August Cup momentum can spur on Southwater

The Church Lane outfit reached the final of Group B1 of the Sussex Cricket League’s supplementary cup competition. But Southwater fell agonisingly short at the last hurdle, falling to a slender 15-run defeat to Crawley Eagles CC seconds. Now Harding is champing at the bit to get back onto the pitch and hit the ground running. He said: “We can’t wait to get the season started and to have a full season is such good news. “With the clocks going forward and the smell of grass cutting, it feels like its finally here. “We had a great run in the August Cup and played some good cricket last year, and if we can keep that momentum it can only be good for us.” The last full Sussex Cricket League campaign, back in 2019, saw Southwater finish sixth in Division 5 West. Harding has now set his sides on achieving promotion not just for the firsts, but for all three Saturday XIs at Church Lane. He added: “Our aims are to win the leagues for each of our three teams. “We have got a great squad of players in the firsts and seconds that could do it. “Our third team will have a lot of exciting colts who are ready to step up to senior cricket and will compliment the experienced heads really well. “We need to train hard and play good cricket every week as we know how tough this league is to get out of and this year will be no different.” The skipper was also quick to praise Southwater’s young guns, as well as a new face at Church Lane. Harding said: “Last year we had Harry (Huddlestone) join us from Horsham and Frankie (Mills) come up from the colts. “Both of the lads contributed hugely in the August Cup so I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do in the league. “Along with Johnny Mills who is now in his third year, we have a really exciting group of youngsters. “Jordan Bell has joined us. I have rated him highly for a long time and I’m glad he’s finally decided to come over. “I think he got tired of losing to his cousins, Johnny and Frankie Mills, so now he has joined them.”