Run of defeats continues

Hastings Priory captain George Campbell, pictured here batting against Horsham last weekend, top-scored in the defeat at Roffey

Priory went down by seven wickets away to Sussex Premier League title hopefuls Roffey, who exacted convincing revenge for an ECB Royal London Club Championship last 16 defeat away to Priory earlier in the month.

Missing influential duo Harry Finch and Leo Cammish, the visitors again failed to put enough runs on the board with the bat as they were bowled out for 171 in the final over after winning the toss and choosing to take first knock.

Young opening pair Tom Gillespie (9) and Joe Billings (15) dug in early on before falling in identical fashion within five runs of each to leave Priory 26-2, both caught behind by Matt Davies off Kuldeep Rawat.

Number three Joe Lamb, promoted from the seconds, put on 46 for the second wicket with the in-form George Campbell until being trapped LBW by Rohit Jagota (6-41) for a determined 16 off 60 balls.

Fresh off back-to-back centuries the previous weekend, Priory captain Campbell proceeded to top-score with 38 off 77 balls. Campbell eventually departed to Jagota - three runs after the same bowler dismissed Adam Maharaj-Newman (8) - to leave Priory 95-5.

With the top five all gone, Elliot Hooper and Freddie Hulbert put on 51 for the sixth wicket only for both men to fall within four runs of each other. Hooper was firstly trapped LBW by Jagota for 27 and Hulbert was then caught behind off Daniel Smith for 26.

Priory lost their next two wickets with the score 153, Dan Doram adjudged LBW to Jagota for six and Jake Woolley was then caught by Alex Collins off the same bowler for a third ball duck. John Morgan was last man out for 11, bowled by Smith.

Adam Barton made the breakthrough in the field for Priory by having Josh Fleming caught behind by Woolley for 18 with the score 29, but a pair of half-century partnerships ended their hopes of an unlikely victory.

Theodore Rivers and Mike Norris put on 70 for the second wicket until the former was caught behind off Hulbert for 43. Norris and Jagota then added 62 for the third wicket before Norris was bowled by Doram for a game-high 54 featuring six fours and a six.

That man Jagota completed a splendid individual performance by blasting Roffey past the winning post in the 35th over with an unbeaten 49 off just 27 balls, sealing victory with his fourth six.

Standings (played 13 matches unless stated): 1 Preston Nomads 251pts, 2 East Grinstead 248, 3 Roffey (12) 247, 4 Horsham (12) 203, 5 Eastbourne (12) 202, 6 Brighton & Hove 201, 7 Cuckfield 201, 8 BEXHILL 156, 9 Three Bridges 145, 10 HASTINGS PRIORY 107.