MESSINGHAM DECLINE PROMOTION

By Ann Boulton

The Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League will go into 2011 with the same line up as this season after Messingham declined the opportunity to return to the league only one year after they were demoted.
Despite finishing almost 60 points up on Caistor at the top of the Lincolnshire County Cricket League Premier Division, Messingham decided to spend another year in the feeder league where they have introduced more talented juniors to the side.
With South Lincolnshire & Border League champions Billingborough lacking the junior set-up necessary to qualify for promotion, bottom side Hartsholme’s place in the top flight is safe, giving the Lincoln side the chance to build on what was a promising start to the Premier League career.
Hartsholme captain Nathan Poundall carried off a trophy in his first season in charge when he tied with Skegness player Roald Badenhorst for the fielding prize, both players taking 13 catches. And fellow newcomers Boston also celebrated as Janet Morris came out top of the scorers’ list.
Following the retirement of six-times winner Don Oslear, umpire David Ginn will receive the Sibber Addison Memorial Trophy at the league dinner in February.
Sleaford pipped Grimsby to pick up the Fair Play Trophy. And Nettleham’s ground staff are the first winners of the trophy awarded in memory of late chairman Terry Bates for the pitch that scores the highest average marks over the season.
Clubs expressed their concern about the lack of uniformity in the rules of the different leagues, which can particularly affect promoted teams. They were told that the Lincolnshire Cricket Board was looking to meet with league chairmen to discuss this and other related matters.
County Pitch Adviser Martin Deans handed out reports on pitch markings and told clubs that the results of tests on soil samples he had taken from all pitches in the league were being distributed. He said that Lincolnshire is in the top 10 Premier Leagues in the country for its pitch marks.
Various rule changes were put forward and these will be voted on at the league’s AGM on October 13.