Two ‘massive’ games await Priory

Elliot Hooper bowling for Hastings Priory in their last home fixture against Horsham a fortnight ago. Picture by Simon Newstead (SUS-140615-184152002)

Rock-bottom Priory host fourth-bottom Eastbourne today (Saturday) before visiting second-bottom Bexhill next weekend.

Priory first team coach Ian Gillespie said: “We’ve got two massive games. We’re playing some quite good cricket and we do feel our position is a false one.

“If we get one win, we could get two or three in a row. But the longer it goes on without getting it, the more difficult it becomes. It would be great if we could turn it round and get one this weekend.”

Harry Finch is expected to return and Imran Javed is set to play his last game for the club. Dave Lowery, who was due to replace Javed as Priory’s overseas player, now won’t be coming after landing a job in Australia.

“At this stage finding a player available to come over at short notice is going to be very difficult,” added Gillespie. “But we’ve got a very talented group of players and a fantastic spirit, and we’re all just going to have to raise our game a bit.”

The table could look very different for Priory had they won rather than lost a very tight game at East Grinstead last weekend and the opposition not held on for draws in two matches which Priory had the better of.

TODAY’S CRICKET FIXTURES

Sussex Cricket League, 1st XI Premier Division (12.30): East Grinstead v Bexhill; Hastings Priory v Eastbourne.

1st XI Division 2 (1): St James’s Montefiore v Crowhurst Park.

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

2nd XI Division 1 (1): Bexhill v East Grinstead; Eastbourne v Hastings Priory.

2nd XI Division 3 (East) (1): Crowhurst Park v Keymer & Hassocks; Hellingly v Rye.

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

Division 2: Laughton v Battle; Robertsbridge v Fletching.

Division 3: Chiddingly v Little Common Ramblers.

Division 4: Bexhill III v Hailsham II.

Division 5: St Peters II v Pett.

Division 6: Hastings Priory III v Lewes St Michaels II; Iden II v Nutley; Udimore v Plumpton & East Chiltington II.

Division 7: Battle II v Hellingly III; Burwash Weald v Rottingdean III; Mayfield II v Robertsbridge II.

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

Division 9: Bexhill V v Barcombe II; Pett II v Polegate & Stone Cross II; Sidley v Glynde & Beddingham III.

Division 10: Ringmer III v Rye III.

Division 11: Crowhurst Park IV v Seaford IV; Little Common Ramblers III v Newhaven III; Robertsbridge III v Willingdon III.

Division 12: Bells Yew Green IV v Westfield; Rye IV v Heathfield Park III.