Rustington end 27-game winless run

Their last success was also against Aldwick on July 16, 2005, when they chased down 183 to win. They went winless last season and had not won a league match for 27 games.

An excellent bowling performance laid the foundations for Saturday's win. Simon Gosden opened the bowling for the first time, after impressing at Storrington in Rustington's previous match, and shared eight wickets with fellow opener Dave Moon.

Gosden took 4-20 and Moon 4-27. Mark Page also picked up a wicket and captain Jamie Howick got a direct-hit run-out as Aldwick made just 89, although they did recover from 49-8.

In reply, Page and Howick put on 58 for the first wicket before Page fell for 16. With two needed to win, Howick hit out, attempting to get the winning runs, but was caught for 61, with eight fours and one six. It was his fourth consecutive league half-century.

Howick's dismissal led to a mini collapse with Clive Mann, John Hunter and Brian Sumner all also falling on the same score before Gosden hit the two runs for victory.

Howick said: "We had a little stutter at the end of our batting but our bowling was very good.

"We could even have bowled them out for under 50 but put down three chances in the slips."

With the win, Rustington moved off the bottom and up to sixth place. Aldwick are now bottom.