On Saturday, Rye 1sts concluded the season with a trip to Seaford, threatened with relegation, there was much riding on the fixture for Seaford. Seaford won the toss and inserted Rye on a green wicket. Soon Seaford were on top as the ball did all sorts. James Goddard 4-22 and Luke Turner 2-23 soon had Rye 19-3, then 66-6, and at 100-8 Rye were looking down the barrel. However Australia bound for a winter playing cricket, Luke Payton then went on the attack. He hit 141 off just 123 balls, including nine 4s and twelve 6s, of mighty hitting. He played the Ben Stokes role as Jack Leach was played first by James Smeed 2 in a partnership of 76 and then Martin Blincow 0 no in a partnership of 46. Luke Payton was finally dismissed with the score on 222 off 42.1 overs.
In reply no Seaford batsmen could master the conditions or the Rye bowling. Craig Pierce 3-14 and Tobias Farrow 1-13 reduced Seaford to 6-4. Then overseas player Chanuka Dilshan in his final game took 5-22, aided by 3 remarkable catches, and Seaford were all out for 67 in 26.4 overs. Seaford with the bonus points narrowly avoided relegation.
Rye finished in 5th place and can be satisfied with a season defined by erratic availability. Rottingdean won the division. Rye lost twice to them, by 14 runs and by 3 wickets. If both results were reversed, Rye would have been champions.
The focus now is 2024, with plans underway on recruitment to bolster selection and maintain the development of the club.
The 2nds on Saturday arrived at the Salts to find a wet wicket. Buxted Park 2s won the toss and inevitably asked Rye to bat. Rye crawled to 109 all out, after scoring only 60 in the first 30 overs. Ben Clifton 45 top scored. Buxted Park after tea found conditions had considerably dried and eased home by 10 wickets.
Rye 2nds also finished 5th in their league and was a considerable feat having utilised 33 players, and as with the 1sts shows strength in depth, as the third team completed their season 3rd in their division.
As winter beckons the hard work for 2024 commences as we seek to raise sponsorship, start autumn junior coaching on October 4 and we look forward to discovering the exploits of Luke Payton with his winter sojourn as an overseas player in Australia.
Image Credits: Willow Grove Cricket Club .