Nomads retain Sussex crown

Preston Nomads cruised to a four wicket victory over Eastbourne which secured them the 2009 Sussex Premier League title for the second year in succession, with three rounds of matches remaining.

East Grinstead are poised to take second place while Lewes Priory and Haywards Heath, both promoted last season, could start next season back in Division Two.

On Saturday, Carl Simon took a hat trick to finish with 5-67 as Nomads dismissed the home aide for 205. Stephen Rigg also bagged five wickets, causing all sorts of problems for 5-53.

For Eastbourne Angus Stewart made 68 and Mark Tomsett 42 and in the Nomads winning score of 208 for six, Michael Gould made 36, Alisdair Wilson 49 and Ollie Gatting 32. For the home side, Ollie Ody took 3-58.

East Girnstead made short work of Haywards Heath who they put in and bowled out for 77 with Duncan Shoebridge bagging six wickets and Simon Williamson three. They then knocked off the runs to win with ease at 81 for one.

Horsham enjoyed a 66 run win at Cuckfield after making 226 all out of which Michael Bates made 83 and Sam Bell, at number nine, 53. For the home side Nick Patterson took 5-70 and James Thorpe 3-61.

Cuckfield crashed to 160 despite 64 from Matt Boote, Matthew Barry took 3-67 and Andrew Thornely 3-20.

Brighton and Hove skipper Patrick Spencer steered his side to a 149 run win at Three Bridges. He hit 118 not out and Matt Green 73 not out to take the score to 257 for four declared after the pair had come together at 76 for four, Danny Alderman was the pick of the home bowlers, he took 2-50.

The home side were then dismissed for 108 as Matt Wood returned his best figures of the season with 8-44.

Hastings enjoyed a speedy home win against bottom club Lewes Priory who they dismissed for 119 with 3-49 from John Morgan and 3-38 from Tim van Noort.

Michael Murray was top score for the visitors, he made 27 and Nick Seager 24.

In the Hastings winning reply of 120 for five Toby Finzel made 55 not out and James Beeny 30.

Tunbridge Wells retained third place and left St Lawrence in the bottom three with a fine batting performance at Highland Court. St Lawrence won the toss and chose to bat.

They lost wickets steadily through their innings with no one able to build a substantial partnership with opener Dominic Chambers who carried his bat for a fine 122 as St Lawrence closed on 238 for seven.

Tunbridge Wells capitalised on an under par bowling performance by St Lawrence, as Geoff Paulsen, 122 not out and Will Stickler, 84 not out put on a fine unbeaten third wicket partnership off 199 as Tunbridge Wells raced home with over ten overs to spare.