THE WEATHER played a disrupting part in Steep Stoolball Club’s matches in July.

Steep had a decent win away at Fernhurst against Three Counties, scoring 123 runs to the home team’s 103, but they lost to Midhurst at home, failing to chase down the 132 runs scored by the visitors in spite of Hannah Lindsey’s valiant 65.

At Ebernoe, Steep batted first scoring 104 and only two overs of the reply were possible when rain washed out the game.

Two days later, however, Ebernoe returned to Steep and this fixture was completed. Steep batted first making a total of 84. The scoring at the start of their innings was slow and it was only when Lauren Preston (34) came in after the fifth wicket had fallen that the rate increased dramatically.

The visitors had little trouble overtaking this score with Julie Carter steering them through with 42 runs.

The match against Kirdford started somewhat chaotically for Steep, with players arriving late, and the batting line up had to be changed. However Juliet Knight scored 45 not out and Lauren Preston added a rapid 32 as Steep scored 118. Kirdford took only 10 of their 12 overs to overtake this score, with Donna Dean smashing her way to 59 not out.

The fine weather held for Northchapel’s tournament and the strong Steep team managed to reach the final, defeating Kirdford 39-63, Pulborough 26-54, Tillington 40-35 and Lodsworth 41-46.

Steep met the host team, Northchapel, in the final, but failed to chase down the 33 runs, ending on 26 and taking the runners-up place.