Rye hosted Brighton and Hove, looking to continue their positive start to the season in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera.
Rye captain Smeed lost the toss and on a good looking wicket Brighton decided to bat.
Rye got off to the perfect start reducing Brighton to 12-3, Altaf Ahmed doing the damage, claiming all three of the wickets. But then Brighton fought back and a brilliant partnership of 137 between Curtis Smith (65) and Matthew Ford (63*) put Brighton in a strong position. No one else really posted a score for Brighton but inaccurate bowing resulted in a high extras tally.
With 31 wides(!) Brighton posted a competitive 210-7.
Rye felt that this was a par score and with a decent effort with the bat it could be chased down. Unfortunately they never got going, and a failure to compile a partnership of any magnitude was the downfall .The only batsman to offer any resistance was Mickey Toomey (25) and Rye were bundled out for a highly disappointing score off 88.
The only way to move on is to bounce back this weekend when Rye travel to Bexhill 1sts at The Polegrove, 12:30pm start.
Rye 2nds made the short journey to Crowhurst Park 2nds last Saturday. They won the toss and elected to bowl. Rye fielded a very young attack as 16-year-olds Spencer Sharkey 1- 34 and Freddie Mackenzie bowled tidily but took only one wicket. Dan Flanagan and Matt Peters built a steady partnership of 93. Rye’s interest in the game quickened as Martin Blincow’s spell of 8-1-25-4 restricted Park to 151-5 with top scorer Jon Peters out for 71. But Rye were unable to press home as Park reached 191-5 in 40 overs.
It was an eminently reachable target and Rye scored 21 off the first 2 overs. However the innings spectacularly unravelled in a flurry of boundaries and wickets. Batsmen arrived, played shots and departed. Rye succumbed to 104 all out in just 20.1 overs. Jake Bryant top scoring with 21 and for Park, Sam Bunday with 5-47 doing the damage, supported by Keith Hobbs 2-28.
Rye third team made the short journey to face Crowhurst Park fourth team in division 12 East (South) of the Sussex Cricket League and on losing the toss were asked to field first.
The home side got off to a rapid start punishing any wayward bowling and making the most of any extras with an opening stand of 74 between Henry Laver and Stuart Botley (19) before the latter was caught off the bowling of David Jempson (1-24). Tom Ayres then joined opener Laver and in a second wicket partnership of 85 put Crowhurst Park in a strong position of 159-2 as Laver was stumped for 74 off the bowling of Reece Martin (1-32).
The return of opening bowler Callum Hadaway saw wickets start to fall at more regular intervals including that of Ayres for 52. With the home side at 202-4 Mike Stoneham then ripped the middle and lower order apart as he went on to finish with figures of 6-50 from 9 overs, with the penultimate over of the innings seeing four wicket including a hat trick. Crowhurst Park were dismissed for 208 with Hadaway finishing with figures of 2-48.
After tea Rye got off to a poor start with the top four batsmen unable to make double figures, with wickets falling to Charlie Gasper (2-9) and Harvey Cornford who went on to finish with figures of 3-36 as Rye were 23-3. James Jury looked to steady the innings, Callum Hadaway made a quick 10 before he became the first victim of Justin Harley who finished with figures of 3-19. Jury was eventually bowled by the returning Thomas Laver (1-28) having scored 25, Mike Stoneham looked to increase the Rye score before being the last wicket to fall after scoring 28. George Jempson was the only other batsmen to reach double figures scoring 23 as Rye were dismissed for 159, Tom Ayres (1-23) was the other Crowhurst Park wicket taker.
The Colts Season commenced last week. A young Under 13 side lost to Tenterden, but played well, but suffered against their opponents’ physical advantage. The U11s defeated Ashford Town in an excellent all round performance, with 4 players making their hard ball debuts.
This Saturday the 1st XI travel to Bexhill 1st XI, the 2nd XI host Laughton 1st XI in a match sponsored by The Mermaid Inn, and the 3rd XI host Eastbourne 4th XI at Icklesham.
Next week the U15s host Egerton on Tuesday and the Under 13s host Mersham on Thursday. The Friday evening Softball cricket is popular with 30 participants, but there is room for more boys and girls. Hard Ball practice continues on Wednesday for Under 11s/13s 6-7pm and Under 15s/18s 7-8pm, with Adult Nets on both Wednesdays and Fridays, 6-8pm. There is plenty of opportunity to get involved – contact Martin Blincow at blincsfamily@aol.com.
All of this takes place at The Rye Cricket Salts, where a new welcome sign has been raised, with Rye’s new sponsor, Old Dairy Brewery featuring. The Club would like to extend a big thank you to The Old Dairy Brewery for their generous support. It certainly helps when contemplating a bad day at the office.
Image Credits: Rye Cricket Club .