Sandwich Town skipper Tom Chapman’s sights are set on cup success this summer.
Having reached the Final of The Conference Cup for the Bertie Joel Trophy in 2021, where they were edged out by just 10 runs against East Molesey, Sandwich are again keen to progress deep in the competition.
But Chapman is out to go one step further this time, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Broadstairs.
He said: “It’s always been quite a nice one for us to play. We got to the Final three years ago.
“A big thing for Sunday cricket is, if you can get good availability, that’s a massive bonus. We have been lucky with that at Sandwich.
“Hopefully, we can go one step further this year.”
It could prove to be a close encounter at Broadstairs, the hosts sitting top of the Kent League Championship - one division below Sandwich.
The teams met last month at Sandwich as Chapman’s side thrashed their visitors by 106 runs in the First Round of the ECB National Club Championship.
“They look like they’ve got off to an absolute flyer in the Championship,” admitted Chapman.
“We know it will be a tough place to go. But we will back ourselves internally and see how it goes.”
Before then, Sandwich face a trip to Tunbridge Wells’ Nevill ground in the league on Saturday.
Wells had been winless before the weekend - only to then beat champions Lordswood to end their perfect league start.
Chapman said: “They have had a bit of an interesting start.
“They picked up their first win on Saturday and The Nevill is never an easy place to go. But we go into it taking positives out of the last few games.
“Hopefully, we can get a result there.”
Like Saturday’s hosts, Sandwich sit on one win from four league fixtures after they were edged out at home to St Lawrence & Highland Court on Saturday by three wickets in a rain-reduced 30-over match.
“From a neutral point of view and as an advert for local sport, it’s the best you can get,” reflected Chapman. “It’s a cricket game that went right to the end.
“But from a Sandwich point of view, it was gutting to get the wrong side of it.
"We did get seven points out of it, so, as much as we wanted to win, at least we got something.”
The home team were all out for 173, Chapman leading the way with 56 from 53 balls.
“It was nice,” he noted. “I think we had lost a couple of quick ones when I came in.
“It was strange, playing 30 overs. It’s quite hard to know how to pace your innings.
"It’s not T20 pace - but you still need to go at a fair rate.
“We got off to a flyer. I didn’t have to rush it but managed to tick over at just over a run-a-ball, which was good.”
Australian all-rounder Jason Sangha struck 77 from 58 balls - but the game appeared in the balance when the visitors slid from 111-1 to 131-7. Harry Bee (2-25), Ben Smith (2-29) and Zack Fagg (2-40) were among the wickets for Sandwich.
Jamie Hemphrey’s unbeaten 38 in 17 balls, which included four maximums and two fours, got St Lawrence & Highland Court to victory.
Chapman said: “We really turned it up with our bowling in the second bit of their innings. We fielded really well, as well.
“It’s just gutting that we couldn’t get the job done. But sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t, and that’s cricket.”
Sandwich Town 2nds earned a six-wicket Division 4 victory at Gravesend 2nds.
Opening bowler Liam Moore’s 5-45 limited the hosts to 135 all out before Jared Southgate (46 not out) saw them safely home after skipper Craig Snell had top scored with 48.
