In-form Bexhill surge into top two

A fifth successive victory in completed matches away to Cuckfield on Saturday, coupled with results elsewhere going their way, has moved Bexhill up to second.

Bexhill made 234-9 batting first thanks largely to Mark Steketee (73 not out) and Malcolm Johnson (68) before bowling Cuckfield out for 164, Chris Topp taking 4-15 and Ian Ellis 3-28.

Sidley have been knocked off the top of Division Three (East) after going down by 29 runs away to new pacesetters Hellingly, for whom former Hastings Priory man Tim van Noort hit 60 and took 5-45.

Paul Swannell claimed four wickets, and Peter King and Chris Deeprose three each as Hellingly were all out for 155 having been 21-4 and 80-7. But Sidley could only manage 126 in reply despite King’s 41.

In the same division, Crowhurst Park lost by 86 runs away to bottom club Crawley. The hosts scored 188 batting first and Park, nine-wicket winners over Lindfield the previous weekend, were shot out for 102 in reply.

Hastings Priory were on their free week and now sit 42 points off the pace in the Premier Division, albeit with a game in hand, after Preston Nomads hit the front via an eight-wicket victory over East Grinstead.

Standings – Premier Division (played-points): 1 Preston Nomads 16-351, 2 Horsham 16-341, 3 HASTINGS PRIORY 15-309, 4 East Grinstead 17-305, 5 Roffey 16-244, 6 Eastbourne 17-220, 7 Brighton & Hove 16-217, 8 Three Bridges 16-204, 9 Chichester Priory Park 16-203, 10 Pulborough 16-161.

Division 2 (all played 15 matches): 1 Worthing 323pts, 2 BEXHILL 280, 3 Glynde & Beddingham 271, 4 Goring By Sea 269, 5 Haywards Heath 265, 6 Cuckfield 247, 7 St James’s Montefiore 222, 8 Ifield 197, 9 Stirlands 188, 10 Lewes Priory 164.

Division 3 (East) (all played 15 matches): 1 Hellingly 296pts, 2 Seaford 286, 3 SIDLEY 284, 4 Ansty 272, 5 Lindfield 261, 6 CROWHURST PARK 247, 7 Burgess Hill 238, 8 Keymer & Hassocks 233, 9 Uckfield Anderida 217, 10 Crawley 196.

Full reports on the matches involving Bexhill, Sidley and Crowhurst Park will appear in Friday’s Observers.