Skipper Jan Gray is taking a philosophical approach to out-of-form Sandwich Town’s Kent League Premier Division relegation concerns.

Sandwich lost by nine wickets at home to Minster on Saturday, with a third consecutive league loss leaving them nine points ahead of resurgent Holmesdale while new basement boys Sevenoaks Vine are a point further back.

Gray said: “Obviously, we don’t want to go down - but there’s many worse things than going down in life!

“The good thing about a league is, if you deserve to get relegated, you get relegated and, if you stay up, you deserve to stay up.

“There’s not a lot of point worrying about it.

“We will do our best to stay up. If we start winning, we will but, if we keep losing, we will go down.”

Kent wicketkeeper Jordan Cox (40) top scored in Sandwich’s 141 all out in the 39th over. Minster captain Ed Moore then blasted 83 in just 42 balls to see Minster to victory.

Gray said: “At least it was over quickly! We didn’t score enough runs, I think, and they batted very well.

“Sometimes, 140 is a competitive score. But to make it close, we had to have them 60-5 or something.”

The hosts had been 100-3 before the departure of Australian overseas all-rounder James Bazley for 23 sparked a collapse.

There’s a double-header for Sandwich this weekend, which starts at title-chasing Lordswood on Saturday.

“The way the league is playing out, there’s no easy games but, also, there’s no games that you’ll definitely lose,” Gray noted.

“We beat St Lawrence quite handily [by 118 runs last month] and, suddenly, they’re fourth.

“As I’ve said before, we go into every game, thinking, if we play our best, we will win. If we don’t, we might lose.

“I expect it’ll be the same on Saturday.”

The day after that, Sandwich visit Surrey Championship Premier Division team Wimbledon in the Quarter-Finals of The Conference Cup for the 2023 Bertie Joel Trophy.

They met in Group 15 of the ECB National Club Cricket Championship when Town won by 126 runs.

“We played against them last year in the National Cup,” he recalled.

“With the Conference Cup, not that we know much about them anyway, but Sundays are always a bit random in terms of who the opposition will have - how many first-team players and other players will be playing for them.

“It’s an interesting place to play. It’s right next to Wimbledon Tennis Club.

“The facilities are incredible and it’s a lovely place to play.”

Cody Nieuwoudt-inspired Sandwich Town 2nds won by six wickets away to Catford Wanderers in Division 3.

Nieuwoudt (3-48) shone once more in the hosts’ 221 all out before Kit Keey (93 not out) and Nieuwoudt, with 90 off 82 balls, saw them across the line.