11:00am Monday 6th July 2009
Skipper Mark Bamford is plotting for the long term as Chichester try to lose their yo-yo tag.
Chi are 15 points clear in their bid to bounce back to the premier division at the first attempt.
An 80-run success at home to Pulborough left them in pole position in division two and Bamford says their aim is to go back up and stay up.
Part of that process was appointing former Nottinghamshire bowler Richard Logan as player-coach in the winter.
Bamford said: “We have taken a good hard look at our club and we decided to go for a coach who can be involved at all levels rather than a top overseas player.
“Richard Logan has professional experience with three counties and I have known him for a few years now.
“He brings a new dimension to training and practice and on match days we are organised with a level of professionalism we have not had before.
“We are looking to go up this year and then sustain a level of performance that will allow us to become established as a Premier League club.
“We are not there yet but all being well we hope to get promotion and then move on.
“We do not want to continue going up and down. I think all our players are developing from Richard’s help.”
David Leaver hit 102 as Chichester were dismissed for 201 by Pulborough but the visitors collapsed to 121 all out as Logan took 3-34.
Preston Nomads are firm favourites to retain the premier division title after enjoying their ninth win in 11 starts with a ten wicket triumph over Three Bridges.
Nomads have actually only lost one wicket in winning their last three matches and their title hopes were boosted on Saturday when nearest rivals East Grinstead suffered a narrow 11-run defeat at Horsham.
Nick Hobbs took 4-37 and Carl Simon 3-29 as Nomads sent Three Bridges tumbling to 92 all out despite Shaun Allborough smacking 30 from 11 balls.
Alistair Wilson (55 not out) and Ollie Gatting (35 not out) then steered Nomads to 95 without loss from just 11.4 overs.
Horsham made 184 all out at home to East Grinstead as Devon Endersby hit 58 and skipper Alan Law 31. For the visitors Craig Fowle took 3-22 and Lewis Hatchett 3-49.
Grinstead then crashed to 173 all out as New Zealander Michael Bates took 5-72 and Luke Marshall 5-26. Top scorer was skipper Alex Edwards with 72.
Cuckfield completed their first double of the season with a seven-wicket win at Haywards Heath, who were dismissed for 151 with Jack Simpson (35) top-scoring. Jason Oates then cracked 84 not out in the victory charge.
It was leg-spin that won the game for Brighton and Hove at Lewes Priory. Batting first, Brighton were bowled out for 145 in 51 overs, Guy Williams with 35 as John Aspden took 4-44 and Adnam Raza 3-9. Skipper Patrick Spencer then took 5-40 and teenager Josh Poysden 3-28 to bowl out Lewes for 127, five of the men out being lbw victims.
At Eastbourne, Sussex pace bowler Rageb Aga returned from injury and, although he could not bowl, his knock of 59 not out helped the home side to beat Hastings by seven wickets. Fellow Sussex pros Ben Brown (28) and Tom Smith (28 not out) also played their part as they reached 157-3.
Earlier Brown, who is usually a wicketkeeper, took two wickets as did Ollie Ody and Tom Smith while Stuart Collier claimed 3-44 as Hastings were dismissed for 153.
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