A special achievement - Roffey win seventh league title in 13 years
After leading the table for most of the season Roffey were crowned champions of the Sussex Premier League at Cuckfield on Saturday – their seventh title in 13 years, following their last win in 2002, and, with such a young side this was a special achievement.
Starting the campaign with four wins, Roffey soon became the team to beat, carrying on to notch up 10 victories from 16 completed matches, only three teams managing to beat them as they finished with 408 points, 10 clear of Middleton, with newcomers West Chiltington a highly commendable third.
But it was not entirely straightforward at Cuckfield after Roffey elected to bat, lost a wicket to the third ball and were soon 21-3, only for ever-reliable former captain Matt Davies, to dig in with an uncharacteristically watchful unbeaten 75. Twenties from Toby Munt, Frankie Cripps and Ben Whelpton taking Roffey to 220 from their 50 overs, Raymon Reifer finishing with 3-56.
Cuckfield had won the league in 2023, but were now fighting for survival and at 78-3 with the best part of 30 overs remaining appeared well-placed, Roffey though were not to be denied and reduced the hosts to 117-7. Then Cuckfield’s number 7, Josh Downey, took over with a rearguard challenge.
At 172-8 the outcome wasn’t a foregone conclusion, but Roffey kept pegging away and 30 runs from the last two overs proved too daunting. Downey was last out, for 52, with just three balls remaining, Roffey clinching the title with their 21 run win condemning Cuckfield to relegation, Frankie Cripps ending with 3-44.
21 year old Roffey skipper Sam Henderson told the County Times: “The wicket was very dry and a bit tricky, so, although our 220 wasn’t a killer score we felt it was defendable. I couldn’t be prouder of our team – its very talented but short of experience, we’ve lost some exceptional senior players, but the young replacements have really stepped up, and we had two outstanding overseas signings, Andrew Rambaran taking over from Lachlan Shaw.”
Davies added: “We had a bit of a wobble mid season but we fought back strongly from there. Its been a tough season, but hugely enjoyable,” while his impressive opening partner,18 year old Fin Roberts fresh from a double century for Sussex U18s, told us: “My first season in the Premiership really couldn’t have gone better!”
Tom Barnes has contributed a series of noteworthily frugal bowling spells, and some useful innings, saying: “Its been a great day today, but what has been especially pleasing is that we scrapped through to win three or four games which we looked very likely to lose.”
Ifield will return to the Premier Division next season, but, for Roffey they still have an important fixture to fulfil, Henderson telling us: “We play Preston Nomads in the Sussex Daniel Oliver T20 Cup Final under lights at Hove on Sunday 20th and we want to do the double!”