It's Roffey's turn to be Sussex Premier top dogs - as Horsham slip up

They are level-pegging with tight finish specialists and early frontrunners East Grinstead.

Roffey skipper Matt Davies said: “It was a good win for us at the Regis Oval, and after a tough month with the ball it was great to see Harnoop Kalsi get a 5 wicket haul. And, Mike Norris was excellent, too, coming back into the team in good form. We just want to keep winning to keep the outcome of the campaign in our own hands, not having to rely on results elsewhere.”

Early season Bognor knocked Roffey out of the Sussex T20 Cup at the first round stage, but, on Saturday, Roffey exacted revenge by completing a Premiership double over the seasiders, bowling them out for a wholly inadequate 159 at home, despite missing opening bowler James Pearce - still injured - and Rohit Jagota recovering from a tonsil operation.

Inserted, Bognor lost an early wicket, but Captain Ryan Maskell, along with Taylor Jaycocks, Joe Ashmore and Nick Stobart all made steady starts. But, none continued beyond their twenties, with George Fleming dismissing the first three in the Bognor line up. Will Fenwick chipped in with two scalps, and, after bowling Stobart, Kalsi accounted four of the last five batsmen to finish with 5-31.

On Roffey’s high-scoring ground, particularly with the current hard, dry outfield, a target of 160 was never likely to be enough, especially as Roffey had 63 overs at their disposal, not putting them under any real pressure. Jamie Woolnough did take two wickets, but Norris, promoted to opening on his return to the first team on his comeback from injury, produced a vintage unbeaten and fast 93, including 17 fours and a six.

Norris was ably supported by Davies, whose 38 not out combined to get Roffey over the line with in excess of 31 overs still available, star bowler Harnoop Kalsi telling us: “It was finally nice to cross that threshold into 5 wickets – something that I’ve been striving at for quite a while. There was some turn if you bowled in the right areas, but their spinners bowled too short and we made the run chase look easy.”

Roffey have a busy weekend approaching - on Saturday they visit Eastbourne, whose two wins from 11 starts leave them precariously hovering just above Brighton and current wooden spoonists Hastings in the relegation zone. Then, on Sunday Roffey travel to Earlswood, London SW18 to take on Spencer in the Quarter Final of the Bertie Joel Trophy, Davies saying: “Lots of travelling, but it’ll be good and we’re all looking forward to it.”

HORSHAM THIRD AFTER LOSING AT MIDDLETON