OUTCASTS COMFORTABLY BEATEN BY HOLTON-LE-CLAY

BY GLEN SANDS

If they didn't know it already, Outcasts are now well aware that they are under serious threat of relegation from Lincs League division one after yet another defeat - this time by seven wickets against Holton Le Clay, who ran out comfortable winners in the end.
Outcasts batted first and had reached 19 when James Glew was bowled for ten , playing an expansive drive to a delivery from Luke Ford that rattled into his stumps; then Andy Torr was also bowled for ten to earn Ford his second wicket with the total on 35. Opener Darren Clark played a ball from Ian Hallam ont his stumps for 15 without a run being added and the writing was on the wall when Richard Wroot edged a catch to wicket keeper Sam Marshall off Mick Hanson for one leaving the Isle side on 42 for 4. To their credit the Outcasts middle order gritted their teeth and dug in with skipper Russell Fletcher and Scott Buttrick taking the total to 82 before the former was caught by Ian Bellamy in the deep off the bowling of Rob Griffin for 23 then Dan Portus deceived Buttrick , bowling him for 17 as the total reached 83 for 6. Once again Outcasts fought back with Andy Lawson and Tom Sharpe batting exceptionally well to lift the overall score to 129 then Bellamy struck a big blow when bowling Lawson for 30 ( including two 6's and four 4's )  and following that by bowling Jason Whiteley without a run being added. Sharpe had blasted 25 with six terrific boundaries before he was the ninth wicket to fall , well caught and bowled by that man Bellamy but even then the final pair of Liam McAnaney ( 5 not out ) and Graeme Fletcher added 23 valuable runs to frustrate the visitors until the penultimate over when Ian Hallam returned to finish things off although it was Ian Bellamy who took the bowling honours with figures of 3 for 18 from just five overs.
With a reasonable score under their belt Outcasts needed to make early inroads if they were to maintain the momentum gained from their battling batting display but as has been the case in the past their catching let them down at crucial moments. Opener Rob Griffin had made just nine when he was dropped twice in consecutive deliveries after which he went on to make a match winning 80 from 101 balls. Visiting skipper Holmes was caught by wicket keeper Richard Wroot off Jason Whiteley for 14 when the HLC total stood at 49 but a partnership of 76 between Griffin and Dan Portus took the game away from Outcasts. Griffin was eventually bowled by Scott Buttrick when the total had reached 125 and six runs later Tom Sharpe bowled Ian Bellamy but it was too little too late and it was Portus who struck the winning boundary to bring up his own half century and earn HLC a maximum 20 points.
Outcasts would like to thank Builders Merchant Company Ltd for sponsoring the match. 
Outcasts know they need to improve if they are to pick up that elusive first victory and their next atempt to do so will be on Saturday when they travel to Bracebridge Heath who are looking to gain promotion back to the Premier Division.
Outcasts 2nds are on a roll in Division Three and they won for the third match in a row on Saturday when crushing South Kelsey 2nds by 79 runs. They batted first and racked up an impressive 205 for 3 with David Hobson batting through the innings for an exceptional 100 not out , Josh Bramhill scoring 37 not out as he and Hobson put on an unbeaten 74 for the fourth wicket then he pitched in with 2 for 14 as Kelsey were bowled out for 116 , Peter Tait taking 3 for 29 and Matthew Teal 2 for 32 as Ian Fletcher's side gained another full 20 points to take their season's tally to 119.