Double dose of derby action

Bexhill at the crease during their ECB Royal London Club Championship victory over Eastbourne earlier this month. Picture by Simon Newstead (SUS-141205-100158002)

Malcolm Johnson’s side will visit Eastbourne in the Sussex Cricket League Premier Division tomorrow (Saturday) before hosting Hastings Priory in an ECB Royal London Club Championship third round tie on Sunday.

Bexhill are bottom of the fledgling league table and although we’re just one-sixth of the way through the season, they could do with a positive result against an Eastbourne side which came up from Division Two with them last year.

Eastbourne are just two places and 15 points better off than Bexhill, and both sides are still to record their first league victory. The local rivals have already gone head-to-head once this season with Bexhill winning by three wickets in round two of the ECB Royal London Club Championship.

Once the Eastbourne match is done and dusted, Bexhill will turn their attention to the visit from Hastings in the prestigious national knockout competition a day later.

It’s thought to be the first time that Bexhill have ever made it to round three and another win on Sunday would put them through to the regional final against the winners of the tie between East Grinstead and Hartley Country Club.

Hastings are currently second-bottom of the Sussex Premier League - eight points above Bexhill - having lost one and drawn two of their opening three matches.

The Eastbourne game is due to start at 12.30pm, while the Hastings clash is scheduled to get underway from 1pm at The Polegrove.