The Rye 1st XI made the 180 mile road trip to Stirlands last Saturday, and on arrival found another road to play cricket on. The toss was all important and on a lovely sunny afternoon, Stirlands won the toss and elected to bat. Rye were missing opening bowlers Craig Pierce and Olly Rhys Jones, and it soon became apparent how much they would be missed, as Stirland openers William Gubbins and Leo Wilkinson-Beal built a 41 run partnership before Hugo Nel dismissed Wilkinson-Beal.
It was to be the only success of the afternoon as Rye toiled to contain Gubbins and George Coles. The pair were never troubled by a Rye attack which failed to bowl consistently on a road of a wicket. Anything short or over pitched was punished through the leg side, the 35 yard boundary on the pavilion side proving very attractive. The pavilion tiled roof in particular suffered from the 9 sixes that rained down on it.
Stirlands never contemplated declaring, as the pair both proceeded to centuries. Gubbins finished with 44 not out and Coles secured his century in the 53rd and final over. Rye at tea might have felt a little punch drunk, but instead there was a sneaking suspicion that a successful run chase was possible.
Rye lost Dan Seabrook early on, but then began to bat their way into the game and reached 60-2, when Will Wheeler joined Hugo Nel. The pair then shared a 146 run partnership, as they took up the challenge with an array of lovely cricket shots, before Nel fell for 104. Wheeler followed soon after for 66, but Mickey Toomey then arrived at the crease, and the impossible almost became possible as he struck 34 runs off just 23 balls. Sadly, Rye fell short and settled for a draw on 263-7, a great effort, especially as Rye, due to the league rules, had received 6 less overs.
The 2nd XI equally had a close encounter, as they lost by 4 runs to Ansty 2nd XI. A young Rye team bowled well to restrict Ansty to 120-8, before the final two wickets added 40 precious runs, and they were dismissed for 160. Rye’s bowling was led by the U16 triumvirate of Tobias Farrow 2-15, James Smeed 2-26 and Tom Gasson 2-37, supported by the experienced Nick Paine 3-41. Rye struggled initially, slumping to 25-4, but then skipper Spencer Fielding(50) and Tobias Farrow (52), his first County League fifty, shared a 61 run partnership, and after Fielding departed, Farrow seemed to give Rye the chance for victory. His dismissal, and ninth man out on 150, finally saw Rye dismissed for 156. A great effort by the promising youngsters.
This Friday evening May 20, Rye CC hosts its Annual Quiz Night at The Sidney Allnutt Pavilion to raise funds for the pavilion. There is a BBQ from 7pm with the Quiz starting at 8pm. Teams of up to 6 people are invited to join in the fun, £6 entry per team. Colts Coaching runs as normal from 6-8pm.
This Saturday the 1st XI entertains West Chiltington in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera, the 2nd XI travels to Haywards Heath. On Sunday, there is a friendly away to Westfield, on Monday the Under 11s host Wye. On Tuesday the Under 15s host Great Chart and on Thursday the Under 13s go to Mersham, and finally on Friday the U17s host Boughton.
Photo: Janet Tiltman