill to 3-2 and then Oscar Goodsell removed skipper Yates for 33 and Burgess Hill were 48-3. At which point three sharp showers turned the ball into a proverbial bar of soap, which the Rye bowlers couldn’t control, and Barnes 80 not out and Penfold 59 not out took full advantage and saw Burgess Hill home easily.
Hellingly 4th XI 169-9, Rye 3rd XI 112
Rye third team travelled to Ninfield to face Hellingly fourths and on winning the toss asked the home side to bat first.
Hellingly got off to a steady start scoring 46 before the loss of the first wicket through the bowling of Nick Paine in the fifteenth over as
Paine went on to bowl a tight spell of 1-49 from 19 overs. The next wicket didn’t fall until the thirtieth over when Tony Goodsell dismissed Bradley Rose who had scored 75 as Hellingly were on 105-2. Goodsell then claimed a wicket in each of his next three overs including the dismissal of Paul Kirk (27) as Goddsell went on to finish
with figures of 5-61 from 16 overs. John Josiah bowled a tight spell towards the end of the innings to finish with figures of 2-14 from 5 overs including Vince Rose (17). Hellingly finished on 169-9 from their allotted overs, Mike Stoneham (1-10) was the other Rye wicket taker.
The home side got off to a good start after tea reducing Rye to 21-2 in the fifth over through the bowling of Vince Rose (2-30). A third wicket partnership of 37 between Paul Payton and John Josiah steadied the innings before the latter was dismissed for 22, Payton (22) fell soon after also to Paul Kirk who finished with figures of 3-18. James Jury scored 22 before being stumped off the bowling of Callum Lainchbury who finished with figures of 2-18. Meg Loveland (2-27) claimed the final two wickets as Rye were dismissed for 112 with Max Goodsell finishing
on 16 not out.
This Saturday Rye host Glynde in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera, the 2nds travel to Glynde, whilst the thirds host Crowhurst Park 4ths at Icklesham.