Priory surprising even themselves

Priory trounced Chichester Priory Park by 161 runs at Horntye Park Sports Complex on Saturday to retain their 15-point lead at the top of the Sussex Cricket League Premier Division.

Their captain Finch said: “We’re surprising ourselves a bit. We’re picking some really young players who are the future of the club, and they’re coming in and playing really well.”

Priory’s advantage was very close to being more than double its current value, but second-placed Preston Nomads scraped past Three Bridges by just one wicket last weekend.

“We’ve got momentum at the moment and it’s going along really nicely,” continued Finch. “We’re top at the moment, but I’m really not going to pay too much attention to the table because, with (up to) 30 points for a win, we could be fourth if we have a couple of bad results.”

Next up today (Saturday) is a tricky trip to a Roffey side which is sixth in the league and has made the last 16 of the ECB National Club Championship.

Finch added: “I was very, very impressed with them when they came to us. We were comfortable in the end, but they’re a very workmanlike side, they’ve got a couple of very good cricketers and they don’t give up. I think they’re going to finish mid-table comfortably.”

Unbeaten Priory hope to welcome back Kirk Wernars after Sussex County Cricket Club pulled him out of the Chichester game last Friday because of a swollen knee. They were also awaiting a fitness update on Max Finzel.

Sunday will see Priory take on East Grinstead in a Gray-Nicolls T20 Cup tie at The Saffrons, Eastbourne, from 12.30pm. The winners will face Eastbourne at 4pm the same day.