PAUL'S 105 FOILS GORING

It was competitive but friendly, with a refreshing absence of sledging and in-your-face confrontation. After Sully Centurions in the National Village Cup, Findon must have thought they were back in cricket heaven.

There may have been some post-Sully reaction as Findon's first four batsmen were dismissed cheaply on being put in to bat. Goring's bowlers attacked with great spirit and at 57 for four an upset seemed possible. Once again young Matt Keene impressed with some fiery deliveries, and Danny Geere had two early successes.

Another wicket or two then would have really hurt the Horses . . . but Paul O'Sullivan, ably assisted by captain Nigel Waller, set about repairing the damage. O'Sullivan can rarely have composed a better innings. His bat sounded sweet as the ball sped to the boundaries all around the park.

A savage pull brought him to three figures, and shortly afterwards Findon felt they had enough on the board and came off at 221 for four in 43 overs. The unbroken partnership was 164 at six an over.

Goring's batsmen went about their task with some purpose. Findon, too, had a young bowler in Alex Nielsen (who hit a 100 in the Sussex Under-16 festival last week), and he also was encouraged by an early wicket.

Zimbabwean Gus McVey typified Goring's adventure. His 41 contained eight fours, a six, and only three singles. Goring, and the spectators, could have done with another half-hour of Gus. He was caught by O'Sullivan, who simply couldn't be kept out of the action.

Richard Stanley made an impressive 37, and when the last 20 overs were called the home side had seven wickets standing and were certainly still in with a shout. But spinners Toby Kingsbury and Mark Stewart were making the ball spit, and four wickets fell in five overs. Gareth Cook batted bravely for 21, but when last man Anurag Garg strode out to bat there were still five overs left.

The draw still possible, Goring refused to put up the shutters, fulfilling skipper Duncan Waitland's promise to keep playing positive cricket in all circumstances. Garg attacked the spinners, and Graham Cornish smashed a six and a four off Kingsbury before running himself out in the penultimate over, going for the extra bonus point.

Goring were 178 all out. It was cricket as it should be played.

BROADWATER'S record league runs of 567 in 2000 by Richard Iago was passed on Saturday by Richard Luker, now on 573, who a week earlier set their highest individual score with 131 not out.

But they lost at home to Ifield by two wickets off the last ball when Bob Reynolds fumbled Luker's rolled return from mid-wicket, to miss a run-out.

Reynolds and James Sisley had put on 107 for Broadwater's third wicket, then Graham Dean and Nuwan Fernando 128 for Ifield's second. But Broadwater, again against Ifield, then collapsed. Ifield did too, from 147 for one, but got their 21 runs off the last three overs

CHIPPINGDALE (172-7) took 28 points at lowly Aldwick in their three-horse Division 4 promotion race. Jerry White (previous knocks: 93, 24, 62*, 47*, 56) hit 60 and added 95 with Jez Scrace (46) and Ashley Waymark's aggressive 38 then set the platform amid a slow Aldwick over rate.

Ben Stone bounced Chipps towards victory, then administered the coup de grace after spinners Paul Dilley and Tim Hall shared six wickets.