SHOWCASE VILLAGE FINAL ON THE CARDS

IT'S THE Sussex Final cricket followers wanted and both teams were secretly hoping for. The players wanted to pit their abilities against one another, and they wanted to prove that cricket in this area is the best equipped to succeed in the National Village Cup.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Jun 2004, 15:06 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:01 BST

Clymping, welcoming back their three Sussex League players from Littlehampton on Sundays, have entered the Cup for the first time and walked straight into the county final.

Last season, they showed the ugly side of competitive cricket when relegated from the Sussex Invitation League first division that Findon won, having gone to the semi-finals of the Village Cup for the first time in two attempts.

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But against Findon, whose conduct is conscientiously exemplary, Clymping's temperament will be put to the test as they strain every sinew for success.

Worthing's cricket lovers flocked to see the later stages last season as Findon's run kept on. This season, this tie is likely to draw the crowd in considerably earlier in the competition.

The clubhouse will have a TV to screen the England international with France.

Former captain Benn Challen and the Tester brothers Gary and Adam, all rounders each, joined Littlehampton. Batsman and spinner Challen and Gary Tester, a left-arm opening bowler, play for Clymping on Sundays but not Adam Tester.

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A new recruit for the Cup is Chris Kirkham. He is a Littlehampton 1st XI batsman but still a colt and, as such, is unaffected by any exclusion in the rules.

Findon's line-up includes destructive left-handed batsman Nick Gifford, who played too little cricket to be in contention during last season's Village Cup campaign. His inclusion could bring a dimension that could help Findon turn from nearly men to Lord's finalists.

Opening batsman from Broadwater, Richard Iago, is ineligible for this year's competition.

Both sides have a wealth of all-rounders. Findon's batting is notable for its depth '” although not on Saturday at Arundel (see inside) '” while Clymping's potential for quick scoring stems from pinch-hitter Graham Blann.

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The winners will have one more home tie, in the regional final, which is next, but must then hit the road all the way, even, to Lord's.

FINDON (from): Graham Waller, John Rogers, Toby Kingsbury, James Iago, Paul O'Sullivan, John Cox, Mark Stewart, Nigel Waller (captain), Steve Waller, Nick Gifford, Mark Higgins, Chris Smith.

CLYMPING (from): Graham Blann, Chris Kirkham, Gary Tester, Benn Challen, Gareth Challen, Chris Green (captain), Kim Dean, Roger Green, Stuart Murray, Sam Orchard, Paul Challen, Alex Pugh. Selection depends the fitness of Roger Green.

Related topics:Sussex League