FINAL NORTH LINDSEY REPORT AND FINAL TABLES

BY GLEN SANDS

The cricket season finally came to a close on Sunday, September 29th when Alkborough beat an under strength Luddington side to clinch the Amazing Smile North Lindsey League Division Two title, adding that trophy to the Amazing Smile NLL KO Cup which they lifted a week earlier.Luddington were invited to bat first, making 107 - thanks, in the main, to 30 from Rick Green with further contributions from Arron Curry ( 16 ) , Graham Clark ( 15 ) and Andrew Clark ( 13 ) as home skipper Paul Mitchell   took 3 for 28. Then Callum Render hit 43 and Dave Kilgallon 39 not out to guide the victorious Alkborough side to a comfortable win.
Alkborough's win meant that Haxey claimed the second promotion spot by virtue of their better head to head results over Outcasts, both sides ending the season level on nineteen points with an identical record in their ten league games.

AMAZING SMILE NLL DIV ONE	PLAYED	WON	LOST	NO RES	TIED	POINTS
1. APPLEBY FRODINGHAM	10	7	1	2	0	23
2. GRIMSBY TOWN	10	5	2	3	0	17
3. SCUNTHORPE TOWN	10	3	3	4	0	13
4. BROUGHTON	10	3	5	2	0	10
5. CAISTOR COUGARS	10	2	5	3	0	9
6. HIBALDSTOW	10	2	6	2	0	8
AMAZING SMILE NLL DIV TWO	PLAYED	WON	LOST	NO RES	TIED	POINTS
1. ALKBOROUGH	10	7	2	1	0	22
2. HAXEY	10	6	3	1	0	19
3. OUTCASTS	10	6	3	1	0	19
4. LUDDINGTON	10	6	4	0	0	18
5. BARTON ACADAMY VIKINGS	10	2	7	1	0	7
6. MESSINGHAM	10	1	9	0	0	3
AMAZING SMILE NLL DIV THREE	PLAYED	WON	LOST	NO RES	TIED	POINTS
1. CLEETHORPES	10	7	1	2	0	23
2. BLYTH CC	10	6	2	2	0	20
3. EVERTON	10	5	3	2	0	17
4. SOUTH KELSEY	10	3	5	2	0	10
5. UPTON CUM KEXBY	10	3	6	1	0	7
6. MISTERTON	10	1	8	1	0	4
DIVISION ONE
BROUGHTON DEDUCTED 1 PT FOR FAILING TO FULFIL FIXTURE V GRIMSBY TOWN
GRIMSBY TOWN DEDUCTED 1 PT FOR FAILING TO FULFIL FIXTURE V HIBALDSTOW
DIVISION THREE
UPTON CUM KEXBY DEDUCTED 3 POINTS FOR FAILING TO FULFILL THREE LEAGUE FIXTURES
SOUTH KELSEY DEDUCTED 1 PT FOR FAILING TO FULFIL FIXTURE V BLYTH CC

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ALKBOROUGH BEAT GRIMSBY TOWN IN CUP FINAL

BY GLEN SANDS

The long awaited Amazing Smile North Lindsey Cricket League Cup Final proved to be a real thriller that went to the penultimate delivery before the destination of the trophy was decided. And it was the old head of Alkborough skipper Paul Mitchell who held his nerve in the end to guide his team home to the narrowest of wins.Grimsby Town batted first and set a very challenging total of 195 for 3 from their forty overs thanks to 75 from Ross Carnnell and 55 from Joe Baker and that target appeared to be beyond Alkborough despite Craig Ross making 57 and Matt Baxter 41 but cometh the hour cometh the man as Paul Mitchell proceeded to hit 46 not out including twelve off the final over to see his team home by just one wicket in a game that was a credit to the Amazing Smile NLL.

SOUTH LINCS AND BORDER TEAM MANAGES RECORD POINTS TALLY

SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE & BORDER LEAGUE

September 21 round-up by Ann Boulton

Billingborough went out on a high note with two centuries in their victory over Grantham, having amassed what is believed to be a record 407 points for the season.

Dave Newman hit 107 and Andy Scott 100 as the South Lincolnshire & Border League champions reached 290 for seven off their 45 overs.  Grantham lost early wickets then Danny Ashley (34) and Lewis Dann (45) dug in and it looked as if the fifth placed side would deny Billingborough maximum points. 

But Rutvik Botadra has other ideas, claiming five for 29 including the final wicket with the score on 140 and taking his tally for the season to 63.

Below Billingborough, a fierce fight was going on for the runners-up spot which finally went to Bourne 2^nd after a tight game between Boston and Stamford Town.  Batting first, Boston made 160 for nine, Tom Baxter with an unbeaten 61. 

Simon Prentice then anchored the Stamford innings as the score crept up but the final ball saw the home side still five runs short of their target on 155 for seven, Prentice carrying his bat with 68.

This left Stamford two points behind Bourne with Boston just one behind in fourth.

Belton Park, making a last ditch attempt to stay out of the bottom two, lost out to Sleaford 2^nd  but with Moulton Harrox going down in a low scoring game at Lindum Ramblers, Belton picked up enough points to move above their rivals.

Sleaford were all out for 239, Simon Godby with 98 and Tom Brooke then took six for 19 off seven overs as Belton were all out for 150. 

At St Giles Avenue, Lindum were bowled out for 105 but Moulton were then all out for 82.

Long Sutton ended their first season back in the league with a win over Stamford Town 2^nd to consolidate top place in Division One.

Stamford, who were guaranteed second place, made 186 for seven and Sutton then lost eight wickets reaching their target.  At Market Deeping, Jamie Morgan hit 97 of his side’s total of 196 against Heckington who were bowled out for 116. And Blankney went down by six wickets to Billingborough 2^nd.

Claypole and Spalding 3^rd fought out the tightest game in Division Two with good batting right down the order taking Claypole to 216 for nine, only for Spalding to put in an equally good performance to finish just six runs adrift on 210 for eight.

Elsewhere, much lower scoring games saw Burgh & District beat Timberland by eight wickets and Freiston end Lindum 3^rd’s hopes of finishing runners-up behind Long Sutton 2^nd with a seven wicket win.  Boston 3^rd also went out with a victory by seven wickets over Pinchbeck.

Premier Division

Boston 160-9 (Baxter 61no), Stamford Town 155-7 (Prentice 68no);

Billingborough 290-7 (A Scott 100, Newman 107, S Scott 60), Grantham 140 (Botadra 5-39);

Sleaford 239 (Godby 98, Wilson 50), Belton Park 150 (Wiffin 58, Brooke 6-19);

Lindum Ramblers 105 (Morley-Barnes 59), Moulton Harrox 82 (Cusack 55no);

Division One

Market Deeping 196 (Morgan 97), Heckington 116;

Stamford Town 2^nd 186-7 (J Morley 61), Long Sutton 190-8;

Blankney 149 (Foster 63), Billingborough 2^nd 150-4 (Cox 65);

Division Two

Timberland 96, Burgh & District 100-2 (Sharp 54no);

Lindum 3^rd 50 (Booth 5-15), Freiston 52-3;

Pinchbeck 55, Boston 3^rd 57-3;

Claypole 216-9, Spalding 3^rd 210-8;

ALKBOROUGH AND GRIMSBY TOWN TO MAKE SECOND ATTEMPT TO PLAY FINAL

Heavy rain prevented any play in the Amazing Smile North Lindsey Cricket League on Sunday, September 15 -  all  games falling foul of the wet weather. 
In division one, Broughton were due to host Scunthorpe Town, with Hibaldstow scheduled to meet Caistor. All four sides take a point each.
Also unable to proceed was the Amazing Smile KO Cup final between Alkborough and Grimsby Town at the villagers' West Halton Lane ground, which has been re-arranged to Sunday, September 22 - again at Alkborough - with a 1pm start.

AMAZING SMILE NLL DIV ONE	PLAYED	WON	LOST	NO RES	TIED	POINTS
1. APPLEBY FRODINGHAM	10	7	1	2	0	23
2. GRIMSBY TOWN	10	5	2	3	0	17
3. SCUNTHORPE TOWN	10	3	3	4	0	13
4. BROUGHTON	10	3	5	2	0	10
5. CAISTOR COUGARS	10	2	5	3	0	9
6. HIBALDSTOW	10	2	6	2	0	8
AMAZING SMILE NLL DIV TWO	PLAYED	WON	LOST	NO RES	TIED	POINTS
1. ALKBOROUGH	9	6	2	1	0	19
2. HAXEY	10	6	3	1	0	19
3. OUTCASTS	10	6	3	1	0	19
4. LUDDINGTON	9	6	3	0	0	18
5. BARTON ACADEMY VIKINGS	10	2	7	1	0	7
6. MESSINGHAM	10	1	9	0	0	3
AMAZING SMILE NLL DIV THREE	PLAYED	WON	LOST	NO RES	TIED	POINTS
1. CLEETHORPES	10	7	1	2	0	23
2. BLYTH CC	10	6	2	2	0	20
3. EVERTON	10	5	3	2	0	17
4. SOUTH KELSEY	10	3	5	2	0	10
5. UPTON CUM KEXBY	10	3	6	1	0	7
6. MISTERTON	10	1	8	1	0	4
DIVISION ONE
BROUGHTON DEDUCTED 1 PT FOR FAILING TO FULFIL FIXTURE V GRIMSBY TOWN
GRIMSBY TOWN DEDUCTED 1 PT FOR FAILING TO FULFIL FIXTURE V HIBALDSTOW
DIVISION THREE
UPTON CUM KEXBY DEDUCTED 3 POINTS FOR FAILING TO FULFIL THREE LEAGUE FIXTURES.
SOUTH KELSEY DEDUCTED 1 PT FOR FAILING TO FULFIL FIXTURE V BLYTH CC

ACTION FROM SKEGNESS v LOUTH - READERS LINCS ECB PREMIER

Louth's Stuart Barker attacking the bowling at Skegness. PICTURE BY NIGEL WEST.  www.photoboxgallery.com/nigelwestphotography 

SOUTH LINCS & BORDER ROUND-UP OF SEPT 14 GAMES

FROM ANN BOULTON

With one game to go, South Lincolnshire & Border League champions Billingborough could top 400 points for the season following their win over Lindum Ramblers.

But below them, three teams are still in the running for second place.  Bourne 2^nd finished their campaign with victory over Welby and 351 points while Stamford Town’s win against Moulton Harrox leaves them nine behind Bourne with a game to go.

However, that final game is against Boston who beat Sleaford 2nd and would snatch the runners-up position if they gained 20 points against Stamford for whom Liam Dave needs just 10 more runs to top 800 for the season.  He will be up against the league’s top bowlers, Boston’s Paul Deans and Tom Baxter having taken 54 and 49 runs respectively in 2013.

Grantham ended a greatly improved season, sealing fifth place with a win over Skegness 2^nd.

At the bottom of the table, Belton Park boosted their hopes of moving out of the bottom two when they overcame Woodhall Spa 2^nd in a close game.  Tom Dixon scored the day’s only century with an unbeaten 110 for Woodhall but James Moore replied with 96 to help his side to a slender one wicket win.

Belton will now be hoping for victory at Sleaford 2^nd in their final game to move ahead of Moulton Harrox who travel to Lindum Ramblers.

Long Sutton are Division One champions despite a rained off game, with Stamford Town 2^nd taking second place even though they suffered a defeat at the hands of Market Deeping 2^nd.   Baston finished an excellent season with victory over fellow title challengers Friskney to take third place.

Bottom sides Blankney and Moulton Harrox Sunday both have a game left but are unable to catch the teams above them despite Blankney’s victory over Heckington.

Stamford’s Chris Birch and James Wright of Long Sutton each have 53 wickets for the season.

In Division Two, Cavaliers claimed seven points against champions Long Sutton 2^nd  but will have a nervous wait for Lindum 3^rd’s two remaining results. 

Following their victory over Boston 3^rd, Lindum now require 36 from their two remaining fixtures to overhaul the Peterborough side and steal second place.

Rob Simpson of Long Sutton 2^nd is the league’s top wicket taker with a huge total of 67 for the season.

Results

Premier Division

Bourne 2^nd 221-6 (Christmas 82), Welby 98 (Gunthorp 6-43);

Boston 192-7 (Baxter 73no), Sleaford 2^nd 164;

Skegness 2^nd 184-6, Grantham 186-5 (Mudie 57, Wing 58no);

Woodhall Spa 2^nd 218-3 (Bee 55, Dixon 110no), Belton Park 219-9 (Moore 96, M Law 50);

Stamford Town 205-8, Moulton Harrox 161;

Billingborough 144, Lindum Ramblers 74.

Division One

Spalding 2^nd 125, Billingborough 2^nd 113 (Nottingham 5-30);

Blankney 171 (Behan 52), Heckington 149-8 (Tunnicliffe 61no);

Stamford Town 2^nd 111-9, Market Deeping 2^nd 112-5 (Pateman 50);

Baston 151 (Howard 54), Friskney 110;

Moulton Harrox Sunday 72, Boston 2^nd 73-3;

Thomas Cook v Long Sutton – abandoned, no play.

Division Two

Boston 3^rd 92, Lindum 3^rd 93-5;

Freiston 183-6, Spalding 3^rd 94;

Long Sutton 2^nd 180 (Harrison 55, Hayes 5-55), Cavaliers 143;

Claypole v Grantham 2^nd – abandoned, no play

Burgh & District v Pinchbeck – abandoned, no play

Welby 2^nd v Timberland – abandoned, no play.

OUTCASTS 2NDS BEAT MARKET RASEN 2NDS - LINCS LEAGUE DIV 3

BY GLEN SANDS

The season drew to a close on Saturday, September 14th when Outcasts 2nds entertained Market Rasen 2nds in a mid table game which saw both sides struggle to field eleven men and it was Jason Whiteley's team who ran out victors by a comfortable eight wickets.Rasen were invited to bat first and quickly lost opener Charlie Scales when he edged a ball to the wicket keeper Richard Wroot who parried the ball to a diving James Glew , taking it one handed to make it 1 for 1. Visiting skipper Jon Stephenson and Dean Richards then took the total to 37 when Alex Fletcher picked up his second wicket , bowling the latter for nine and Jason Whiteley then took his first of the innings when Kevin Salmon lofted a catch to Alex Fletcher having made four. Stephenson was batting well but no one was able to stay with him as Tom Bradford and Sam Williams were bowled by Graeme Fletcher with the score on 52 which saw Andy Richley join his skipper at the crease and slowly they pieced together a stand of 22 before Stephenson was run out for 49 when rushing through for what would have been a deserved half century. Karl Bierlein stuck around with Richley before he was tempted into a false shot that saw him caught by Alex Fletcher , again off Whiteley but try as they might Outcasts just could'nt pick up any more wickets and Rasen closed their innings on 106 for 7 , Richley finishing on 21 not out whilst Alex and Graeme Fletcher plus Jason Whiteley all took two wickets and youngster Adam Wroot was awarded fielder of the match.
Regular opening duo David Hobson and James Glew dominated the Rasen bowlers from the off with an array of excellent shots that saw the Isle side cruise to within fourteen runs of victory then Jon Stephenson brought himself on to bowl and amazingly picked up two wickets in his first over. Hobson was caught for 44 followed instantly by Andy Torr who was bowled around his legs which left Stephenson on a hat trick but Glew was not to be denied a half century and along with Russell Fletcher he guided Outcasts to their target in the 27th over to see their team finish with a win that ensured a fifth place finish which given the often difficult times Jason Whiteley has had throughout the summer was a very creditable finish indeed.

THRILLING FINISH TO LINCOLNSHIRE ECB PREMIER SEASON

Skegness all-rounder Saeed Bariwala in his final game for the team signed off with 59 runs and four wickets for 45 against Louth at Richmond Drive. PICTURE BY NIGEL WEST.  www.photoboxgallery.com/nigelwestphotography 

READERS LINCOLNSHIRE ECB PREMIER LEAGUE - BY ANN BOULTON

September 14

A dramatic finish to the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League saw Sleaford snatch the championship from Woodhall Spa in the dying moments of the season.

Playing at Grimsby, where the weather forced a reduction of 20 overs in the length of the match, Sleaford’s 40 overs brought them a score of 196 for four.  On the way to this total, Tim McIntosh broke the league runs record, hitting 50 to take him to 1203 for the season.

Grimsby were then bowled out for 78 with Shaun Morris claiming five for 22 to end with 53 wickets.

Meanwhile, down at Market Deeping, an even wetter pitch brought an even later start to the game and a reduction to 60 overs.  Woodhall reached 150 for nine off their 30, Lee Peacock taking five for 54.  Deeping then found themselves three wickets down for only four runs. 

Worse was to follow as the home side collapsed to 35 for six.  But the lower order, led by wicketkeeper Ben Willemson, rallied and with all other results in, all eyes were on Outgang Road ground as the score crept up. 

The 19 year old Kiwi hit 55 and with still two overs to go, Deeping celebrated an unlikely win by two wickets and deny Woodhall the winner’s trophy.

Elsewhere, after a disappointing season, Haxey went out on a high note in the closest game of the day, beating Lindum by just three runs.  Graeme Attenborough made 65 and Jon Miller took six wickets as Haxey were bowled out for 174. 

Josh Savage then took four wickets and Graeme Attenborough and Mark Atkins three each as Lindum closed in on their target but the final wicket fell to Savage on 171.

It was almost as close at Skegness where Saeed Bariwala celebrated his last match in the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League by hitting 59 of his side’s total of 164.  Louth looked to be making a successful chase for the runs but were all out just six short, Bariwala taking four wickets.

At Spalding, the home side also made it a good finish to the season, chasing Bourne’s total of 139 to win by two wickets, Tom Dale taking six for 50 and Nabeed Bhayla making an unbeaten 58 while for Bourne Darren Cousins claimed five for 47. 

Results

Haxey 174 (Attenborough 65, Miller 6-70), Lindum 171;

Bourne 139 (Dale 6-50), Spalding 140-8 (Bhayla 58no, Cousins 5-47);

Skegness 164 (Bariwala 59), Louth 158;

Woodhall Spa 150-9 (Peacock 5-54), Market Deeping 151-8 (Willemson 55);

Sleaford 196-4 (McIntosh 50), Grimsby 78 (Morris 5-22);

Bracebridge Heath v Hartsholme – cancelled, rain affected pitch.

	P	W	L	Draw	NR	Bat	Bowl	Win	Total
Sleaford	22	14	4	3	1	86	75	140	327
Woodhall Spa	22	14	4	3	1	82	82	140	322
Lindum	22	11	6	5	0	74	82	110	301
Bracebridge Heath	22	10	5	4	3	79	74	100	300
Market Deeping	22	11	7	3	1	72	70	110	268
Skegness	22	9	10	1	2	69	67	90	239
Grimsby	22	6	8	4	3	72	61	60	227
Bourne	22	4	7	7	3	60	61	40	222
Louth	22	4	11	5	2	59	63	40	205
Spalding	22	4	8	7	3	59	57	40	190
Haxey	22	5	12	3	2	36	57	50	164
Hartsholme	22	3	13	3	3	39	42	30	133

Graham West was 35 not out when batting for Louth at Skegness, but he ran out of partners and Skegness won by six runs. PICTURE BY NIGEL WEST.  www.photoboxgallery.com/nigelwestphotography