Two out of two for Priory

Priory saw off Sussex Premier Division new boys Roffey by 114 runs. Matt Machan hit 72 and John Morgan 42 not out as Priory posted 251-9 batting first at Horntye Park Sports Complex before bowling their opponents out for 137 with Mick Glazier taking 4-22, and Morgan and Jason Finch two wickets each.

Bexhill suffered their first defeat in Division Two by five wickets at home to Haywards Heath. Shawn Johnson top-scored with 34 as Bexhill were dismissed for 134 batting first and Heath reached their target despite Chris Topp bagging 3-34 and Jamie Wicks 2-28.

Crowhurst Park continued their winning start to life in Division Three (East) after scraping home in a thriller at Ansty by 12 runs. Park were dismissed for 129 batting first with Martin Menezes making 41 and Martin Barry 31, but knocked over Ansty for 117 thanks to Paul Brookes (4-31), Victor Walcott (3-30) and Bradley Payne (3-28).

In the same division, Sidley crushed Seaford by 10 wickets at Gullivers. Paul Swannell plundered 6-48 to skittle Seaford for just 97 and Sidley needed only 18.3 overs to knock the runs off.

Full reports on each of these matches will appear in Friday’s Observers.

Standings (all played two matches) - Premier Division: 1 HASTINGS PRIORY 60pts, 2 Preston Nomads 60, 3 East Grinstead 40, 4 Brighton & Hove 39, 5 Roffey 39, 6 Horsham 34, 7 Eastbourne 27, 8 Chichester Priory Park 20, 9 Pulborough 15, 10 Three Bridges 13.

Division 2: 1 Cuckfield 60, 2 Haywards Heath 44, 3 Worthing 44, 4 St James’s Montefiore 40, 5 Glynde & Beddingham 36, 6 Goring by Sea 36, 7 BEXHILL 34, 8 Ifield 22, 9 Lewes Priory 21, 10 Stirlands 2.

Division 3 (East): 1 CROWHURST PARK 60, 2 Lindfield 42, 3 SIDLEY 41, 4 Uckfield Anderida 37, 5 Crawley 33, 6 Burgess Hill 31, 7 Hellingly 30, 8 Seaford 30, 9 Keymer & Hassocks 21, 10 Ansty 17.