CRICKET: Local round-up (August 19)

A soaked wicket at the Manor Ground left the pitch unplayable at the start of the match according to Clapp, and he believed whoever won the toss would have taken the match.

Unfortunately for Clapp, it went St James' way. They then stuck in Worthing, who made just 88 all out after 37.2 overs.

Ollie Rogers' 41 was the only score of note, while Chris Mansell (13) was the only other batsman to make double figures. Raza Ali ripped through the order taking 6-39.

St James then eased over the line with 89-3 after 21.5 overs. Mansell claimed 2-23.

Clapp said: "It wasn't really our fault as the weather we had made the wicket really damp and unplayable.

"It was a case of win the toss, win the match, as it was like a minefield out there for the first hour.

"They did bowl well but in fairness it wasn't really anything to do with how we batted. We were only 11 points off Pulborough in second last week, and they only drew, so it could have been worse."

Clapp is still upbeat on their promotion push heading into their final three matches.

He said: "If at the start of the season someone had said we'd be 20 points off second with three games to go I'd have definitely taken that.

"It's about turning a negative into a positive for us now.

"We are away to Keymer & Hassock this weekend, who are bottom, so it should be a win, but who knows.

"If we get 30 points, it puts us well back in the hunt, ahead of a big match against Pulborough the week after. It's all to play for, despite the weekend being a bit of a gutter for us."

Goring captain Dan Pittham had mixed feelings after their Sussex League Division 3 West top-of-the-table clash against Middleton was abandoned.

Each team took 10 points leaving it tight at the top, with Middleton leading their opponents by six points, having played an extra game.

Goring had a shocker with the bat after being stuck and were 72 all out.

Opener Adam Coutts top-scored with 13 not out but Pittham refused to blame the weather for his side's collapse.

He said: "We didn't bat well at all and it wasn't a 72 all out wicket at all. Maybe we were a bit rusty after our week off, but we weren't ourselves, which is a shame as we haven't failed with the bat for a long time."

A fine start in the field meant Goring had Middleton at 22-4 when the game was abandoned, leaving Pittham questioning what may have been.

He said: "It was a weird day, and we weren't too sure afterwards if we were happy to have got out of jail.

"Ultimately, the weather decided it but it looked as though it could have been a very, very tight game.

"After batting, I would have taken 10 points, but after the way we came out with the ball, we had mixed emotions when we went off as we had a sniff of the win."

Goring face third-place Steyning at home on Saturday, with games against Henfield and Slinfold still to come, and Pittham believes three wins will send them a long way to winning the league.

In the same division Findon's match with Bognor fell to the same fate as both sides had to share the points.