Priory swoop for star trio

Matt Machan, Jack Parsons and Kirk Wernars are all coming to Horntye Park Sports Complex for an exciting-looking Sussex League Premier Division campaign.

Machan and Wernars were both named in a 16-man Sussex squad for the pre-season tour of Dubai announced last week.

Left-handed batsman Machan, 20, has made one first class and one limited overs appearance for Sussex having played for England at under-15 and under-16 level.

South Africa under-19 international all-rounder Wernars, who will be Priory’s overseas player, represents Western Province in his homeland, batting left-handed and bowling right-arm seam.

The 19-year-old played two games against Sussex for the Cape Cobras Emerging Players on last year’s pre-season trip to Dubai and has performed in the Under-19 World Cup.

Off-spinner Parsons, 18, played two Tests and four One-Day Internationals for England under-19s on their tour of Sri Lanka this winter, taking 11 wickets in total.

Formerly of champions Preston Nomads, Parsons has been part of the Sussex academy since 2008 and represented the county at 2nd XI level last summer.

On top of that, batsman Toby Finzel is returning to Priory from local rivals Bexhill having spent the winter playing top grade cricket in Australia.

And wicketkeeper/batsman Dave Draper, who has played in the top divisions of the Kent League and Essex League, is also coming on board. What’s more, Richard Burnett is coming back as club coach.

The full article will appear in tomorrow’s Hastings Observer.