Lewry v Mullen is nurtured in the cricket nursery

UNCANNY how adult sporting rivalries reproduce, in time, among their offspring.

Sussex County Cricket Club fast bowler Jason Lewry, when still with Goring, and Arundel paceman Steve Mullen exchanged hostilities with the ball in the Sussex Invitation League. Now their sons are undergoing early rehearsals in colts cricket.

Last Friday, Arundel Under-12s contained Mullen's twins Ryan and Patrick and Goring Under-12s included a nine-year-old called William Lewry. Battle commenced with two Lewry wickets in Arundel's dire straits of nought for four. Ryan Mullen responded with paternal typicality: a six and six fours in his 31 runs. Patrick nudged around to add 10 and the brothers put on 48 in Arundel's eventual 88 all out.

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Goring's reply was destroyed for 30 all out by Ryan's six for 13 with pace and Patrick's two for four with his left-arm chinamen.

William's younger Lewry brother is Louis, now seven, and and all are at the Vale School.

Dad, Steve Mullen's taste for aggressive cricket does not extend to the verbal version that is starting to bedevil 1st XI cricket in the SIL. So he is now playing 2nd XI cricket for Arundel and carrying out their youth policy.

The opponents who pay the price for that are the likes of Crawley 2nd XI. His five for 50 against them on Saturday included his second hat-trick of the season. The other came in his eight for 30 against Ram, another side from Crawley.

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