Crosstown rivals set for T20 tie

Sussex Premier League outfit Bexhill and Division Two side Sidley will meet at The Polegrove in round one of the Gray-Nicolls Sussex T20 Cup today (Sunday).

Bexhill first team manager Hamish Russell said: “Personally I’m looking forward to that. We play Twenty20 quite well and they’re always fun days.

“It’ll be nice to see Haff (Sidley captain John Haffenden), and the likes of Kingy (Peter King) and Neil Priddy, and it will be a nice afternoon.”

It will be Haffenden’s first return to The Polegrove in a playing capacity since rejoining Sidley from Bexhill at the start of last season.

Fellow Bexhill old boys Chris Deeprose, Richard Harrison, King and Ian May are also expected to be in Sidley’s line-up for a match which will begin at 12.30pm.

Haffenden said: “Twenty overs might suit us with the way we bat; hopefully we can try and defend something. I definitely think we’ve got a chance and being a derby makes it closer anyway.

“Both sides aren’t playing that well. They’re young and inexperienced, and I’m sure we’re going to play on that a little bit. I know a lot of our boys are looking forward to it.”

The winners will be straight back in action at 4pm with a second round tie against reigning Sussex League champions Hastings Priory. The fixture was put back a week due to Priory’s involvement in the ECB National Club Championship.