Frustrating last day as Aldwick miss out
Around the grounds Going into the last game two points clear at the top of the table, Aldwick were confident of a win and being crowned Division 6 champions.
Unfortunately, they had a very frustrating last day of the league campaign losing to Eastergate and then hearing the news that both Clymping and Findon had both won their games and consequently both teams leapfrogged Aldwick to give Clymping the title and Findon finishing runners-up.
Nevertheless, with a new pavillion, additional training facilities, and a nucleus of new quality players, Aldwick have established their position as a thriving local club after a couple of years or so in the doldrums following the arson attack on their old pavilion, and will surely be favourites for promotion next year.
In the game, Aldwick batted first on a difficult pitch with Richard Gabb (21) falling first to Jack Saunders (1-22), closely followed by the prolific Ed White for just 12 (final season average: 85.5 and the division’s top run maker for the season with 770 runs). Eastergate’s first change bowler Peter Smith (3-26) soon got amongst the the wickets and the home side’s plan of setting a decent total to defend were looking well and truly scuppered. Fight backs from Andy Smith (25) and John Young (21) helped bolstered the final total but without the benefit of 25 extras the final total of 132 all out would have been Aldwick celebrate a wicket against Eastergate - but they missed out on promotion after losing the match
only a shade over 100.
Despite having a low total to defend Aldwick were not in a mood to roll over and grabbed early important wickets looking unlikely favourites having the visitors wobbling at 32-5 and then in desperate straits at 73-7.
Aldwick’s opening bowling pair of Ian Horner 1-15 from 8 overs and Hari Shah (2-27) started the fight in earnest and first change John Young carried on the fight with 3-14 from 7 overs.
In the end, Eastergate’s lower order batsmen proved to be real fighters and against the run of play took their side to victory in the 35th over. The visitor’s batting hero was Jonathan Dakic with a wellcrafted unbeaten 36 with late support from Henry Grant (17) and Curtis Drake (16) who performed well against a side battling for the division top slot.
It was fair to say that the final game of the 1st XI season was met with more relief than excitement. Facing an already promoted RMU a win for the Meadower’s would require the performance of the season.
Such hopes were maintained early into the Wittering innings as Pink and Wookey’s opening partnership wore down the RMU opening bowlers.
However such admirable batting came to an abrupt end and RMU’S seam attack proved to difficult to play on such an uneven pitch which required ultimate skill and patience. Further problems amassed when Wookey’s hard-fought five came to an end. With the top order being dismissed within twelve overs things were looking rather gloomy for Wittering.
Despite a courageous 31 provided by Lendrum, and a quick 17 run innings from Staight, a mere 87 runs was achieved.
As the first over of the home sides response was completed, their intent was simple, finish the game quickly.
To combat this, Staight’s decision to introduce spin early on provided two quick wickets for Wittering, with the skipper himself picking up both of them.
However, RMU’S top order did not crumble after the loss of both openers and went on to victory in under 10 overs.
As Wittering’s centenary year comes to a close 8 months will pass between now and the beginning of the 2020 season allowing the team to prepare for a season of new hope filled with more excitement and surprises than ever.