One of the signs of a successful season are busy weekends going in to June. Here at the SCMG we have just that coming up for you on 5th and 6th June. On Saturday its all about grinding out Sussex league points for our four men’s teams and on Sunday all eyes will be focused on our 1st team as they take on Reigate Priory away in the Cup. With wall to wall sunshine on the cards I am sure that our players cant wait to get started.

6th June 1 pm start Reigate Priory ECB Cup Group 15.

Our hosts for the day proudly operate in the Surrey Premier League and after 4 matches sit mid table with 40 points (two wins) Their latest victory came last Saturday in a tense affair against Weybridge at home. Reigate won the toss and elected to bat. Sam Hall starred with a century with all the batsman getting good starts. Resting on 252 for 5 off the 50. Weybridge will have thanked Heeren 67 and Compton 62 for getting the visitors to with in 10 runs in the end. Perhaps the MOM was Michael Munday who took 6 for 52.

In the last round of the ECB Reigate were up against our own Roffey on 23rd May 2021. It was that day we faced Middleton away and just about got away with the weather. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case at Roffey and an unsatisfactory bowl off was played out. An awful way to go out the cup for Roffey. Chris Murtagh the successful Priory bowler getting his team across the line.

The match represents an excellent challenge for our 1st team to show case their skills against a team from a another County and hopefully progress to group 15 finals day later in the season.

Three Bridges Travel to Fulking 5th June 11.30 start Sussex Premier League.

Bridges have made a big impact on the Sussex prem this year boasting two wins already and sit in 3rd place with 80 points. The latest win came last Saturday with a thriller at Cuckfield. Electing to field only Karunanayake (54) was able to put up a fight as the hosts were bowled for 187 off 48 overs. Will O’Donnell 4 for 13 and Oliver Blandford 3 for 44 starred with the ball. Conner Golding showed the way with an opening knock of 74 but wickets fell quickly. In the end the both 10 and 11 George Cave and Archit Patel had to dig deep to force a determined 16 run winning partnership and no doubt celebration all around.

Their other win was against Hastings the week before at home.

Will O’Donnell 180 and Conor Golding 172 are the highest run scorers and the same players have 11 and 9 wickets. Michael Rose has 6 wickets to his name.

Bridges will travel in confident mood but there does appear to be some cracks with in their make up which hopefully Dan and his Nomads teammates came force open. If we are at our best, especially on home soil I would take the Nomads to pick up some serious Sussex Premier League points.

James M will be looking forward to Billingshurst away Sussex Div 2 12.30 Start. Jubilee Fields.

Even in early June this match can be seen as a ‘6 pointer’ with the bottom two clubs clashing. Billingshurst currently have just 30 points after 4 games which have resulted in 4 losses. Batting, Batting, Batting seems to be their main issue having been bowled for 129, 100, 69 and 140 in those games. On the positive side they do seem to be getting amongst the wickets. They had Horsham and Bognor both 8 down in those lost games with poles shared around.

Josh Wood is the stand out bat with 150 runs to his name while Thomas Alexander with 7 wickets and Paul Osborne 5 wickets are the threat bowlers.

It would be wrong to suggest this is a must win game for our 2nd team however it would be suggested that a win here would be hugely advantageous in our quest to keep the 2s in this very important Division. Good luck boys.

Can Threes make it Back to Back wins? Sussex Div 6 SCMG 1pm start Ifield Away

David Symes was in great heart after a wonderful league victory last Saturday. George (148) under pinned a brilliant team performance. This Saturday they travel north to be with Ifield 2s for a 1 pm start. Our hosts are currently struggling at the foot of Div 6 with 38 points after 5 straight losses. Looking through the results they don’t seem to score enough runs to enable them to get competitive. Last week they were hammered by Edenbridge who scored 254 for 6. Ifield managing just 92 all out. Charlie Constable is the highest run scorer with 93 with Matthew Barnard 11 wickets and Mohammed Qazi 9 wickets their top bowlers.

A win for our 3rd team would take them comfortably Mid Table and allow them the advantage of looking up rather than over their shoulder. If we are at our best I would take David and his team to take a narrow away victory.

Fours Grace the South Square against Forest Row. Sussex Div 8 1.30 pm

After a brilliant win last week our 4th team will be in good spirits as they take on mid table Forest Row. They have won 1 and lost two so far. Last weekend they had a stand out home victory against Plumpton where Adam Gilmore 69 and Jamie Smith 57 were the pins of a fantastic team batting display of 244 for 4 off 40 overs. In reply Kuganesh Karuppiah 5 for 17 and Stephen Ellis 3 for 8 made the game look very simple as Plumpton capitulated 90 all out.

If Row travel with their A game in place in looks like our 4ths could be in for a very competitive afternoon. This one is too tight to call!!

Well there you have it, a huge weekend of competitive cricket coming your way. I will be away this weekend but hopefully the media channels will be bringing some updates through the day.

Good Luck to all connections.

Cobo