In-form Priory bang on target

Priory have collected the full house of 60 points from their opening two matches to sit proudly alongside reigning champions Preston Nomads.

Their captain Adam Maharaj-Newman targeted a top three finish at the start of the season and has seen nothing so far to suggest Priory aren’t capable of achieving that objective.

He said: “What we’ve shown so far is we’re bang on target for that I would suggest. Obviously Nomads are going to be up there and Horsham will be as well, but other than that it’s hard to tell at the moment.

“I think it’s going to be similar to last year when every team can beat each other and I think Nomads will be challenged a bit more than in past seasons.”

Winter signing Matt Machan has been the star so far. The Sussex second team batsman is the leading runscorer in the entire Sussex League with 223, including an unbeaten 151 against Chichester Priory Park on day one.

Next up today (Saturday) is a home game against an East Grinstead side which recovered from its opening day defeat to Roffey with a two-wicket win over Horsham last weekend in which Craig Fowle took 8-30.

Maharaj-Newman went on: “Again we’re targeting a win against East Grinstead. To get off to a good start with three wins out of three would set us up nicely for the rest of the season.”

Priory expect to be unchanged and play will get underway from 12.30pm at Horntye Park Sports Complex. Young batsman Toby Finzel is unlikely to play this season after securing a job in France.

Crowhurst Park, meanwhile, have also garnered 60 points out of 60 and, as the only team to have won both its matches so far, sit 18 points clear at the top of Division Three (East).

It’s been a dream start for the league new boys, but they may face their stiffest test so far today when they travel to a Burgess Hill side which finished second last year and beat Sidley on the opening day of this term.