Date-stamped : 27 Apr97 - 06:17 Robinson and Jarvis make early impact By Peter Deeley at Hove First day of four: Northants (288-9) v Sussex "WE`RE top of the table" shouted an ebullient Robin Marlar, the new Sussex chairman, as the county claimed their first championship point of the season at 11.22 yesterday morning. It was a slight exaggeration: Glamorgan had registered theirs half-an-hour earlier. But who could cavil at such enthusiasm after the winter of turmoil the seaside club have experienced. That Sussex depended on two imports from Yorkshire, Paul Jarvis and Mark Robinson, for their first five wickets in no way diminished the sense of rejuvenation. Curiously, all those dismissals were lbws - which the county might take as their battle-cry: Life`s Better With Sussex. But Northants captain Rob Bailey believes this wicket will deteriorate as the match progresses and that Sussex could struggle later. "I have never seen a pitch so dry so early in the season," he said. "We changed our line-up on the strength of that, left out one quick bowler in Scott Boswell and brought in young John Emburey. It was a very good toss to win." Sussex have only six capped players left from last season. Making their debuts were Robinson, a former Northants` player; leg-spinner Amer Khan (who spectators wryly observed "bowls fewer loose balls than Ian Salisbury") and Neil Taylor from Kent. With plenty of early sideways movement Jarvis had Mal Loye trapped on the back foot early on after the opener had clubbed two fine boundaries through the covers. Then coming up the slope he had Bailey pushing forward and Robinson followed suit with Kevin Curran`s wicket. Richard Montgomerie and Tony Penberthy added 84 as conditions eased in the sun and Montgomerie batted for nearly 3.5 hours before he came leg-before victim No 4, though he believed there was a hint of bat in the dismissal. Penberthy, after a good fighting innings, was fifth to go but a half-century from David Capel again rallied Northants before Robinson came back late on to take three wickets in nine balls and finished with five for 71. By day`s end Sussex had maximum bowling points and Peter Moores, combining his new role as captain with a good display behind the stumps, could well feel satisfied with this new dawn. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) ==============================>Day 2 Taylor`s bright new beginning By Peter Deeley at Hove Second day of four: Sussex (344-6) lead Northants (315) by 29 runs NEIL TAYLOR, put on the scrapheap by Kent after 18 years of loyal service, showed that there is still much life and many runs in this 37-year-old when he scored a century on his debut for Sussex yesterday. He will have a major part to play this summer if Sussex are to put behind them the traumatic events of the close season. Critics say the batting may let them down but both Bill Athey and Keith Newell reached half-centuries on a day when a new face again dominated the home scene. Taylor scored 42 hundreds in his time with Kent, yet last year he was kept out of the first team and led the seconds, at which level he collected another six three-figure scores. Scorer of more centuries at Canterbury than any other player, Taylor now goes into the record books of the neighbouring county as the first Sussex player to reach a hundred - 127 to be precise - on first appearance since Hugh Bartlett in 1937. He came to the crease at a time when Sussex were in deep trouble, having lost their openers in the space of seven overs for only 15 runs. Worse, they had spent the first half-hour in the field as Northamptonshire`s last pair of Jeremy Snape - who equalled his championship best with 55 - and Paul Taylor added 55. Neil Taylor has an uncomplicated batting style with economy of movement, though he did go down the pitch after reaching his hundred to hit Snape high over the bowler`s head into the deck-chairs for six. It was an over in which Taylor collected three of his 20 boundaries. He shared in two century partnerships: 122 with Athey and then 126 with Newell, who on this form looks a promising all-rounder. Eventually Taylor, showing some signs of looseness, which may have been associated with fatigue, slashed at David Capel and Snape took a sharp low catch in the gully. Northants` attack disappointed, though Pakistan Test bowler Mohammad Akram looked sharp without quite appearing to be another Curtly Ambrose. He took two wickets but spoiled his figures by conceding 20 runs in no-balls running up the slope. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) ====================================>Day 3 Newell is quick to complete century By Peter Deeley at Hove Third day of four: Sussex (411-7) lead Northants (315) by 96 runs SO far so good for the "new" Sussex, with maximum bonus points collected, but the weather threatens to thwart their attempt for a victory which would give them a dream start to the season. Fifty minutes play yesterday morning was enough for Keith Newell to reach his maiden championship century as the home side went for quick runs. He was unbeaten on 107 when the rain came, his hundred coming in four-and-a-half hours off his 15th boundary. Newell is highly rated by the county and, in what is only his 17th first-class game for the club, he now has three centuries to his credit, the others coming against Cambridge University and the West Indies. Paul Jarvis, who made 64, shared in the third century partnership of the innings. He was only six short of his best for Sussex when he attacked Mohammad Akram once too often and became the eighth leg before victim in 17 wickets to fall in the game so far. The fourth batting point came in the 96th over, courtesy of one of two no-balls in an over by John Emburey. Jarvis then clubbed David Capel for two straight fours, and followed that up with a six over mid-wicket into the pavilion off Emburey. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) =================================>Day 4 There was time at the former for Northamptonshire openers Richard Montgomerie and Mal Loye to make 41 without loss in the second innings, before having to call it a day. Sussex had declared on their overnight 411 for seven in an attempt to resurrect some hope of a result - but there was to be little entertainment for the south coast faithful. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)