Rain Affects Play

Not only was their match with Findon halted by their dangerous rain-affected pitch but title rivals Pagham crashed by nine wickets at lowly Southwick where a Pagham win may have pushed Findon into the passenger seat.

Arundel are third and due at second-placed Pagham this Saturday while Clymping go to Findon, then receive Pagham after that.

Both sides were itching to play on Saturday, reports Peter Evans. But the isolated, opinion of Arundel umpire Ginger Barry (seen in picture on back page) proved spot on.

It took only two overs to confirm his belief that the drying wicket would be dangerous.

Arundel skipper Steve Mullen said: "We left it as long as possible. I would not have fancied batting on it. It was lucky the last delivery from Chris Wall was not straight. It would have taken Graham Waller's head off."

Karl Pierce's first fifty in three years helped Clymping to buckle down for an unlikely victory at home to Ifield with just three balls to spare.

Pierce's unbeaten 90 required only 74 balls, with five fours and three sixes. He and Roger Hudson's 52 for the eighth wicket took Clymping from 137-7, facing 203 to win, after fielding poorly.

Angmering Manor's nine-wicket loss at Billingshurst (167-1) leaves them three games to escape relegation. They are 40 points adrift of safety. Aussie, Bruce Scott top-scored with 43, including eight fours.

Their bid starts on Saturday at home to South Bersted. Then it's East Preston away and rivals Portslade at home.

At least two wins out of three will be needed but Manor have, as yet, won only once.