CRICKET: Preview to the 2010 season

The West Sussex Invitation League has been re-structured into 10 divisions and, for the first time, the champions will be promoted into the Sussex League '“ with relegation from the Sussex League also coming into effect.

WORTHING

Sussex League Division 2.

Captain: Dominic Clapp.

Overseas: Ben Duncan (Australian left-handed batsman and off-spinner).

Clapp said: "We've had a few players sign in the off season. Ben misses the first two weeks of the season because his flight has been delayed but we've got another overseas player, Samrat Sengupta, who can fill in and will then play for the third team. Our aim is to be up the top challenging for promotion.

"We've made steady progress since I came back to the club and this year we'll look to turn those narrow losses and draws into victories."

ARUNDEL

Sussex League Division 3 West

Vice-captain: Justin Murray.

Overseas: Ed Lewis (Australian).

Murray said: "We just want to be consistent with our team selection this year and have the same players every week. If we do that, we've got a chance of being competitive.

"With promotion and relegation coming in, we'll just look to consolidate."

FINDON

Sussex League Division 3 West

Captain: Barry Meaney.

Meaney said: "Our aims for the season are to find a successful formula that will allow us to mix experience with the undoubted young talent the club possesses.

"Findon has a proud tradition of bringing through players from the excellent colt section and this is the challenge that I am most looking forward to '“ helping the younger guys to develop."

GORING

Sussex League

Division 3 West.

Captain: Dan Pittham.

New players: Andy Taylor, Andy Rayland. Overseas: Ross Brown (Australian all-rounder).

Pittham said: "Staying up is our first concern and then anything in the top three or top half would be amazing, and to win it would obviously be incredible.

"We have a few guys at the club who haven't played for a few years that are coming back, so they will be a boost."

Other news: Matt Keen will miss the first half of the season as he is travelling in Australia.

LITTLEHAMPTON

Sussex League Division 3 West.

Captain: Gareth Challen.

Overseas: Shoham Bowala (Sri Lankan right-arm pace bowler).

Challen said: "Our aim will be to get promoted. We've got a pretty good squad of players and if we play to our potential we should win the league. I think Middleton and Bognor will be our big rivals but we need a good start."

Other news: After failing to win a league game last season, Littlehampton got this year off to a winning start when they won the Arun Leisure Centre Indoor League.

Graham Blann returns after missing last year with a broken ankle.

STEYNING

Sussex League Division 3 West

Captain: Matt Sewell.

New players: Serg Periera, Hywell Jones. Overseas: Chris Watt (Australian paceman).

Players out: Dave Mates (Brighton & Hove).

Sewell said: "Our aims are to be strong in the league, I don't want to come out and say we'll be promoted but that is our aim. We finished fourth last season, so we'll look to better that."

BROADWATER

West Sussex Invitation League Division 1.

Captain: Graham Waller.

Waller said: Promotion into the Sussex League is definitely the aim this year, the youth structure we have in place is excellent and we're looking to move forwards. No pressure but my instructions are to get up a division. We, hopefully, have a couple of big-name sigings to come too."

Other news: Austialian Russell Bagley, who was at the club in 2005, will be available for a few weeks during the season.

CLYMPING

West Sussex Invitation League Division 1.

Clymping will be hoping for a strong season after finishing sixth in the Invitation League last year.

EAST PRESTON

West Sussex Invitation League Division 1

Captain: Andy Reeves.

New players: Tim Miles, Chris Williams.

Reeves said: "We are aiming to win the division to put us in the position to get into the Sussex League. A lot of the players will have grown up a bit as we had a few youngsters and colts coming through last season and things are progressing nicely."

PORTSLADE

West Sussex Invitation League Div 1

Captain: Jamie Howick

Players out: Alex Smith, Sam Jones, Luke Jones, Andy Reid, Tom Van Der Neut.

Howick said: "We've got one of the best colts sections in the county, so they'll be blooded the hard way this year as we've lost a few players. But I think we'll surprise a few people this season and it's really not pie in the sky to think we can win the league. A lot of the colts have said they're openly ready to open the batting or open the bowling, and there's no reason why we can't be up near the top."

Other news: Portslade are in desperate need of umpires. Anyone interested can call Jamie Howick on 07789 706265.

SOUTHWICK

West Sussex Invitation League Division 1

Captain: Chris Summers.

Players out: Peter Fieldwick.

Summers said: "Our aim will be not be relegated and give a good account of ourselves.

"We'll look to make Southwick Green a fortress again, like it was a few years ago and we want to enjoy our cricket. We've got a good team spirit and we'll just see where it takes us."

Other news: Tim Shutt and Mark O'Keefe should be able to play more games than in recent years but Hanan Burki misses the early part of the season with university commitments.

WORTHING CHIPPINGDALE

West Sussex Invitation League Division 3

Captain: Pete Mansell.

Players out: Leigh Chambers.

Mansell said: "Obviously the main aim is to consolidate after suffering two successive relegations. We want to get back on track and, although it's an old clich, take every game as it comes. We'll see where it goes, we certainly have the players to do something this year, I've no doubt about that, but we need to stop the rout."

LANCING MANOR

West Sussex Invitation League Division 4

Captain: Andrew Livermore.

Livermore said: Our main aim will be trying to get two sides out each Saturday, while the under-12 junior section is our new venture.

"New players for the adults and juniors are very welcome, and we will be going on a tour to Malta at the beginning of July."

RUSTINGTON

West Sussex Invitation League Div 4

Captain: Martin Payne.

Payne said: "We'll be looking to improve on last season. It will be another tough year but we'll do our best to pick up a few more wins."

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