CRICKET: First Win in Eight For Priory
4 July: Hastings & St Leonards Priory 267 all out; Preston Nomads 216 for 7
11 July: Cuckfield 152 all out; Hastings & St Leonards Priory 156 for 5
HUGH SULLIVAN
The cricketers of Hastings & St Leonards Priory started this month at the foot of the Sussex Premier League table, without a win since 16 May. But in two successive home games against top-half opposition they have emerged with the best of a draw against Preston Nomads followed by a comfortable win over Cuckfield. Only 21 points now separate fifth from tenth, and the stage is set for a tight contest between all the league sides over the second half of the season.
Caleb Laloo, finding his best form against Cuckfield
On 4 July, hosting the Nomads, captain Harry Scowen won the toss, opted to bat first, and made hay under sunny skies. Hitting a masterful 117 off 136 balls, he shared an opening century partnership with the more circumspect Alfie Hunter (26), then enjoyed another rampant pairing with Joe Billings (50). From a score of 206 for one after 43 overs, a total of over 300 looked on the cards. The last 15 overs produced only 61 more runs for the loss of all nine remaining wickets, however.
Freddie Hulbert took a couple of early wickets when the Nomads replied, and the visitors remained well behind the required run rate as Adam Barton and Troy Henry, bowling with accuracy on a pitch that favoured spin, kept tight control. Scowen maintained an attacking field with close catchers around the bat, inviting the batsmen to accelerate towards their target with some cheap boundaries. But Nomads were not tempted, seeming to decide rather early that this was beyond them, and the game petered to a draw with seven wickets down and over 50 runs still to get.
A week later against Cuckfield, Hulbert again struck early, clean-bowling first Joe Cambridge, then Omair Yousuf with only 16 on the board. As this pair had hit 244 runs between them in the corresponding fixture between the sides when they played at Cuckfield in May, these dismissals naturally stoked Priory into the belief that this should be their day. Barton and Henry again bowled with admirable control, while Hunter took five wickets. The West Sussex side subsided to 26 for four, recovered somewhat to reach 102 for five, but never managed to collar the home bowling, and were eventually dismissed for 152 in the 55th over.
Batting conditions remained tricky for Priory’s batsmen and, despite a fluent 26 from Scowen, Priory lost half their wickets in reaching 87. However, Caleb Laloo found his best form of the season and, with confident assistance from Henry, helped himself to 11 fours, including some fine drives and a delicious reverse sweep in an unbeaten knock of 67. The pair guided Priory to victory without further loss and with plenty of time to spare.
Next up is an away trip tomorrow (Saturday) to Pulborough to face West Chiltington & Thakeham, followed by a home game against Haywards Heath.
Sussex Cricket League – Division 2 table
| P | W | D | L | A | Bat | Bowl | Pts | |
| Roffey | 10 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 8 | 255 |
| Middleton | 10 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 13 | 231 |
| Three Bridges | 10 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 11 | 223 |
| Preston Nomads | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 38 | 31 | 176 |
| Cuckfield | 10 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 35 | 23 | 160 |
| Hastings & St Leonards Priory | 10 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 43 | 33 | 153 |
| West Chiltington & Thakeham | 10 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 53 | 42 | 151 |
| Horsham | 10 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 28 | 16 | 151 |
| Bognor Regis | 10 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 49 | 24 | 150 |
| Haywards Heath | 10 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 36 | 26 | 139 |
Ramblers Making Tracks
Down in Division 2, Little Common Ramblers are promising a second successive promotion season. They achieved a fourth successive victory (in completed matches) last Saturday, winning by just eight runs in a thrilling finish at the local Recreation Ground against potential promotion rivals Brighton & Hove.
Kaleb Auld top-scored with 43 runs in a total of 201, then took three wickets, including a caught-and-bowled to dismiss the last opposing batsman. Ramblers have profited all season from his consistent all-round performances – 320 runs so far, plus 28 wickets at an average of under 13.
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