Seventeen teams from the five stoolball divisions of the Sussex County Stoolball Association competed for the Seaford Stoolball Trophy on Sunday 7 August 2016. Heavy, overcast skies and a very strong chilling wind persisted for most of the day until late afternoon when the sun at last broke through for the last few matches of the day.
As usual the pool matches were played on four pitches. Competition between teams was fierce and it soon became apparent that Fletching (North), Loxwood (West) and Angmering (West) would be probable semi-finalists. However on Pitch 3, competition between Isfield (Mid), Winterfold (West) and Lindfield (Central) was such that the last semi-finalist had to be decided on most runs scored in their three games. Even this was a close call as Isfield just squeezed through with a seven run advantage over their two closest rivals.
In the semi-finals, Fletching beat Loxwood 45-41 and Angmering with 40 off just one over quickly overtook Isfield’s 32 runs. With the sun finally showing through, Fletching batted first in the final against Angmering scoring 32 in their 4 overs, but this total was quickly overtaken early in the 3rd over by Angmering in recording their 17th victory in this event since their first visit to Seaford 22 years ago.
Trophies to the winners and runners-up were presented by Mrs. Kay Price, the Sussex President, and the individual award for most runs scored in the pool matches went to Kerry Taylor from Horsted Keynes with 131 and the bowling award went to Sue Targett of Loxwood with 6 wickets.
A good crowd gathered to support all the teams on Sunday and they were told that next year the Sussex County Stoolball Association will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of this event which started back in 1957.
Full results
Pitch one
Partridge Green 57 v Stone Cross 59
Fletching 73 v Horsted Keynes 52
Partridge Green 53 v Fletching 57
Stone Cross 73 v Horsted Keynes 56
Partridge Green 41 v Horsted Keynes 51
Stone Cross 65 v Fletching 71
Pitch two
Blackstone 86 v Adastra 61
United Friends 56 v Loxwood 65
Blackstone 89 v United Friends 70
Adastra 45 v Loxwood 91
Blackstone 53 v Loxwood 76
Adastra 65 v United Friends 61
Pitch three
Isfield 49 v Winterfold 41
Maresfield 41 v Lindfield 68
Isfield 87 v Maresfield 45
Winterfold 53 v Lindfield 45
Isfield 71 v Lindfield 86
Winterfold 84 v Maresfield 35
Pitch four
Ringmer 69 v Newick 52
Angmering 89 v Nutley 34
Barcombe 57 v Ringmer 64
Newick 39 v Angmering 86
Nutley 41 v Barcombe 57
Ringmer 32 v Angmering 69
Newick 67 v Nutley 49
Angmering 71 v Barcombe 47
Ringmer 37 v Nutley 53
Newick 50 v Barcombe 54
Semi-finals
Loxwood 41 v Fletching 45
Isfield 32 v Angmering 40
Final
Fletching 32 v Angmering 43 (end 3rd over)
As a footnote, SCSA committee members were happy to meet up with the father of Isfield Stoolball Club’s prolific run scorer Carla Leach who will shortly be on his way to Rio de Janeiro where he will be joining up with the very promising young man he coaches at Lewes Athletics Club. This young man will be competing in the Olympic 800 metres event and we wish them both every success.
Kay Price
![IMG_20160824_184630574[1]](https://www.stoolball.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/IMG_20160824_1846305741-1024x575.jpg)
