As season 2021 ramps up and gathers momentum around the SCMG not 1, not 2 but three of our teams will be put through their paces in exciting and challenging friendly games this week-end. What’s more, for early season, the weather forecast looks to be in top order for the day. Players will enjoy a dry conditions with sunny intervals and temps in the mid teens!

Our 1st team host Three Bridges CC at the SCMG, probably South pitch from mid day. Fresh from victory against Weybridge 1st team skipper Dan Phillips will be looking to improve again to create a cauldron of pressure and squeeze with both bat and ball. Liam, Kash and Adam all starred in a solid opener while youngsters Aidan Drew and Bertie Foreman added energy in the field. Three Bridges need no introduction as we have run into these guys a lot over the past seasons. This appears to be their 1st match of the season so there isn’t much recent form to go by. Last season Sam Cooper and Joe Walker topped the 1st team batting stats while Connor Golding snaffled 16 wickets in just 39 overs. They host Middleton in the 1st league game of 2021 on 8th May.

Dan and his team, whilst still experimenting with pre season idea’s, will need to be sharp and get the simple things right. You get the feeling that Bridges will be a very buoyed up, enthused and skilled team of cricketers who will be looking to cement places in the 1st team.

2nd Team skipper James McKemey and his team travel to Three Bridges CC to take on their 2nd team from mid day. Its the 1st match for both teams. James has eluded to making the most of all overs allotted while batting and then taking early wickets with the new ball. As for Bridges its virtually impossible to know what they have up their sleeve in terms of playing staff. For the record Harry Bryant ,Jack Hyde and Sachit Patel were high run scorers while Adrian Chapple and Iain Roe took 9 wickets apiece last season. It goes with out saying that Bridges always make brilliant hosts at their wonderful Three Bridges Road facility. A lovely afternoon in store!

Our Third team under the expert guidance of David S will make a short trip north east into the pretty village of Plumpton, East Sussex to take on Plumpton and East Chiltington 1st team from 1pm. The ground has aching charm with views of the south downs one way and gentle rolling fields the other. Apart from the odd passing Lewes train its a tranquil place to enjoy a game of cricket. However, knowing David perhaps the action on the field will be less pre season tranquility but more of a League game vibe.

Plumpton enjoyed an enjoyed an emphatic victory at WG Gracefully last week end where wickets were shared out among the bowlers then skipper George Martin and Chris Batchelor quietly rattled off the 90 odd runs required. Afterwards the Plumpton twitter admin said that ‘it was a good day out’ and Sam Newman said ‘Really lovely game’

Hopefully our 3rd team will be able to provide a much sterner test on Saturday.

There you have it, three games in preview. I will not be around during the day but hopefully there will be sporadic updates from around the grounds from twitter and whatsapp. Please look out for these.

Going forward, Saturday 1st May, sees season 2021 going into overdrive as our Sussex T20 campaign gets underway for three of our squads. Your media team will be all over it from 11am down at the Manor Ground Worthing. Please watch out for more on this next week.

But for now goodbuy.

Cobo 21st April 2021.