After skipper Jason Finch conceded his team was in a relegation battle and demanded a performance, his players obliged with a seven-wicket win over Haywards Heath.

With Priory having posted sub-par scores batting first in each of their three previous games, this time the boot was on the other foot as Heath were all out for 179 after opting to bat.

The in-form John Morgan led the way with three wickets and there were two apiece for Tim van Noort, Peter Harris and Mick Glazier.

Priory reached their target for the loss of three wickets at Horntye Park thanks largely to an unbroken partnership between Finch (75 not out) and Richard Young (46 not out).

The situation is now looking much better for Priory because they are outside the bottom two and just three points behind fourth-bottom Three Bridges with a game in hand.

Elsewhere, it was frustration for Division Two promotion hopefuls Bexhill because for the third time this season they had to settle for a draw with the opposition nine wickets down.

Bexhill scored 222 after being put into bat at Pulborough, captain Jonathan Haffenden top-scoring with 76 as, for once, the visitors' run-laden opening pair went cheaply.

Pulborough hung on at 204-9 in reply thanks to an unbroken last wicket of 21 which denied Bexhill a fifth straight win. Rob Hoad took 5-57 and Simon Bulteel 3-25.

Sidley celebrated back-to-back home victories in Division Three (East) with a comfortable eight-wicket success against Uckfield Anderida.

The away team was all out for 195 after electing to bat and second-placed Sidley knocked the runs off for the loss of just two wickets with the in-form Bradley Holt 108 not out.

In the 2nd XI Division One derby, meanwhile, Bexhill trounced Priory by 179 runs at The Polegrove, bowling them out for just 69 having totalled 248-9 batting first.

Standings (played-points) – Premier Division: 1 Preston Nomads 9-252, 2 East Grinstead 10-216, 3 Cuckfield 10-173, 4 Brighton & Hove 9-164, 5 Eastbourne 9-159, 6 Horsham 9-140, 7 Three Bridges 9-119, 8 HASTINGS PRIORY 8-116, 9 Haywards Heath 10-110, 10 Lewes Priory 10-83.

Division 2: 1 Chichester Priory Park 9-202, 2 BEXHILL 9-189, 3 Stirlands 9-172, 4 Pulborough 9-175, 5 Glynde & Beddingham 9-152, 6 Roffey 9-143, 7 Worthing 8-135, 8 Middleton 9-118, 9 St James's Montefiore 9-117, 10 Littlehampton 8-68.

Division 3 (East): 1 Seaford 9-241, 2 SIDLEY 9-191, 3 Keymer & Hassocks 9-180, 4 Ansty 9-157, 5 Lindfield 8-143, 6 Hellingly 8-133, 7 Uckfield Anderida 8-111, 8 Burgess Hill 9-108, 9 Crawley 9-107, 10 Chiddingly 8-103.