MEGGIES EYE TOP SPOT TODAY

Tom MacDougall (Messingham) playing against Cleethorpes last weekend.

PICTURE AND REPORT FROM GRAHAM HACKNEY, CLEETHORPES
(kindly resubmitted by Ackers and reposted today after being "wiped" by the system problems on Thursday)

Cleethorpes 1st X1 have two games this weekend. Today, Saturday, they look to regain top spot in the Yorkshire Premier league with Doncaster the visitors to Chichester Road (12 Noon) Start. On Sunday they travel to Castleford in the first round of the Yorkshire League Cup. After beating Castleford comfortably by six wickets in the league a fortnight ago, James Osmond can go into the tie in great confidence with the winners travelling to either Appleby Frodingham or Sheffield United in the quarter final. Cleethorpes 2nds face Barton at Chichester Road this Sunday (1pm Start) looking to get their league campaign back on track. Cleethorpes 3rds are without a fixture while the 4th X1 face Old Lincolnans in a third division match at the Stamford Club (1.30pm Start). Cleethorpes Academy play Haiton at the Stamford Club in the East Lindsey league this Sunday (2pm Start).

Cleethorpes 1st X1 were without a match last weekend owing to Sheffield Collegiate’s ground being unavailable so they surrendered top spot in the ECB Yorkshire Premier league with York gaining maximum points from their trip to Doncaster. The fixture has now been re-arranged for Sunday July 17. With the 1st X1 not playing the spotlight fell on Paul Sunley’s 2nd X1 who had made a perfect start in the Lincs Premier league. Superb bowling performances had led to comprehensive wins over Bracebrideg Heath, Caistor and Alford and carried them clear at the top of the table as they prepared to face newly promoted Cherry Willingham at Chichester Road on Saturday. Batting first Cheery compiled a modest 179-6 in their 50 overs. Rob Brice was again the pick of the Cleethorpes attack with 3/46 in a marathon twenty over spell. Indy Hayre and Fred Lumby also picked up wickets in Cherry’s pursuit of late runs. For the first time this season they had been asked to chase a target over 150 and unfortunately this proved beyond them as a disappointing batting display saw them shot out for 150 in 42.3 overs. Only a spirited stand of 41 for the eighth wicket between Brice, who top scored with 38, and Peter Thompson (25) looked like threatening Cherry after Cleethorpes had collapsed to 85-7. Ryan Harrison, opening the batting had dug in with 12 while Dan Tolson and Kris Richardson stuck around with 11 apiece. The defeat meant Cleethorpes only taking four points from a match they will have looked to win comfortably at the half way mark.

Jeff Todd’s 3rd X1 bounced back from the Bank Holiday defeat at Market Rasen to record and encouraging 5-wicket win at Owmby on Saturday. They bowled Owmby out for 142 in 42.3 overs and despite a few jitters eased to victory in the 29th over. Andy Haith hit a powerful 46 in the chase with good contributions from Ben Marris (22) John Mansfield (21 not out) and Stuart Harvey (21). Harvey and Haith had added 61 for the fourth wicket. Earlier Harvey had been the pick of the Cleethorpes attack after Owmby had reached 75 without loss. His 5/27 in 14.3 overs coupled with Jeff Todd’s 4/50 in 16 overs, helped Owmby collapse in losing 10 wickets for just 67 runs. Lewis Markham claimed the other wicket. So twnty points for the third eleven to consolidate second place in the table.

The only other senior game to take place over the weekend was an exciting North Lindsey league encounter at Chichester Road on Sunday. Cleethorpes fell just 12 runs short chasing a Messingham total of 209-6 in their 40 overs. Messingham’s innings was dominated by their overseas professional Kiwi Donovan Deeble who smashed Cleethorpes’ bowlers to all parts for a brilliant 120 not out. Simon Taylor and Andy Severn both picked up two wickets with Fred Lumby and Nathan Judah chipping in with a wicket each. Cleethorpes’ reply got off to a great start with Harry Clewett (29) and Callum Robinson adding 104 for the first wicket. However Clewett’s dismissal brought a collapse that left them chasing at over six an over. Robinson was third out having hit a superb 72. Cleethorpes looked to have got back in the game with John Mansfield’s 29 but they fell short to leave Stuart Harvey (16 not out) and Taylor (13 not out) respectively.