Iden captain David White believes the East Sussex division one title battle is the most open for years.

The league's top-flight lost some of its best teams this season following the introduction of the new Sussex League third tier.

Iden are among the sides tipped to do well in the reshuffled competition but White reckons any team could take the crown.

He said: "Any outsiders looking in would say that losing teams like Glynde and Seaford makes the division easier.

"I wouldn't say it is easier but it means the title is much more open this year. Every team is capable of beating everyone else and could go on to win it.

"There are a lot of good teams in the division, like Fletching, Crowhurst Park and Ringmer so it is not easy. We are up there as well and we are going to have a really good go at it."

Iden were knocked off top spot after losing by three wickets against Barcombe. They were dismissed for 185 following good spells with the ball from Ole Callf (3-22), Joe Wheatley (3-29) and Will Marler (2-9), before Keith Savage (52) and Sanjay Patel (46) guided home the reply.

White said: "It was really disappointing because we didn't play anywhere near our best. Our problem is our strength in depth because when we are without a couple of players we are beatable."

Willingdon took advantage of Iden's slip-up to go top with a six-wicket victory over Tunbridge Wells Borderers.

Steff Ashford (28 not out) and Taff Mpandawana (21 not out) clinched the win after Simon Fuller (3-22), Mpandawana (2-29) and Duncan Ford (2-31) restricted Borderers to 144-4.

Crowhurst Park posted 213-7 to beat winless Rye by 71 points with top scores from Michael Legg (49) and Martin Barry (40). Peter Harris took 3-34 for Rye, who were bowled out for 142 with James Hamilton making 30 and Tim Brownhill 29.

Murray Barnett claimed 5-30 as Ringmer shot out Fletching for 118 to win by 93 runs. Barnett also did well with the bat, scoring 37 not out after Glyn Crees made 49 and Stuart McConachie 38.

Tom Burton scored 116 not out for Rottingdean in a draw against Ditchling. Henry Ledden (63) also did well at the crease in a declared total of 248-2, before bottom side Ditchling held on for 127-7 in reply with Patrick Nolan scoring 33.

Christian Hart scored 105 and Terry Penfold 86 as division two leaders Heathfield Park amassed 210-5 in a draw against Herstmonceux, who held out for 178-8 with 59 not out from Graham Bennett. James Briggs was the pick of the Park bowlers with 3-32.

Second-placed Newhaven reduced the gap at the top to four points with a comfortable victory over Battle.

They posted 228-7 with Daryl Tullett (36) top scoring, before Mike Pryer (3-15) and Lee Pollard (3-16) helped dismiss Battle for 67.

Jim Billings (36 not out) and Trevor Blunt (24 not out) guided Buxted to a ten-wicket win after Colin Olive, Bryan Huxley and Rob Hunter took three wickets each to leave Newick all out for 63.

Utkarsh Tewari took 8-58 for St Peter's but it was not enough to prevent a 58-run defeat against Robertsbridge.

Tewari helped limit the target to 144 after Richard Hawthorne hit 67 but Saints were dismissed for 86 in reply with John Newman (2-1), Stuart Miller (2-11), David Roberts (2-14) and Nick Whiteman (2-19) sharing the wickets Pevensey raced past a target of 110 with three wickets to spare against Eastbourne III to claim maximum points.