For the first time this season allthe 3 teams on the saturday played, aswell as the 1st XI playing in the Village Knockout on sunday. Unfortunately we only managed to grab one victory over the weekend with that falling in the VKO on sunday. On saturday, the 1st XI lost by 5 wickets away to Haywards Health 1st XI, the 2nd XI drew at home to Haywards Heath 2nd XI and the 3rd XI lost at Hillbarn to Portslade 1st XI.
On saturday the 1st team were without a few key players in Felix Jordan, Mickey Demetriou and Sam Mannings as they were unavailable for different reasons. This gave James Ballamy the chance to make his 1st XI debut, Tom Blake to return and Owen Cave pulled up to the side. Barry lost the toss and we were stuck into bat on a reasonable wicket with an extremely slow outfield. Once again Bradley Bridson and Jack Metters got off to a solid start with a partnership of around 30 before Bradley Bridson was dismissed on 24. Wickets then started to tumble with the next 6 batsman not making double figures whilst Jack Metters started to biuld on his slow start and hold the innings together. Owen Cave then added a helping hand to Jack with a useful 15. Jack then fell for 71, with Findon ending up 141 all out of 45 overs. James Iago and Graham Manser opened up the bowling with Haywards Heath getting of to a similiar start to us, until James Iago grabbed his first wicket. James then captured 3 more wickets and Graham adding 1 within the space of around 15 runs. Haywars Heath were struggling at 43-5. However Haywards Heath put on a 100 run partnership to win the game, with a combination of good batting, a few lucky shots and a couple of fortunate umpiring decisons. James Iago ended up with figures of 20 overs 4 wickets for 29 runs.
The 2nd XI batted first and hit 209-9 with 8 batsman reaching double figures with Simon Legge hitting 38, Chris Smith and the lower order adding important runs through Curtis Howell 16, Ryan Meighan 18* and Gary Howell 15*. Findon then bowled well as a team and just fell short of bowling the opposition out with them finishing on 149-9. The wickets were spread with Ryan Meighan picking up 3, Steve Chapman 2, Simon Legge 2 and Andy Boxall grabbing 1. Simon Legge also claimed a direct hit run out, whilst Curtis Howell was unfotunate not to pick up a wicket with his 10 overs going for just 16 runs.
The 3rd Bowled first and reduced Portslade to 155 all out. Bradley Beale picked up 4 wickets for just 20 runs, with James Henman also picking up 3 wickets. Findon were then unable to hit enough runs as they fell short scoring 113 all out. Bradley Beale run out of batsman to stay with him, as he hit an impressive 77 not out.
On the Sunday Findon 1st XI played away at a lovely small ground at Outwood near Redhill. FIndon batted first and scored 233-8 with Felix Jordan hitting a fifty, Glen Bridson 30 odd, Dan Bridson 40 odd not out and Owen Cave with a quickfire 30 nout out including 3 sixes in the last over. Outwood were then restricted to around 145-8 with Graham Manser picking up 4 wickets, James Iago 1, Jack Metters 2 and Felix Jordan with a wicket. Findon will play either Poynings r Slinfold in the next round of the competition.