Rye start and finish at home

James Hamilton batting for Rye away to Wisborough Green last season. Wisborough Green will provide the opposition in Rye's first away game of the 2015 campaign on May 16

The Salts-based outfit will get its second Sussex Cricket League Division Four campaign underway with a visit from Keymer & Hassocks on Saturday May 9.

Rye achieved their first ever Sussex League victory in the corresponding fixture on matchday two last season, recovering from being bowled out for 92 to win by 14 runs.

Keymer got their revenge by winning the return match by 92 runs. Keymer went on to finish sixth and Rye eighth.

Rye’s first away game is against Wisborough Green on May 16 and they will be back at The Salts a week later for the visit of Stirlands. They will also be on home territory in the final game of the summer against Hellingly.

Stirlands will be one of three new opponents for Rye next term having been relegated from Division Three. Mayfield and Southwater are the others having come up from the East Sussex League and West Sussex Invitation League respectively.

Lewes Priory - who finished bottom last term - have been relegated to the East Sussex League, but Crawley - who came second-bottom - have earned a reprieve because Pulborough - who were set to be relegated from Division Three with Stirlands - have withdrawn from the league.

Although Pulborough’s departure spares Rye one long trip, with Mayfield and Hellingly the only other East Sussex clubs in the division, there will be again be plenty of travelling this summer.

In fact, the away game against Stirlands - who are based in the village of Birdham - will see Rye make a round trip of more than 160 miles from the far south-east corner of Sussex to the far south-west.

Rye’s 2015 Sussex Division Four fixtures: May 9 Keymer & Hassocks (h), May 16 Wisborough Green (a), May 23 Stirlands (h), May 30 Henfield (a), June 6 Slinfold (a), June 13 Southwater (h), June 20 Crawley (a), June 27 Mayfield (h), July 4 Hellingly (a), July 11 Keymer & Hassocks (a), July 18 Wisborough Green (h), July 25 Stirlands (a), August 1 Henfield (h), August 8 Slinfold (h), August 15 Southwater (a), August 22 Crawley (h), August 29 Mayfield (a), September 5 Hellingly (h).

* Rye Cricket Club’s AGM will be held on Sunday January 25 at The Mermaid Inn from 7pm.