It will be a proud and exciting moment for Nomads 1st team Skipper Dan Phillips when he leads his team out to face Surrey’s Weybridge CC in the 2021 curtain opener on Saturday 17th April 2021. When we caught up with him last week he said ‘ we are very much looking forward to the challenge of playing a new team from Surrey in our opening friendly of the season, Weybridge are a strong part of the top Surrey league who might operate in a different way to the teams we normally play here in Sussex. It will be a learning experience and I hope will give us an edge if we were to progress in the ECB Cup. All of us cant wait to get started!’

Its a real feather in our cap to be able to welcome such a strong club side to the SCMG and congratulations to those who made it happen. Weybridge have played cricket at their Hanger Hill ground since 1924 and judging from their website its a very picturesque facility. They have won the Surrey Championship League 4 times the latest being in 2018. Season 2020 was, like most cricket teams, ‘different’. The Club got going late but did manage to complete 6 competitive games. There was a mixed bag of results but they smashed both Esther on the 8th August and Sunbury on 15th August thanks to strong batting displays. Opener Nathan Tilley scored heavily (83) backed up by Matthew Laidman (69) against Esther while Henry Chapman was a hero against Sunbury with a quick fire 49 not out against Sunbury down the order. On 22th August Reigate got the better of things in a nerve shredding low score game. However 4 for 11 from Thushara nearly stole the points.

Obviously we have no idea what players Weybridge will be bringing to Sussex as they make that hours trek south to be with us. However, its a certainty they will be a very competitive unit and the afternoon should prove to be an absorbing, albeit knocking off the rust, and entertaining session of preseason cricket. We wish them a safe journey and hope they thoroughly enjoy their afternoon.

Contrary to my initial report please be advised that owing to continuing Covid 19 protocols the Club can not welcome spectators to this fixture. Its a real shame but please do not travel to the SCMG as a spectator for Adult cricket until further notice. You can though keep up with the action through our social media channels.

Cobo