Cuckfield jumped to fourth place after their four-wicket win at Chichester but reigning champions Brighton & Hove are still in last place despite an impressive first win of the season by 154 runs at home to Three Bridges.
The top table clash at the Saffrons ended in stalemate after Hastings had been put in and finished a run short of maximum batting points at 224-7. James Beeny made 38, Adam Maharaj-Newman 51 and South African Chris Morris hit 65 not out from just 55 balls, while for the hosts county all-rounder Ollie Rayner took 5-87 in 21 overs.
The Eastbourne reply lacked momentum and a run rate of just three an over for the first 30 overs meant victory was always going to be a tough ask. Ben Brown made 37 and Rayner 30 but it was 51 from Stuart Faith that added some late momentum to the innings, which had reached 193-7 at stumps as Morris took 3-57.
Brighton romped to a massive 262-5 against Three Bridges after losing two early wickets. Chris Grammer made 72, Tim Jarvis 62, skipper Patrick Spencer 47 not out and Chris Liddle 30 not out.
The visitors were then sent packing for just 108 with only Michael Shaw (22) offering any resistance to Matt Wood (4-38) and Aussie Julian Stephenson (6-55), who bowled unchanged.
Cuckfield found their winning form at Chichester, where they were in command for most of the game. The hosts reached 192-8 thanks mainly to a century stand between veteran Neil Budden (53) and Paul Terry (43no) as Tasmanian leg-spinner Jason Shelton took 4-58.
Cuckfield won by four wickets as Tom Mole made an unbeaten 67 and Graham Bechin 42, while for Chi there were two wickets each for Gary Austerberry and Paul Terry.
There was a stalemate at Fulking where Preston Nomads were bowled out for 257 by Horsham, who then finished well short of their target at 180-8.
Michael Gould kept up his good form for Nomads with 96, Jeremy Green made 40 and Kashif Ibrahim 35 as spinners Will Beer and Luke Marshall took 5-57 and 3-12 respectively.
Michael Thornely then made 68 and Andrew Hodd 36 but Ibrahim (5-58) ensured wickets fell at regular intervals.
East Grinstead made the highest score of the day after being put in at Saint Hill by Stirlands. A total of 277-4 featured good knocks by Alex Edwards (65), Mike Phillips (61no), Matt Kleinweldt (56) and Toby Margetts (54).
Stirlands replied with 227-5 thanks largely to Danny Cox (75) and Nathan Ball (42).
In Division 2 Bexhill and Lewes Priory are neck and neck after both winning for the fourth time this season, while Littlehampton moved into the promotion race with a seven-wicket win at Sidley, who are the only team still to win a game.
Bexhill won by four wickets after putting in visitors Pulborough and dismissing them for 142. Rohit Jagota made 31 as Sean Austin took 5-44 and Chris Topp 3-21.
The hosts also lost wickets and were grateful for 17-year-old Malcolm Johnson's 46 as Jagota took 3-40.
There was a very low scoring game at Ditchling, where St James's Montefiore bowled out Lewes for just 93 but still lost by 14 runs. Phil Taylor (5-35) and Kris Johnson (3-14) did the damage for Saints but then Simon Allen grabbed 5-23 as only Matt Stone (24) offered much resistance with the bat.
In sharp contrast, Littlehampton faced a formidable total of 251 at Sidley, where Elliott Bullock's 125 and Scott Woodroffe's 70 seemed to justify the decision to bat first despite Benn Challen taking 5-68.
But then Aussie Angus Webster cracked 133 not out and Chris Kirhkam made 64 as Littlehampton cruised home by seven wickets.
Roffey looked in trouble at 48-4 at Haywards Heath but with Sam Adams making 50 and Jordan Kay 65 they were able to declare at 222-7.
Aussie Joe Mennie took 3-33 for the hosts, who then replied with 173-8. Again they made a good start, through Billy Harris (46) and George Martin (43), but then an all too familiar batting collapse left skipper Steve Kingcome (29no) having to marshal the lower order to avert defeat.
Steyning also held on for a draw at home to Worthing after the visitors made 186-8, of which Alex Harris contributed 57 against an attack in which John-Paul Stewart took 3-43. At stumps the hosts were 118-9, with nearly half the runs coming from Elwyn Jones (51) as Kyle Bowes took 5-37.