Spoils shared between last two champions of East Sussex League

Saturday saw 2006 champions Seaford take on 2005 champions Glynde in the opening match of the 2007 East Sussex Cricket League Division One and the spoils were shared as both teams took 16 points from the match.

Seaford had a weakened side with Rob Snow, Nick Pink, Darren Moore and Jamie Goddard all out but spirits were lifted when Paul Mason passed a late fitness test on his back injury.

Skipper Colin Wells won the toss and tactically elected to field first and Glynde openers Joe Adams and Dominic Shepherd made a slow start against the bowling of Mason and Paddy Smith. Adams fell to the bowling of Mason assisted by Jacob Miles and Shepherd fell to Smith as the hosts were reeling at 45-2 off 20 overs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Big John Smith collected a solitary wicket with some useful bowling and Pete Coplestone removed Glynde skipper Darren Howard cleaned bowled for a duck. Rob Mouland came to the crease and showed a great deal of maturity to dispatch the bad balls on his way to 106 and he was ably assisted by the big hitting Adam Davies (94).

Mason (10.4-5-41-1) returned to the action but struggled with the match ball after it spent 15 minutes in the water and was soon removed from the attack by the umpires for dangerous bowling.

Seaford picked up a few late wickets with Pete Coplestone (17.2-2-102-3) bowling with aggression and Chris Stanyard produced a champagne moment with a diving catch that left the knowledgeable crowd applauding.

Glynde finished on 288-7 but the Seaford camp was happy with a good team performance and stand-in wicket keeper Alan Cooper shining with his nifty glove-work.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Shepherd and Dale Tranter dismissed openers John Reynolds and Jacob Miles early, but Coplestone and Arthur Jennings had other plans as they took it to the Glynde attack.

Jennings was looking in supreme touch before he fell for 20 and that introduced Wells to the crease. Wells' first two scoring shots were both sixes and combined with Coplestone's expansive array of shots Seaford were soon amongst the points.

As time went on, it became apparent that victory was out of Seaford's reach, Coplestone fell for 65 and Stanyard and Tim Goddard came and went cheaply as the butterflies started playing games with the remaining Seaford batsmen.

But Big John Smith and Wells saw the game out for a draw, Wells finishing on 74 not out and the Seaford total closing on 208-6 ensuring that both teams finished with the exact same amount of points.

Seaford will look to build on that performance as they entertain Iden at The Salts this Saturday, 1.30pm start.

Related topics: