Cricket derby too close to call

Bexhill play host to Sidley at the Polegrove on Saturday June 19 in a Sussex Division Two match which, as Sidley skipper Scott Woodroffe pointed out, appears "too close to call".

He continued: "It's an as important game as we've ever had against Bexhill bearing in mind the points situation and it's just going to be so close. If we get a win it keeps us in touch with the teams in front but they will think they've got as good a chance as ever of beating us. I wouldn't say there's anything in it: it all depends on what happens on the day."

Bexhill counterpart Steve Phillimore concurred: "If we play like we did against Haywards Heath (last Saturday) we will get hammered. But we've still got some decent players and we're capable of winning games. Patches of games we can put together but we can't put a whole game together. It could go either way."

The common perception is that Sidley's bowling attack, which should be bolstered by the return of Chris Deeprose and the improvement in Faisal Naveed's leg injury, possesses greater cutting edge, although Bexhill's line-up is likely to be beefed up by the anticipated comeback of Mark Nightingale.

On the flip side, recent scores have suggested that Bexhill enjoy greater consistency in the batting department but if Faisal catches fire, as he did in a Sid Roughley Memorial Trophy match between the sides last month, the rest of the Sidley line-up tends to feed off him.

Sidley also expect to welcome back Jonathan Haffenden while Keith Luck will retain his place. Play starts at 1.15pm as it does in the contest between the respective second teams at Gullivers.

Sidley are also in action on Sunday when they entertain Littlehampton in the preliminary round of the Gray Nicholls Sussex Knockout Cup. Play starts at 1pm.