Key weekend for Priory title hopes

Hastings Priory have a golden opportunity to make up ground in the Sussex Cricket League title race this weekend.

Priory will contest a Premier Division double header at home to Three Bridges tomorrow (Saturday) and the Sussex Development XI on Sunday.

Their captain Jason Finch said: “It’s a big weekend. They’re two winnable games and if we want to go into the last weekend with a chance of winning the league, we must win these two games.”

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With Priory and fellow title hopefuls Horsham on their free week last weekend, Preston Nomads hit the front courtesy of an eight-wicket victory over fourth-placed East Grinstead.

Third-placed Priory are 32 points behind leaders Nomads, the champions of the last three years, and 22 back of second-placed Horsham, but they do have a game in hand on both.

Bridges are currently in the second relegation position and therefore are likely to attack, which will suit Priory. The Sussex Development XI have won two, drawn two and lost two of their six completed matches.

Finch went on: “It’ll be a used wicket and we’ve got strong spinners. The opposition (Bridges) need to play positively because they need to win so it bodes well. We’ve got every chance of a positive result.”

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Kirk Wernars won’t feature in either game as he is part of the Sussex team which began a four-day LV County Championship match against Yorkshire in Scarborough on Wednesday.

Matt Machan is expected to be available tomorrow, but Sussex may rest the left-handed batsman on Sunday as the seconds are playing Ireland A on Monday. John Morgan will play on Sunday, but not tomorrow.

Should Priory manage to pull off two victories this weekend, it would set them up nicely for next weekend when they entertain bottom-of-the-table Pulborough while their title rivals face each other.

See today’s Hastings Observer for the full article.