IT'S A CRUNCH WEEKEND

Their Sussex Invitation League champions' credentials come under what may prove its toughest scrutiny of the season on Saturday when they confront an ambitious Broadwater side strengthened this season, maybe, not only in playing resources but mental ones.

Findon have acquired from Broadwater opening bat Richard Iago but Broadwater have replaced Iago with Richard Luker, a locally-groomed left-hander from the Sussex League, and have another in fine form, in Steve Collins. And see below how their bowling attack brushed off the failure of their batting on Saturday.

Then Findon have to field two competitive-match 1st XIs on a Sunday for the first time. They are already in the Sussex semi-finals of the National Village Cup and at home to another unknown quantity, Crowhurst Park from the obscure north east. And simultaneously, they have a second group match in the new Sussex Invitation League Cup competition.

Our back page story relates how the Division 2 Play-off Final is impacting on cricket's bid to resow its Sunday roots. Findon's team secretary may be grappling with some of Southwick's tugs of love but must get some kind of representative side out to maintain Findon's challenge for the first SIL league and cup double.

The quietly ascerbic comments about Southwick from highly-focused Broadwater skipper Joe Middleton speak loudly enough of how his captaincy regards the new SIL Cup opportunity. And he's ready for Saturday: "We'll try to beat Findon. They're the only ones we didn't beat last season."

Findon skipper Nigel Waller suspects his club have a lot on their plate this weekend and, although in the Village Cup his side were only an over or so away from the Lord's final last season, he is desperate that neither his players, nor the new, fascinated supporters from Worthing's cricketing community take for granted their progress in the early rounds.

He warned: "We need all the support we can get at Long Furlong on Sunday against Crowhurst Park. I think they'll be a very good team. They've just beaten Glynde, who were quietly confident of progressing.

"The good thing about this competition is that players' reputations are localised and teams don't know a lot about each other."

In other words, that's dangerous.

What Findon did last season, aided albeit by weather that turned Long Furlong into the Glorious Goodwood of Worthing cricket, was to make the game a spectator sport again. Yet, in a strong and unpredictable competition, the fans will need to remember to take each game as it comes and enjoy the social and sporting occasion while Fin-don are still alive in the competition.

Findon will miss unavailable all-rounder Paul O'Sullivan but John Rogers, who missed the previous round, is back. Richard Iago is ineligible and Findon may have to do without a 12th man. Team: Nigel Waller, Graham Waller, Toby Kingsbury, James Iago, John Rogers, Mark Stewart, John Cox, Chris Smith, Steve Waller, Grant Christie.

About the SIL Cup, Waller remarked: "I think it's important to get some of the other players in our club involved in this win-or-lose cricket. We'll have a mixture of players in our team and, after all, Wisborough Green is a great place to go and play cricket."