Priory ‘well set’ for season

Hastings Priory training hard ahead of the new Sussex Cricket League season. Picture by Simon Newstead

A decent fourth place showing last time out - coupled with an encouraging pre-season this year - has installed an air of quiet confidence at Horntye Park.

“We’re looking to move on and develop from last year,” said senior player John Morgan.

“You’re always looking to get a certain amount of points and wins to stay in the league, and then you look to get in the top five and beyond. Come August-September if you are still in the shake up, you’ve got a chance of winning the league.”

Priory have played only one competitive fixture prior to the league opener at home to Brighton & Hove due to receiving a first round bye as holders of the Gray-Nicolls Sussex T20 Cup.

“We have had three or four weeks of good outdoor practice. It’s gone well and the weather has stayed good for us,” Morgan went on.

“We are looking well set. Hopefully we have got the availability of (Sussex professional) Harry Finch, who’s looking in top nick this year so we go into the game against Brighton positive and excited about the season.”

The talented, young Priory side is also due to be in action on Sunday when they host Tunbridge Wells in the second round of the ECB Royal London Club Championship.

TODAY’S CRICKET FIXTURES

Sussex Cricket League, 1st XI Premier Division (12.30): Bexhill v Horsham; Hastings Priory v Brighton & Hove.

1st XI Division 2 (1): Chichester Priory Park v Crowhurst Park.

1st XI Division 4 (1): Crawley v Rye.

2nd XI Division 1 (1): Brighton & Hove v Hastings Priory; Horsham v Bexhill.

2nd XI Division 3 (East) (1): Crowhurst Park v Rottingdean; Rye v Crawley.

East Sussex League (1.30), Division 1: Newick v Iden.

Division 2: Crowborough v Robertsbridge; Tunbridge Wells Borderers v Battle.

Division 3: Hailsham v Little Common Ramblers.

Division 4: Bexhill III v Polegate & Stone Cross.

Division 5: Bells Yew Green II v Pett.

Division 6: Hastings Priory III v Willingdon II; Iden II v Stanmer; Udimore v Lewes St Michaels II.

Division 7: Battle II v Burwash Weald; Robertsbridge II v Crowborough II.

Division 8: Little Common Ramblers II v Laughton II; Uckfield Anderida II v Bexhill IV.

Division 9: Pett II v Glynde & Beddingham III; Sidley III v Bexhill V.

Division 10: Rye III v Crowhurst Park III.

Division 11: Crowhurst Park IV v Wadhurst II; DPB II v Little Common Ramblers III; Robertsbridge III v Seaford IV.

Division 12: Bells Yew Green IV v Rye IV; Newick IV v Westfield.