MATT SHARES EIGHT WITH BEN

A SECOND defeat in their opening two matches since relegation is quickly focusing Worthing on their new second-division lives. But the encouragement of Aussie import Matt Paul taking five wickets for 35 with his leg spin on his bowling debut for the club suggested some perceived pressure may be lifted from Worthing's batsmen this season.

His bowling in tandem with left-arm spinner Ben Shelford should pose a testing conundrum for Division 2 batsmen. The eight wickets they shared on Saturday were, alas, in vain.

Teenaged Roffey opener Michael Harris' match-high 75 was key but in the final throes, No 10 Mark Pavlovic, in a difficult chance, was dropped at square-leg by Casey Lee off Paul.

It was barely more than a fortnight into Paul's recovery after a serious appendix operation. His wickets cost 37 runs until the late flog with which Roffey got the 21 runs they needed off the last three overs.

Again without senior opening bat John Kaye, Worthing's innings had made another slippery start but at one end the watchful David Marshallway, making a chanceless and binding 41, at last found sustained help from Andy Lutwyche before being sixth out.

Including himself, Director of Cricket Lutwyche remarked: "We need those who chip in with runs to go on to make bigger scores."

The DOC was heartened by improved Worthing fielding and bowling: "We didn't give them any runs and we were unlucky because lots of chances didn't quite go to hand. Casey was unfortunate with his. Had it stuck, I think we'd have gone on to win."