Ardingly College

Report by Andrew Hartridge

Sussex Martlets (285-6) drew with Ardingly College (215-4)

With the weather getting the better of this fixture for most of the past decade it was nice to get back to back uninterrupted games in at the college. An eclectic Martlets band of brothers took to the field trying to avenge last year’s high-scoring defeat with plenty of Old Ardinians which was nice to see.

Sportingly the college invited the Martlets to decide on how proceedings would begin and with little hesitation Sam Cooper and Phil Marchant strapped on the pads. With wickets falling at regular intervals Cooper, supported by Jack Bowmen (29), guided the Martlets to lunch at 147-4 Cooper unbeaten on three figures. A superb innings came to an end on 114, with Cooper apparently weighed down by double helpings of profiteer rolls and the wily left arm spin of Ardingly skipper Sam Rattle (2-56). Harry Clark and Captain Andrew Hartridge came together at the crease with the classical Clark breezing effortlessly to an unbeaten 59, Hartridge a more agricultural unbeaten 50, declaring on 285 still with memories of failing to defend a similar score 12 months earlier.

What followed is very hard for the Match Manager to recall. Taking one for the team or just horrendously missing one in the field, we will leave that for the other members of the XI to decide, as the skipper limped off to Hayward Heath A&E. Many thanks must go to Paul Lack who took over the reins on the field but the game petered out into a rather underwhelming draw despite his efforts (2-70 off 16 overs).

Jano Moller was unplayable in his first spell and returns of 1-60 don’t really do him justice. The college finished on 222-4 without ever really looking like troubling the Martlets total with Harry Rollins notching up an unbeaten century.

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