Hampshire facing ‘mustwin’ clash with Sussex
Hampshire captain Neil Dawson faces some tough choices before he names his team to face Sussex in this weekend’s South East League match at Hayling – described as a ‘must-win.’
Despite being Dorset by a country mile last time out at Liphook – just a week after losing their opening encounter of the season at Kent – Dawson knows even two wins out of their remaining games against Sussex and Surrey will not guarantee Hampshire a place in October’s South East League final.
By then, it will be four years since Hampshire last won the South Division.
Dawson now has a tough call to make over his line-up and, crucially, his foursomes pairings for the Sussex clash.
He added: ‘Getting points on the board in the morning is vital to avoid to much stress in the singles after lunch.’
Dawson is trying to get everyone to play Hayling this week before Saturday’s official practice round.
‘It’s a great position to be in having so many players in a good place,’ he said. ‘It is a must-win game, there is no other way of describing it.
‘We could only draw with Surrey last summer in a similar situation, and Sussex held us to a draw at North Hants, the year before I became captain.
‘But I am confident we can deal with the pressure needing a win brings.’
Hampshire squad v Sussex at Hayling (Sun, June 26): Martin Young (Brokenhurst); Toby Burden (Hayling); Colin Roope, Tom Robson, Darren Wright (all Rowlands Castle); James Freeman, Ryan Moody (Stoneham); Joe Buenfeld (Bramshaw); Charlie Forster (North Hants), George Saunders (Lee-on-the-Solent).