Brighton and Hove clinched the Shepherd Neame Sussex League title by winning their last match and pipping 1999 champions Hastings by seven points.

It has been a vintage season for Brighton who have completed the double after beating Three Bridges in the cup final five weeks earlier.

Brighton needed to beat Eastbourne on Saturday and secure at least three bonus points to take the title.

They lost the toss but then bowled out their visitors for just 101, securing ten bonus points.

Andy Sartor with 4-39 in 14 overs made batting difficult and, with Keith Greenfield and Greg Guilford each grabbing two wickets, it was only 32 from Roger Myall that rescued Eastbourne from a worse fate as, at one time, they were 71-9.

There was early panic as Brighton stumbled to 15-2 but, with young Matt Pryor making 27 not out, Bas Zuiderent 24 and Greenfield 21, Brighton started their celebrations having reached their target at 102-4.

Three Bridges clinched third place with a comfortable seven wicket win at relegated Bexhill after bowling out their hosts for 187.

In that total, Chris Topp hit a league personal best of 78, including 14 fours, and Bridges skipper Danny Alderman took 5-53 in 25.1 overs. Alderman then hit 56 not out and, with Tom Mole making 59 not out, the visitors reached victory at 188-3 from 54.3 overs, Alan Cowley taking 2-31.

There was a low scoring game at Horsham, where conditions suited the spinners, and the hosts beat Haywards Heath by just seven runs.

Horsham were dismissed for 125, of which Luke Marshall made 44 and Tim Edmunds took 4-16 in 13 overs. Sussex youngster Paul Havell's pace earned him 3-45.

In turn, spinners Marshall (4-33) and Chris Nash (4-15) sent the visitors tumbling to 118 all out as teenager Tim Daniels made top score of 49.

A four wicket win at Sidley earned East Grinstead the second division title and promotion to the Premier League, which they narrowly missed last year.

Grinstead put the home side in and dismissed them for 153. John Barden, with 46, and Pete King, with 34, provided the backbone while, for Grinstead, Steve Greig took 4-24, Paul Turk 3-28 and Stuart Simmonds 3-59.

Skipper Steve Pollard then made 58 and James Chadburn 56 but the winners had a fright or two on their way to 154-6 as Tyrone Wildman took 3-39. Victory came with just six balls to spare.

Stirlands failed by three points and catch Worthing to clinch the second promotion spot, despite finishing the season unbeaten and winning by 44 runs at home to Lewes Priory.

Jamie Hall's side were put in by Lewes and then knew that, to gain promotion, they had to make at least 180 and win the game. They were dismissed for 149 as Kashif Ibrahim took 3-55.

At least they won the match as Anthony Brewster's pace proved effective with 6-28 as Lewes tumbled to 105 all out.