Brigands v Sussex Martlets, 2 August 2026

Dave Henderson
Aug 3
2 min read

Updated: Aug 4

Noah Mann lived near Petworth and made shoes for a living. He was born in Sussex in 1756, and every Tuesday through the summer he rode 20 miles to Broadhalfpenny Down to practise, then 20 miles home again. Left-handed, a powerful hitter, he swung the ball and could pick a handkerchief off the turf at full gallop. There was no such thing as Hambledon against Sussex in his day; "Hampshire & Sussex" was simply what the rest of the country called the Hambledon Club. Mann played 55 matches for them and died at 33, having fallen asleep too near his own fire.

At Broadhalfpenny Down on Sunday, the Sussex Martlets made the journey again. Quicker than Mann's, and with rather less appetite for it.

They batted first on a warm day, with a gentle breeze off the down and farmers harvesting in the fields beyond the boundary.

Neil Wood and Guy Ladenburg opened, and the Martlets got going; Mudhar made a sprightly 24, Emily Groves looked as technically sound as anyone on either side for her 22, before going back to a Wood straight one and being bowled - the oldest dismissal on the oldest ground. Graham Peach then took a diving catch, his 95th grab for the Brigands, off Mike Beardhall.

Dougie Henderson's first delivery of the afternoon produced the moment of the day. Ladenburg, fielding in front of the Monument, held a spectacular catch in his midriff. Graham Peach, back in Brigands colours after too long away, took the last wicket when he enticed Fergus O'Meara to paddle one round the corner to Dave Henderson at leg slip. Ladenburg finished with 1-20, Mike Beardall 2-31, and the Martlets were 112 all out.

Then Sue Bailey's tea, with the Whittle and Henderson bakeries in support, and club legend Peter Danks scoring solo throughout.

113 to win, and the Brigands promptly mislaid their heads: 17-3, then 44-4; Whittle and Beardall both trapped LBW. Emily and Jack Groves bowled 15 overs between them, taking five wickets with spin that gripped and turned. Daniel Rickards, roped in over lunch, played the shot of the day; a short ball pulled flat to the mid-wicket rope, to the audible delight of the picnickers, Ianthe Wedderburn among them.

Rupert Preece then brought the elegance the afternoon had been waiting for. He and Dave Henderson added 48 in cuts and lofted cover drives before Preece retired on 50. Peach enjoyed a two-ball cameo and was caught at point. Ladenburg hit the winning runs with Henderson unbeaten on 28, the target reached in 21 overs.

Not the strongest Martlets side to come up the hill, and one hopes they regroup for 2027. Noah Mann would have found a way to get here.

Sussex Martlets 112 all out lost to Brigands 113-6