Forest Row pull hard to escape drop

Forest Row won their final game of the season to seal their escape from the threat of relegation in the H J Stoner Mid-Sussex Cricket League first division.

Having been in the bottom three all season, the Chapel Lane side beat Poynings by six wickets for a maximum points haul to ensure they would finish above the drop zone.

Tom Brookes took 3-22 as Poynings were dismissed for 134 and then hit 39 to steer his side to 137 for four.

1st XI team-mate Paul Rowe said: "They were great end of season games. We've been in the bottom three all year, but got ourselves back in the hunt to stay up.

"We had to win our last game to have any chance of staying up. We beat Poynings to get 30 points; other teams won as well but Palmers, who are probably one of the nicest teams we have played against, went down.

"Poynings played the game in the right way, a really friendly game. Well done to all the lads at Forest Row - a great effort to stay up!"

Horsted Keynes also managed to get out of trouble with a gutsy victory over Streat & Westmeston, who had finished runners up to champions St Francis; leaving Palmers and Colemans Hatch facing the drop to Division Two with Ashdown Forest.