Priory safe but Bexhill down

Priory picked up enough points from their draw against Three Bridges to be certain of avoiding the two relegation places in the Premier Division of the Sussex League.

But Bexhill, who needed to win their final two games to stand any chance of staying up, lost away to Horsham and are certain to finish bottom of the pile.

Bridges scored 246-6 batting first away to Priory, who reached 232-9 in reply with Jason Finch scoring 79 and George Campbell 63.

Bexhill were all out for 156 batting first against Horsham. Hugh Finzel top-scored with 47 and Toby Finzel added 29, but Luke Marshall took 6-39 including a hat-trick.

Second-placed Horsham stumbled to 97-5 in reply before Sussex professional Will Beer steered them home with an undefeated 76.

Sidley, meanwhile, fought out a high-scoring draw away to Hellingly in Division Three (East).

Hellingly totalled 269-7 batting first and Sidley finished their reply on 245-9 thanks largely to Matt Taylor (92) and Chris Hunnisett (70).

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

Standings '“ Premier Division (all played 18 matches): 1 Preston Nomads 411pts, 2 Horsham 382, 3 Brighton & Hove 344, 4 Chichester Priory Park 300, 5 HASTINGS PRIORY 278, 6 East Grinstead 269, 7 Eastbourne 260, 8 Three Bridges 256, 9 Cuckfield 247, 10 BEXHILL 211.

Division Three (East) (all played 17 matches): 1 IFIELD 388pts, 2 Burgess Hill 318, 3 Hellingly 310, 4 Seaford 306, 5 SIDLEY 280, 6 Ansty 269, 7 Lindfield 256, 8 Crawley 234, 9 Uckfield Anderida 224, 10 Chiddingly 197.