Priory get away with Roffey slip

Priory remain top of the Sussex Cricket League Premier Division despite the 67-run defeat because rivals Preston Nomads were stunned by relegation-threatened Pulborough.

Horsham took advantage by beating East Grinstead and now the leading three sides are covered by just five points, albeit Horsham having played an extra game.

Priory captain Finch said: “Because we played so badly, you have to look at it and say we were a bit lucky with the other results. If we played really well and not won, then I would’ve said it was a missed opportunity.

“Nomads will probably see it as a missed opportunity more than we will. The league’s going to go down to the last two or three weeks and if any one of the top three can beat each other, that might decide it.”

Priory will travel to fourth-placed Grinstead today (Saturday). John Morgan is unavailable, but Tom Harvey is back and Elliot Hooper is likely to return to the squad.

Matt Machan and Kirk Wernars played for Sussex seconds this week - the latter as a batsman - and should feature assuming they have no reaction to their respective injury concerns.

Finch added: “They’ve got two county opening bowlers (Will Adkin and Lewis Hatchett) and the highest runscorer in the league (Matthew Sugg). It’s a tough game and if we’re not on our mettle, we’ll get turned over again.”