Big weekend for Priory & Bexhill

Andrew Williams charges in for Bexhill against Crowhurst Park last weekend. Picture by Simon Newstead

After their Gray-Nicolls Sussex T20 Cup triumph last weekend, Priory’s attention now turns back to the Sussex Premier League and a key double header at home to Brighton & Hove today (Saturday) and the Sussex Development XI tomorrow.

Both games are due to start at 11.30am. Priory are currently in fourth place, 53 points behind second-placed East Grinstead and 16 back of third-placed Horsham with a game in hand in both. Priory go to Horsham in their final game next weekend.

“It’s a big weekend with 60 points on offer,” said Priory captain George Campbell. “We probably need 45. Certainly one win’s absolutely vital and two would put us in a very strong position.

“Brighton are a very dangerous side. They’ve got a number of ex-pros and you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile. The academy have had an absolutely sensational season and they certainly won’t be a roll over. They always play very tough cricket.”

A thrilling finish to the season lies in prospect for Bexhill as they bid to make an instant return to the Sussex Premier League. Third-placed Bexhill trail second-placed Goring-by-Sea by a solitary point with two games to go in the race for the second and final promotion place in Division Two.

What’s more, the teams will meet at Goring on Saturday August 31 in what is looking more and more like being a winner-takes-all promotion shoot-out.

Fourth-placed Findon, who trail Goring by 11 points, can’t be ruled out either though. Eastbourne are 44 points clear at the top after beating Goring last weekend and need just 17 more points to clinch the title.

Bexhill will host already relegated Pulborough today, while Goring face a tricky trip to mid-table Crowhurst Park, and Findon go to bottom-of-the-table and still winless Glynde & Beddingham.

TODAY’S CRICKET FIXTURES

Sussex Cricket League, 1st XI Premier League (11.30): Hastings Priory v Brighton & Hove.

1st XI Division 2 (12): Bexhill v Pulborough; Crowhurst Park v Goring-by-Sea.

2nd XI Division 1 (12): Brighton & Hove v Hastings Priory; Horsham v Bexhill.

2nd XI Division 3 (East) (12): Lewes Priory v Crowhurst Park.

East Sussex Cricket League (1), Division 1: Plumpton & East Chiltington v Iden; Rye v St Peters.

Division 2: Bells Yew Green v Battle; Lewes St Michaels v Robertsbridge.

Division 4: Little Common Ramblers v DPB; Wadhurst v Herstmonceux.

Division 5: Bexhill III v Lewes St Michaels II; Isfield v Pett.

Division 6: Iden II v Denton; Linden Park III v Hastings Priory III.

Division 7: Battle II v Udimore; Chiddingly II v Rye II; Robertsbridge II v Plumpton & East Chiltington II.

Division 8: Burwash Weald v Little Common Ramblers II; Herstmonceux II v Bexhill IV.

Division 10: Crowhurst Park III v Pevensey II; Pett II v Firle II.

Division 11: Heathfield Park III v Sidley; DPB II v Robertsbridge III; Mayfield III v Bexhill V.

Division 12: Hellingly IV v Little Common Ramblers III; Lewes St Michaels III v Rye III.

Division 13: Crowhurst Park IV v Hailsham IV.