Hastings have moved to the top of the Shepherd Neame Sussex League after completing their third win in four starts at St James.

Brighton and Hove, not playing on Saturday, remain second and Three Bridges have moved into third after trouncing Worthing by ten wickets.

Hastings were put in by St James and dismissed for 215. Jason Pooley top scored with 53, skipper Tim Eldridge made 44 and Jason Finch cracked a quick-fire 38.

South African Mark Johnson was the most successful of the home bowlers with 3-74, Andy Wellfare took 2-51 and Mark Thompson 2-35.

The home side then tumbled to 122 all out as left-arm spinner Michael Glazier took 4-26. Andy Cornford grabbed 3-30 to give the leaders a 93-run victory and leave them nine points clear at the top.

Three Bridges took full advantage of a remarkable batting collapse as Worthing slumped from 114-4 to 118 all out.

Bridges skipper Danny Alderman did the damage with 4-3 in 12 overs. All four of his wickets wickets came in a spell of seven balls to wrap up the Worthing innings.

Leg-spinner Conrad Mumby took 5-51 as Worthing skipper John Kaye made the top score of 41.

Bridges took just 27 overs to seal victory at 119-0 as James Chadburn hit 77 not out and Jibran Khan 35 not out.

John Lord took 6-56 to help Chichester celebrate their second win of the season with an 18-run win against Eastbourne at Priory Park.

Andy Bennett made 51 in a Chichester score of 191 all out. The ever-reliable accuracy of Paul Hacker was rewarded with 4-66.

Eastbourne were then dismissed for 173 despite 50 from Darren Stevens. Australian Kim Wulff was the most successful home bowler with 3-67.

Newly-promoted Steyning enjoyed their second win in successive weeks and sent bottom club Haywards Heath tumbling to their fourth defeat in a row.

The visitors were put in and made 235-7 declared as Jason Krejza struck 126 and shared a second wicket stand of 121 with skipper Danny Hall (39). Glen Jones was the most successful home bowler (3-55).

Steyning were reduced to 70-4, with Sussex youngster Paul Havell doing the damage. But then Greg Barnes made 80 and Andy Ridley struck a lightning 77 not out against some ragged Heath bowling, in which Havell proved the exception, with 3-82.

Cuckfield are the new Second Division leaders ahead of Bexhill, who share second place with the previous pacesetters East Grinstead Just three points separate the top three. Bexhill have now won three of their four games, a huge improvement already on last year when they won just twice all season.

Cuckfield, bottom last season, have recruited a number of new players and won their second game in succession by a convincing 103 runs at home to Lewes Priory.

Tom Mole hit 60 in a Cuckfield total of 190-7 declared. Kashif Ibrahim was the pick of the Lewes bowlers with 4-60.

Lewes them tumbled to 87 all out against the bowling of Rob Canfield (4-18) and former Ardingly College skipper Nick Patterson (3-26).

Bexhill were once again inspired by their new Australian skipper Sam Roberts in a four-wicket win at East Grinstead.

Roberts grabbed 5-72 as Steve Pollard made 88 in an East Grinstead total of 182-7 declared. He then hit 83 not out to lead his side home at 183-6.

It was fairly easy for Roffey at home to luckless Sidley as they won by six wickets for their second win in three games. Sidley declared at 180-9 and the home side cruised home at 184-4. Ivor Lawrence made 57 and Mick Webb 51.

Littlehampton had their first win of the campaign but it was desparately close at home to Preston Nomads The visitors were dismissed for 170, with veteran Protap Dasgupta making the top score of 57. Left-arm spinner Chris Hanks bowled well to take 6-58 and Daniel Rive grabbed 2- 27. Hanks was also in form with the bat. He made 44 and Matt Staight hit 52 not out in a Littlehampton winning score of 174-8. David Thompson took 4-40.