This Saturday Rye Cricket Club embarks on a new season after a successful indoor season. The 1st VI won the double of Indoor League and Indoor Cup and the 2nd VI, of mainly Colts, achieved promotion from Division 3. The Club has run an Indoor Coaching programme with 50 youngsters aged 5-17 participating, and adult nets have been well attended. A particular mention for 16 year old Elise Jorgensen who has been at Rye for 6 years, who this winter joined the Sussex Ladies Cricket Academy.
This Saturday the 1st XI travel to play Lordswood near Chatham in a friendly. They will be skippered this season by Harry Smeed, newly returned from his overseas winter contract, playing for Port Melbourne in Australia. Harry will be supported by vice-captain George Wathen. Originally this was a home fixture, but the Rye Cricket Salts is suffering from a lack of preparation caused by the extremely inclement weather recently. The 2nds travel to Hawkinge for a friendly.
Rye Cricket Club welcomes overseas paceman Cleon Reece from Montserrat, who will be leading the new ball attack and who will be contributing to the Club’s Summer Coaching programme. Rye also welcomes Tom Williams to the club. The wicketkeeper batsman, who previously played for Tunbridge Wells will strengthen the Rye batting line up, as they seek promotion from Division 4 East of the newly formed cricket league, The Sussex Premier League, which now encompasses all league cricket in Sussex.
The 2nds will be in Division 6 East, led by Ben Clifton and his vice-captain Ellis Hatter. The 3rd XI, in Division 14 East, will be skippered by James Jury with vice-captain Tony Cousins. All 3 captains of Rye Cricket Club are former colts and represent the club’s aim to be a community club.
The club would like to thank all the local sponsors whose support ensures cricket continues to thrive, Heringtons Solicitors, Rush Witt & Wilson, Contour Contracts, Concept, who are sponsoring the 1st XI; MOM, Martyn Channons, Peter Farrow Jewellers, Atlas Hire, Mahdi Spice, Rye Retreat, Union Steakhouse, The Plough at Udimore, Rye Locksmith, Tony Bowles Carpets, Rye Cleaners, My Sweet Old Etcetera, Southern Travel, Adrian Baker Carpets, Haydens, Grammar School Records, Manning Duffie Architects, Phillips and Stubbs, Ashdown Hurrey, DR Print Solutions and The Old Dairy Brewery.
Rye will hold its Signing on Night on Friday April 27 at 7:30pm at The Sidney Allnutt Pavilion on the Cricket Salts for all budding cricketers, starting from the Age of 5. Rye is a centre for the ECB All Stars Cricket Coaching for 5-8-year olds and offers coaching on Friday nights from Friday May 4 for Primary aged boys and girls, from 6-7pm, and for Secondary aged boys and girls from 7-8pm, with ECB qualified coaches. Rye will be running teams at Under 9, 11, 13 and 15. So there is an invitation to local boys and girls to come along and play a fun game in a very supportive environment.
Photo: Martin Blincow