BELL TAKES TOLL OF 31 LINCS ECB BATSMEN ALREADY

Paul Bell, Haxey's seam bowler who has already taken 31 wickets, having played last season for Barton Town in the Lincolnshire League Premier Division.

BY ANN BOULTON

The opening fixtures in the second half of the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League season on Saturday will bring tough games for two of sides at the foot of the table.

Hartsholme in 11^th are away to fourth placed Bracebridge Heath who are still challenging hard for the championship.  And Lindum – just two points above Hartsholme – entertain leaders Haxey for whom Paul Bell has now taken 31 wickets. 

Five points below Haxey are Skegness who relinquished the top spot last weekend after defeat by Market Deeping.  This week the seasiders again travel in the same direction, this time to Bourne where they will be going all out to avoid another loss. 

Skegness batsmen Peter Houghton needs just five runs to become the first player to top 400 this season and Bourne and Deeping are also locked in their own battle, both on 104 points in the table.

This weekend it is third placed Woodhall Spa’s turn to face Deeping and on the good track at Jubilee Park, Jack Luffman’s team will need to wary now that their visitors appear to have recovered their batting form.

Meanwhile Boston, the team in last place, have a home game against Louth who are ninth but enjoy a sizeable gap over the bottom three.

Sleaford’s season continues to improve with the team now in seventh place, seven points ahead of Grimsby who make the journey to London Road.

Louth and Grimsby are on equal points and both know a 20 pointer could propel them into the top half of the table.

Fixtures – 12.30 start

Boston v Louth

Bourne v Skegness

Bracebridge Heath v Hartsholme

Lindum v Haxey

Sleaford v Grimsby

Woodhall Spa v Market Deeping

HAXEY RETURN TO TOP OF LINCOLNSHIRE ECB PREMIER LEAGUE

BY ANN BOULTON

Haxey moved back to the top of the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League after a narrow two-wicket win over current champions Bracebridge Heath.

In a low scoring game at Cross O’Cliff Court, the home side were bowled out for 143, Paul Bell taking four wickets.  But Haxey also found the going tough, Dale Coy taking them over the line with an unbeaten 22 as Brett Houston also took four wickets for Bracebridge.

Meanwhile, down at Market Deeping where leaders Skegness were the visitors, the home side put their recent poor batting behind them to blast the day’s top score of 239 for six, Jamie Morgan hitting 93.  Tom Atallah then took five wickets to inflict the second defeat of the season on the seasiders who were bowled out for 186 and slipped down to second.

At the bottom of the table, Boston picked up their first victory of 2012 at home to Grimsby despite Harry Warwick’s 85 which took his side to 203 for eight.  Colin Cheer took five wickets for Boston and brother Jonny then hit the day’s highest individual score with an unbeaten 96 to take Boston to an eight wicket win, Cheer and Dan Hegarty (83) sharing a second wicket stand of 182.

Boston are now only 10 points behind Hartsholme who lost to Woodhall Spa, Dan Milgate putting in a man of the match performance with five wickets and 60 not out.

Adrian Bunn hit 61 as Hartsholme were all out for 173, a total the home side overtook for the loss of three wickets.

This pushed Lindum up a place despite their defeat at the hands of Louth who were all out for 173 then bowled their opponents out for 144.

And at London Road, Nick Goacher took five wickets as Bourne were all out for 100 chasing Sleaford’s total of 234 all out.

	P	W	L	Draw	NR	Bat	Bowl	Draw	Win	Total
Haxey	11	7	2	0	2	28	41	0	70	149
Skegness	11	6	2	0	3	34	35	0	60	144
Woodhall Spa	11	5	1	1	4	31	29	1	50	137
Bracebridge Heath	11	4	1	2	4	29	27	2	40	132
Bourne	11	2	2	3	4	25	26	3	20	104
Market Deeping	11	3	2	1	5	20	26	1	30	104
Sleaford	11	4	4	0	3	16	29	0	40	100
Grimsby	11	2	5	1	3	23	28	1	20	93
Louth	11	3	2	1	5	16	19	1	30	93
Lindum	11	1	5	1	4	9	25	1	10	65
Hartsholme	11	1	6	0	4	13	20	0	10	63
Boston	11	1	7	0	3	9	19	0	10	53

ENGLAND WOMAN TO PLAY CHARITY TWENTY-20 IN LOUTH

Details kindly forwarded to us by MARTIN DEANS

An England Women’s Invitational XI will take on the Royal Air Force (RAF) Cricket Association XI in a charity game to raise money for Breast Cancer Care and the RAF Benevolent Fund as part of East Lindsey Live.
East Lindsey District Council has invited the reigning world champion cricketers to play against the RAF in Louth on 16th August in a 20/20 game which promises to be full of flair and action. The RAF Team has also just become the Armed Forces 20/20 cricket champions for the second year running, beating the Navy and Army in a triangular 20/20 tournament at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s.
Tickets to the fast paced fundraiser at the London Road Sports Ground are free but donations of £5, with proceeds being split equally between the two charities, are more than welcome. A fundraising event after the game is also being planned. Details will be announced shortly on www.eastlindseylive.org.
People wanting to request a tickets for the game, which begins at 1.30pm, should phone 01507 613412 or 01507 613413
The match will be the second time the reigning world champions have played in East Lindsey and Charlotte Edwards is looking forward to returning to the district. “I am delighted to be able to bring an England Women's Invitation XI to Louth to play the RAF for two such worthy causes - the RAF Benevolent Fund and Breast Cancer Care. Many of the full England women's team will be playing so I hope that we have great local support. I know the Lincolnshire Cricket Board is working to develop the game for women and girls so I hope that this match will act as a catalyst in the area.”
The Director of RAF Representative Cricket, Sqn Ldr John Riddell, former Sleaford CC 1st XI Captain 2007 – 2008, is confident his team will give the England Ladies a good game: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the RAFCA to compete against and learn from an outstanding international side. We hope that this will be the start of a long relationship with the ECB in which we can offer some of the inherent military skills that we posess such as confidence, determination and decision making in exchange for the elite cricketing skills and coaching of the England Ladies”
“We are very much looking forward to a great day and we’re all hoping the weather stays fine for what should be an entertaining fixture and a highlight of the East Lindsey Live programme,” added Coun Doreen Stephenson, Leader of East Lindsey District Council. “East Lindsey is the ideal venue for such a match, with Lincolnshire being known as Bomber County and Arran Brindle being one of East Lindsey’s more famous residents."

APP-FROD WIN AT OUTCASTS

BY GLEN SANDS


Outcasts finally played a Lincs League Division One home league game on Saturday - just a day short of July - but sadly for them they were beaten in a highly entertaining game which was a credit to both teams and to umpires Keith Barnes and Nigel Fisher who ensured the game was completed despite several showers that threatened to bring an early end to proceedings.
Home skipper Russell Fletcher won the toss and invited Frod to field first and that decision appeared a good one when  Will Theakston was bowled by Jonathan Wroot for four with the total on just eight. New Zealander Guy Harley and Mick Bramley then took the game to their opponents with some excellent batting , taking the total up to 71 before Harley was caught by Fletcher off Scott Buttrick for 35 but there was to be no respite as Ben Taylor joined Bramley to push the score past the hundred mark. The impressive Bramley had made a splendid 67 when he was deceived by a slower delivery from Jason Whiteley but Simon Taylor kept up the momentum as he and Ben took the total to 167. Whiteley broke up the Taylor dominence when bowling Ben for 37 then Darren Clark took the first of two excellent catches in the deep to send Simon back to the pavilion for 20 , earning Whiteley his third victim of the innigs. To their credit Outcasts then slowed the scoring rate with some good tight bowling from Whiteley and Andy Torr who claimed his first wicket when Clark held another good catch off Mohamed Ayub who made nine , then Frod skipper Vince Grimes was unluckily stumped off Richard Wroot's pads as the Steelmen finished on 195 for 7 , Whiteley being the pick of the Priorymen's bowlers with 4 for 59.
The Outcasts innings was interupted early by a heavy shower which saw them off to a spluttering start and they were quickly one down when Ayub's slower delivery trapped Andy Lawson infront of his stumps. Darren Clark and Scott Buttrick were finding it difficult to pierce the field and although they kept things ticking over they were having a tough time. Buttrick eventually went to a Simon Leek catch off Liam Grimes for nine then Clark was caught by Harley off slow bowler John Taylor for 25 and Outcasts were 51 for 3 and teetering on collapse. However Richard Wroot and Andy Torr batted excellently , running well and pressurising the field as they took the total past three figures but Frod then hit back when Torr was very well caught by Simon Taylor off Ben Bramley for 31 with the overall score on 114 and within another three runs Wroot was also gone , trapped LBW by Ayub also for 31. Tom Sharpe was promoted up the order to try to hit some lusty blows whilst the busy Peter Tait kept his side in the hunt before Sharpe was the victim of another good catch by Tatlor for 18.Skipper Fletcher joined Tait as the weather once again took a turn for the worse but the umpires kept the teams on the field and were ultimately proven right as the rainclouds swept by. Tait was bowled by Ben Bramley for 22 and despite the best efforts of Fletcher , Jason Whiteley and Jonathan Wroot the Frod side held their nerve to restrict Outcasts to 177 for 8 , some eighteen runs short of the target they had set.
So Outcasts remain in the lower reaches of the Division One table whilst Appleby Frodingham , although not gaining a full twenty points maintained their promotion push as they reach the half way mark of the season.
Outcasts would like to thank Hunters Estate Agents for sponsoring the match. 

BROUGHTON 4ths v LUDDINGTON (NORTH LINDSEY LEAGUE)

BY GLEN SANDS


Luddington's Sunday team took another stride towards promotion last weekend with a comfortable victory at Broughton. The home captain, Tom Brock, won the toss and decided to bat first but lost a wicket off the third ball when Tom Reed was caught by Gareth Parkin off Matthew Mellers. Arron Curry enhanced his reputation as the Isle of Axholme's best fielder with three catches, the third of which removed the obdurate Kavindish whose innings of eight runs was spread very thinly over twenty-one overs.
Seven of Broughton's batsmen succumbed to catches, none more spectacular than Jamie Arrowsmith's full-stretch dive although Andy Lawson's and Joe Woolhouse's more straightforward efforts were equally valuable, particularly as Woolhouse removed Kyle Kitchen who top-scored for Broughton with nineteen. Rick Green's over and a half polished off the home team's innings as he removed the final two batsmen with successive balls to leave Broughton eighty-three all out - a total which included seventeen extras thanks partly to the sloping pitch and a bracing breeze blowing across the wicket. Matthew Mellers' three wickets for seventeen runs were a fair reward for an impressive spell of fast bowling and Danny Taylor deserved his one wicket but the bowling honours went to Curry whose eleven overs of devious spin gave him four for nineteen.
Luddington's reply got off to a flimsy start as they too lost a wicket before scoring - Darren Clark trudged back to the pavilion as the bowler, Brock, congratulated the catcher, Kitchen. Four overs later Taylor joined Clark back in the changing room without a run to his name and when Woolhouse was bowled by Tom Reed in the next over for eleven Luddington were on thirteen for three and in danger of blemishing their one hundred percent record this season.
Broughton might have been fancying their chances as Arrowsmith joined Lawson at the crease but Lawson has fond memories of the Broughton pitch. Anyone who had forgotten his lightning-quick half-century last season would have had their memory jogged as he quickly restored control for the Isle side. At the end of the week that saw the Olympic flame pass as closely to Luddington as it's ever likely to, he struck the ball faster, higher and stronger than any piece of leather deserves and raced to a match-winning fifty-two with forty in boundaries. At the other end Arrowsmith had played a few nice shots in his fifteen as he and Lawson put on an unbroken stand of seventy-one for the fourth wicket to win the game inside eighteen overs.
Luddington are without another league game until August although they will play the semi-final of the cup, at home to Broughton, in three weeks.

HALFWAY POINT FOR SOUTH LINCS AND BORDER BOYS

BY ANN BOULTON

At the halfway stage of the season, just six points separate the top three in South Lincolnshire & Border League Division One.
Spalding head the league following their victory over Woodhall Spa 2nd, with Stamford Town in 2nd, just two points adrift.
Four points behind are Billingborough who blasted a massive 306 for four, Geordie Scott hitting 111 off 110 balls and Dave Newman 70 off 45, before bowling Market Deeping 2nd out for 47.
Deeping are bottom of the table behind Moulton Harrox who lost to Lindum Rambers by seven wickets.  Ramblers lie fourth while Belton Park are fifth, having beaten Skegness 2nd by eight wickets.
Welby now have a 25 point lead over Boston 2nd at the top of Division Two.  Boston’s game against Blankney had to be abandoned because of wet weather but Welby inflicted another defeat on Cavaliers who have slipped into the bottom two.
Stamford Town 2nd moved into third place, one above Heckington after both went down to defeats by Moulton Harrox and Thomas Cook respectively.
Spalding 3rd now lead Division Three, above Friskney and Lindum Academy who both lost their games to the weather.  Claypole lie fourth, just two behind Lindum but, like Friskney, have games in hand.

Division One
Moulton Harrox 139 (J Barnett 58, Guilliatt 5-26), Lindum Ramblers 140-3 (Waller 50);
Spalding 145, Woodhall Spa 2nd 112;
Skegness 2nd 68, Belton Park 69-2;
Sleaford 2nd  253-9, Bourne 2nd 208 (Mote 72);
Billingborough 306-4 dec (Scott 111, Newman 70), Market Deeping 2nd 47;

Division Two
Welby 151, Cavaliers 34;
Spalding 2nd 159, Billingborough 2nd 44;
Thomas Cook 169-7 (Matta 59), Heckington 104 (Slater 53);
Stamford Town 2nd 153, Moulton Harrox Sun 154-8 (Hibbert 81);
Blankney v Boston 2nd – abandoned

Division Three
Pinchbeck 140 (Ashley 6-33), Grantham 2nd 141-5;
Claypole 245 (Sullivan 56), Welby 2nd 103 (Clarke 6-12);
Burgh & District 71 (R Dale 6-20), Spalding 3rd 72-4 (De Keyser 51);
Lindum Academy v Boston 3rd – abandoned
Friskney v Spalding 3rd – abandoned

FIRST NORTH LINDSEY DEFEAT FOR SCUNTHORPE TOWN

BY GLEN SANDS

As the wet weather finally relented, all seven games in the North Lindsey Cricket League were played to a conclusion yesterday (Sunday), but not all the leaders had a good day with Division One table-toppers Scunthorpe Town suffering their first defeat of the season.
Appleby-Frodingham inflicted that first defeat on Scunthorpe 4ths at Brumby Hall with Matt Morland hitting 75 and Tony Manning 68 in a huge total of 255 or 4, Guy Harley finishing on 47 not out before Luke Smith replied with 38 and Ramesh Chand 35 not out as Town were dismissed for 178.
Champions Grimsby Town wer beaten by Broughton 3rds at Augusta Street, posting a total of 112 all out thanks chiefly to Harry Warwick who top scored on 35, Jake Parker taking 4 for 16 for Broughton who then eased to 114 for 3 guided by Neil Simpson's 66 not out and 42 from Nick Dobbs.
Finally in Division One, in a game sponsored by JF Electrical at Hirst Priory, a gallant Outcasts side suffered a narrow defeat against Caistor Cougars who set a target of 151 for 8 when batting first, Liam Wood scoring 39 not out and Harry Boulton 38 as Jason Whiteley took 3 for 28 and Tom Sharpe 3 for 46. Then Oliver Coulman (73) and skipper Liam McAnaney (28) put on an opening stand of 99 before the Priorymen slipped to 137 all out. Special mention should go to Daniel " Twig " Harrison who was outstanding in the field for Outcasts throughout the Cougars' innings.

DIVISION TWO
Hibaldstow remain top of the Second Division table after winning by five wickets at Misterton who scored 126 for 5 from their forty overs, Jack Beecroft carrying his bat for an excellent 72 not out only to end the day with a broken finger from his wicketkeeping duties. Tom Taylor and Josh Cowling both hit 35 as Hibaldstow eased to 127 for 5, Richard Taylor taking 3 for 30 for the home side. Barton Town 4ths had Alex Shreeve (50 not out) and Mark Austin (35)  to thank for their eight-wicket win over Messingham who had earlier made 140 for 7 with 41 from Tom McDougall and 26 from Mark Greenwood, Lucas Waller picking up for 50 for Andy Genney's side. And there was a welcome win for Haxey at Alkborough who were bowled out for 42 by Oliver and Ethan Tonks, Oliver taking 6 for 19 and Ethan 3 for 7 before the Isle side cruised to 46 for 3 to see them climb off the bottom of the table.

DIVISION THREE
There was just one game in Division Three and that saw Luddington enhance their promotion hopes with a seven-wicket victory over Broughton 4ths. Aaron Curry took 4 for 19 and Matthew Mellers 3 for 17 as Broughton were bowled out for 83, then vice-captain Andy Lawson hit 52 not out and Jamie Arrowsmith 15 not out to take Ludd seven points clear of second-placed Normanby Park, although they have played three more games.

MATCH STATS
DIVISION ONE
APPLEBY FRODINGHAM 3RDS  v  SCUNTHORPE 4THS
App Frod : 255 for 4  ( M Moreland 75 ; T Manning 68 ; G Harley 47 no )
Scun 4ths : 178 all out  ( L Smith 3 ; R Chand 35 no )
RESULT : App Frodingham 3rds win by 77 runs

GRIMSBY TOWN 3RDS  v  BROUGHTON 3RDS
Grimsby : 112 all out  ( H Warwick 35 )  J Parker 4 for 16 )
Broughton : 114 for 3 ( N Simpson 66 no ; N Dobbs 42 no )
RESULT : Broughton 3rds win by  wickets

OUTCASTS 3RDS  v  CAISTOR COUGARS
Cougars : 151 for 8 ( L Wood 39 no ; H Boulton 38 )  J Whiteley 3 for 28 ; T Sharpe 3 for 46
Outcasts : 137 all out  ( O Coulman 73 ; L McAnaney 28 )
RESULT : Caistor Cougars win by 14 runs

DIVISION TWO
ALKBORROUGH 3RDS  v  HAXEY 3RDS
Alkborough : 42 all out    O Tnk 6 for 19 ; E Tonks 3 for 7
Haxey : 46 for 3      L Hebblewhite 2 for 13
RESULT : Haxey 3rds win by 7 wickets

BARTON TOWN 4THS  v  MESSINGHAM 3RDS
Messingham : 140 for 7  ( T McDougall 41 ; M Greenwood 26 )   L Waller  4 for 50
Barton : 141 for 2  ( A Shreeve 50 no ; M Austin 35 )
RESULT : Barton Town 4ths win by 8 wickets

MISTERTON 2NDS  v  HIBALDSTOW 2NDS
Misterton : 126 for 5  ( J Beecroft 72 no )
Hibaldstow : 127 for 5  ( T Taylor 35 ; J Cowling 35 )   R taylor 3 for 30
RESULT : Hibaldstow 2nds win by 5 wickets

DIVISION THREE
BROUGHTON 4THS  v  LUDDINGTON
Broughton : 83 all out    A Curry 4 for 19 ; M Mellers 3 for 1
Luddington : 84 for 3 ( A Lawson 52 no )
RESULT : Luddington win by 7 wickets

FIXTURES 
Sunday, July 8
DIVISION ONE
Appleby-Frodingham 3rds  v  Broughton 3rds
Barton Academy Vikings  v  Grimsby Town 3rds
Scunthorpe 4ths  v  Castor Cougars

DIVISION TWO
Cleethorpes 5ths  v  Alkborough 3rds  @ Alkborough
Haxey 3rds  v  Misterton 2nds

DIVISION THREE
Broughton 4ths  v  Blyth
Upton cum Kexby  v  Normanby Park

DIVISION ONE
		PLAYED	WON	LOST	NO RES	TIED	POINTS
1. SCUNTHORPE 4THS		6	4	1	1	0	13
2. CAISTOR COUGARS		6	3	2	1	0	10
3. APP FROD 3RDS		6	2	1	3	0	9
4. GRIMSBY TOWN 3RDS		5	2	2	1	0	7
5. BROUGHTON 3RDS		5	1	3	1	0	4
6. OUTCASTS 3RDS		6	1	4	1	0	4
7. BARTON ACAD VIK		2	0	0	2	0	2
DIVISION TWO
1. HIBALDSTOW 2NDS		6	3	1	2	0	11
2. MESSINGHAM 3RDS		5	3	1	1	0	10
3. ALKBOROUGH 3RDS		6	2	1	3	0	9
4. BARTON TOWN 4THS		6	2	1	3	0	9
5. CLEETHORPES 5THS		5	1	2	2	0	5
6. MISTERTON 2NDS		6	1	3	2	0	5
7. HAXEY 3RDS		6	1	4	1	0	4
DIVISION THREE
1. LUDDINGTON		7	4	0	3	0	15
2. NORMANBY PARK		4	2	0	2	0	8
3. EVERTON 3RDS		4	2	1	1	0	7
4. UPTON CUM KEXBY		5	1	2	2	0	5
5. BROUGHTON 4THS		4	0	2	2	0	2
6. BLYTH CC		6	0	4	2	0	2