EXCELLENT WIN FOR GRIMSBY TOWN

By Ann Boulton

Bracebridge Heath moved to the top of the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League table after former leaders Lindum went down heavily to Grimsby.
Playing at Cross O’Cliff Court, Bracebridge bowled Boston out for 119 and went on to win by six wickets and take the maximum 20 points. Meanwhile, across the city at St Giles Avenue, Grimsby were inflicting a similar defeat on Lindum who were all out for 105, their batsmen unable to handle the spin of George Linde as the South African took seven for 21 off just 32 balls, including a hat-trick.
In hot pursuit of the new leaders are Market Deeping who once again chased down a sizeable score and lie just three points behind Bracebridge. Having suffered the loss of Oliver Burford, in hospital with appendicitis, Stephen Bradford took over the Sleaford captaincy and saw his side make a challenging 233, Matthew Mountain hitting 85. But Deeping made short work of this total to win by six wickets, Tom Andrews and David Gillett unbeaten on 80 and 74 respectively.
Nettleham also regained their batting form to pick up valuable points at home to Skegness who took advantage of a batsman-friendly track to make a massive 346 for five, Peter Houghton with 147 – the day’s only century – and Carl Wilson unbeaten on 55.
In reply, Nettleham reached 238 for five off their 50 overs, Dan Wright with 92 and David Manby hitting 67 not out.
Scores were lower at Louth, but London Road was the scene of the day’s tightest game as Fahad Masood took another five wickets to help bowl the home side out for 163 in 40 overs. This gave Bourne 60 overs to knock off the runs but in the face of some tight bowling the league champions made hard work of their task, losing eight wickets and taking their innings into the 51st over before finally claiming a victory which moved them up to third place, Conrad Louth hitting 50.
At Ashby Avenue, Hartsholme came out on the right side of a draw with Woodhall Spa. Hartsholme finished on 203 for eight, Henry Rush with 52, before restricting their visitors to 179 for eight.

SCORES
Boston 119, Bracebridge Heath 120-4 (John 56);
Hartsholme 203-8 (Rush 52), Woodhall Spa 179-8;
Lindum 105 (Linde 7-21), Grimsby 106-4;
Louth 163 (Masood 5-50), Bourne 164-8 (Louth 50);
Sleaford 233 (Mountain 85), Market Deeping 237-4 (Andrews 80no, Gillett 74no);
Skegness 346-5 (Houghton 147, Wilson 55no), Nettleham 238-5 (Wright 92, Manby 67no).

HOW THEY STAND
Team P W L Draw Ab/Can Bat Bowl Win Draw Ab/Can Total
Bracebridge Heath 4 3 0 0 1 20 19 30 0 5 74
Market Deeping 4 3 0 1 0 20 18 30 3 0 71
Bourne 4 3 1 0 0 15 17 30 0 0 62
Lindum 4 2 1 1 0 15 14 20 9 0 58
Grimsby 4 2 1 1 0 19 10 20 7 0 56
Louth 4 1 1 2 0 15 14 10 12 0 51
Boston 4 1 2 1 0 13 13 10 7 0 43
Woodhall Spa 4 1 1 2 0 14 11 10 4 0 39
Skegness 4 0 2 1 1 14 8 0 9 5 36
Hartsholme 4 0 2 1 1 12 10 0 7 5 34
Nettleham 4 0 1 2 1 8 10 0 2 5 25
Sleaford 4 0 4 0 0 12 6 0 0 0 18

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.

BACK ON TRACK

Some technical problems with the service which hosts Lincs Cricket Latest appears to mean we have lost yesterday's postings and perhaps some from Wednesday. Hopefully normal service has now been resumed.

LIMMER'S ALL-ROUND EFFORT REWARDED

Richley, Limmer, Corden and Nash - probably not the lightest slip corden you'll ever see!

By Andy Richley, Market Rasen

This time last year, Rasen 2nds were in the midst of a frightful start to their Lincs League 4 campaign; played 4, lost 4. What a difference a year makes. 2011 has seen MRTCC 2nds fly out of the blocks and they built on last week's convincing win over Caistor 3rds with a comfortable six-wicket win over a depleted Hykeham 2nds.
With Rase Park receiving its first proper soaking in weeks an hour or so before the game, the toss was always going to be vital and, having won it, Rasen lost no time in inviting Stephen Roe's Hykeham to have a bat. With humid, overcast conditions to start the game and a substantial slip cordon - both in terms of numbers and combined tonnage - Dan Norburn roared in from the Gallamore Lane end and immediately had the ball hooping and moving at pace.
However, it was his young new ball partner, James Fussey, who made the first breakthrough, inducing Will Murray to steer a short ball outside off stump straight to the grateful hands of Liam Underwood in the covers. This was the Lincolnshire U14 bowler's first senior wicket for the club and the confidence this provided was plain for all to see, as the youngster turned in a sterling new ball spell, continually asking questions of the batsmen and despatching Roe with a ball that caught a thin edge through to the 'keeper. Fussey's first spell left him with the figures of 2 for 19 from 6 overs and Hykeham in a hole.
At the other end, Dan Norburn was eager to join in the wicket-taking action, and did so in the third over, having Matt Scott snaffled at third slip by Andy Richley. Norburn continued to beat the bat and was unlucky to see a couple of chances grassed in the slips. The Hykeham batsmen looked to make the most of the chances they'd been given, with Matt Murray doggedly dropping anchor to support a pugnacious counter-attack from Mark Leverett. The experienced all-rounder started circumspectly enough, but once he'd found the measure of the pitch and the bowling, he lost no time in despatching the cherry to all parts. Norburn came in for some particularly severe treatment in his last over to ruin figures that would otherwise have been very tidy indeed, with Leverett smashing him for 14, with some mighty blows.
Rasen's young side stuck at their task in the field as Hykeham's 4th wicket pair started to build a partnership but, asa against Caistor 2nds last week, there was a noticeable drop in intensity that the side will need to work on going forward when the next wicket doesn't magically appear. Rasen rang the changes with the ball, with Jim Dodds and Paul Bett coming in for a little stick early on in their spells. Bett was particularly unlucky to come away wicketless, beating Murray on numerous occasions, but the youngster stuck at his task and left the veteran without a scalp.
Richard Limmer reaped the rewards of Bett's hard work, steaming in from the Gallamore Lane end to remove Murray, caught behind, and trigger a collapse that would see Hykeham lose their last 6 wickets for 36 runs. Dodds' left-arm seam asked some different questions of the batsmen, with his extra height and bounce when he hit the right areas keeping them honest and it was the veteran leftie who removed the danger man; Leverett, castling him for a battling 52 as he played down the wrong line.
With their tails up in the field, Limmer cashed in, tearing through the Hykeham lower order. The all-rounder worked up a decent head of steam and beat the outside egde on numerous occasion. With Mick Corden ready and waiting at slip, it only seemed a matter of time until the next chance came his way and, on this occasion, the game didn't disappoint, with Corden flinging himself to his right to pluck the ball, one-handed, from the ether and hand Limmer his second wicket. Hykeham continued to battle, but when Limmer picked up Jones, caught at cover, and then clean bowled Tyler Jelley with a ball that swung back from leg to take off, the visitors had 91 on the board and their last pair at the crease.
With plenty of overs remaining and the pitch drying out, Hykeham's last wicket pair had some fun, putting on 23 before the return of James Fussey saw Phil Baker's stumps uprooted and the innings ended on 114. With the ball, the key men for Rasen were; Richard Limmer (4 for 9 from 6 overs) and James Fussey (3 for 31 from 7.1 overs), with Norburn and Dodds picking up a wicket apiece.
With the sun now out, the pitch and outfield dry, and a small total to defend, Hykeham had to make early inroads. Unfortunately for Rasen the visitors did just that, removing Mick Corden for 0 as he steered a short ball from Phil Baker straight to gully. With only the openers getting a hit last week, Rasen's untried middle order could have been vulnerable, but Andy Richley joined Ivan Nash in a stand of 59 for the second wicket that seemed to put the home side well on their way to victory. Both Nash and Richley played and missed against Baker and Leverett early on, but the pair dug in and were soon looking relatively comfortable, with only an ill-advised 'quick' single from Richley seeing the pair split thanks to some excellent fielding from Hykeham.
The skipper's ill-advised flight of fancy over his pace - or lack thereof - sparked a mini collapse, as Nash holed out for what, to that point, had been an untroubled 36. It was all the more surprising as Nash had looked set fair for another fifty after last week's fine effort. James Fussey then came and went without troubling the scorers and Rasen had slumped to 64 for 4. Thankfully Rob Chamberlin (33 not out) and Richard Limmer (16 not out) got the job done, with Chamberlin unfurling a couple of delightful cover drives and both players hitting the cover off the ball whenever they were given the chance. The pair saw Rasen over the line in the 22nd over to hand a 6 wicket win and 20 points to the home side.

SIDELINE OR NOT?

We spotted this sign outside the Woolpack Inn, Brigg Market Place, where live entertainment is a regular feature. Many of us know Dave Simpson, the former Broughton cricketer and now an umpire on the Scunthorpe and District panel. We are almost certain Dave has NOT developed a musical sideline. But if he has, Bryan and Neil - also well-known members of this Broughton cricketing clan - might well be favourites to make up the Trio.

NORMANBY PARK MAKE WELCOME RETURN

By Glen Sands

The North Lindsey Sunday League got into full swing yesterday, with nine matches being played over the three divisions that produced some outstanding performances.

DIVISION ONE
Champions Cleethorpes 5ths were beaten by Messingham 3rds at Chichester Road where Messingham's New Zealand all rounder Donovan Deeble hit 120 not out along with 31 from Tom McDougall as they posted a total of 209 for 6 after which the Meggies replied with 197 for 8 thanks chiefly to Callum Richardson who hit 72 , McDougall picking up 3 for 42 in what proved to be a terrific game for him in particular. App Frodingham 3rds hit 236 for 7 at Brumby Hall against Scunthorpe 4ths with Kieran Watson scoring 87 , Matt Fowler 72 and Jack Dixon 34 for thr Steelmen then Scunthorpe were bowled out for 120 , Ian Snowden top scoring with 32 whilst Ben Bramley , Zen Akhtar and Liam Grimes all took three wickets apiece. Grimsby Town 3rds made their bow in the First Division but began with a defeat when being bowled out for 81 by Caistor Cougars for who Ryan Farrow picked up 3 for 26 , wicket keeper batsman Gareth Johnson hitting 45 not out to see the Cougars home although George Linde did manage 2 for 27 from the total of 83 for 3.

DIVISION TWO
Wheatley & Leverton made a tremendous start to the new campaign when posting a huge total of 274 for 4 at Hibaldstow thanks chiefly to South African player P Jansen who hit 115 not out , aided by E Toft who reached 85 and despite falling short of such a massive score Hibaldstow themselves replied with 202 for 4 with Jack Stothard making his first half century when hitting 74 for Stow. Another overseas player to star on the day was Barton's Reece Ogle who top scored with 63 against Outcasts 3rds added to by Gary Bell ( 61 ) and Matt Waller ( 35 ) as Barton made 194 for 9 , Josh Bramhill and Scott Buttrick each picking up three wickets and youg Buttrick also featured with the bat as Outcasts fell agonisingly one run short of the Barton score , Buttrick hitiing 46 and skipper Russell Fletcher 53 for the Isle side whilst Reece Ogle pitched in with 5 for 29. Finally in Division Three Haxey 3rds gained their first win of the new campaign when beating Alkborough 3rds by 91 runs , Aaron Moody ( 37 ) and Ethan Tonks ( 34 not out ) top scoring as they made 158 for 7 , Paul Mitchell taking 3 for 20 who were then bowled out for 67 , junior Dan Redhead making 20 not out as Ethan Tonks took 5 for 25 and Trewick 3 for 22 for Haxey.

DIVISION THREE
Normanby Park made a welcome return to the local cricket arena when they hosted Bottesford as the Third Division got underway , Bottesford scoring 161 when batting first with M Khan hitting 44 whilst Jack Render took an impressive 4 for 24 then Normanby replied with 96 all out , M Knapton scoring 36 with evergreen John Danson took 3 for 7 for Bottesford. Broughton 4ths were set 134 as a target by Isleonians for whom Mether hit 23 and Mark Metcalf 22 , Broughton youngster Kyle Kitchen taking an impressive 5 for 21 on debut then Paul Reed cracked 62 not out as they overhauled the target with three wickets to spare , Carroll picking up 4 for 35 for the newly named Epworth team who are playing all their games away this seasn. Finally another Isle side made a rusty start when Luddington were beaten by four wickets at Everton 3rds. Luddington batted first and made 116 all out with Darren Clark and Steve Proctor making the best contributions but the home side reached their target for the loss of six wickets with Graham Clark taking four wickets and Matthew Mellers two.

Scores and highlights

DIVISION ONE
APP FRODINGHAM 3RDS v SCUNTHORPE 4THS
App Frodingham : 236 for 7 ( K Watson 87 ; M Fowler 72 ; J Dixon 35 )
Scun 4ths : 120 all out ( I Snowden 32 ) B Bramley 3 for 12 ; Z Akhtar 3 for 28 ; L Grimes 3 for 38
RESULT : APP FRODINGHAM 3rds win by 116 runs

CLEETHORPES 5THS v MESSINGHAM 3RDS
Messingham : 209 for 6 ( D Deeble 120 no ; T McDougall 31 )
Cleethorpes 5ths : 197 for 8 ( C Robinson 72 ) T McDougall 3 for 42
RESULT : MESSINGHAM 3RDS win by 12 runs

GRIMSBY TOWN 3RDS v CAISTOR COUGARS
Grimsby : 81 all out R Farrow 3 for 26
Cougars : 83 for 3 ( G Johnson 45 no ) G Linde 2 for 27
RESULT : CAISTOR COUGARS win by 7 wickets

DIVISION TWO
ALKBOROUGH 3RDS v HAXEY 3RDS
Haxey 3rds : 158 for 7 ( A Moody 37 ; E Tonks 34 no ) P Mitchell 3 for 20
Alkborough : 67 all out ( D Redhead 20 no ) E Tonks 5 for 25 ; E Trewick 3 for 22
RESULT : HAXEY 3RDS win by 91 runs

BARTON TOWN 4THS v OUTCASTS 3RDS
Barton : 194 for 9 ( R Ogle 63 ; G Bell 61 ) J Bramhill 3 for 25 ; S Buttrick 3 for 45
Outcasts : 193 all out ( R Fletcher 53 ; S Buttrick 46 ; O Coulman 34 ) R Ogle 5 for 29
RESULT : BARTON TOWN 4THS win by 1 run

HIBALDSTOW 2NDS v WHEATLEY & LEVERTON
Wheatley : 274 for 4 ( P Jansen 115 no ; E Toft 85 )
Hibaldstow : 202 for 4 ( J Stothard 74 )
RESULT : WHEATLEY & LEVERTON win by 72 runs

DIVISION THREE
BROUGHTON 4THS v ISLEONIANS
Isleonians : 134 all out ( J Mether 23 : M Metcalf 22 ) K Kitchen 5 for 21
Broughton : 135 for 7 ( P Reed 62 no ) A Carroll 4 for 35
RESULT : BROUGHTON 4THS win by 3 wickets

EVERTON 3RDS v LUDDINGTON
Luddington : 116 all out
Everton : 117 for 6
RESULT : EVERTON 3RDS win by 4 wickets

NORMANBY PARK v BOTTESFORD
Bottesford : 161 all out ( M Khan 44 ) J Render 4 for 24
N Park : 96 all out ( M Knapton 36 ) J Danson 3 for 7


FIXTURES
Sunday, May 15th
Divison One: Grimsby Town 3rds v Scunthorpe 4ths, Messingham 3rds v Caistor Cougars
Division Two: Broughton 3rds v Hibaldstow 2nds, Haxey 3rds v Outcasts 3rds, Wheatley & Leverton v Alkborough 3rds
Division Three: Isleonians v Normanby Park (at Normanby Park), Luddington v Broughton 4ths, Misterton 2nds v Everton 3rds, Upton cum Kexby v Bottesford.

SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE & BORDER LEAGUE

By Ann Boulton

After three games, Sleaford 2nd and Belton Park are the early leaders in South Lincolnshire & Border League Division One, each with 58 points. But just one point behind them are Grantham and Billingborough after all four teams enjoyed a victorious weekend.
Sleaford notched up the top score of the weekend and Luke Hollingworth hit the only century in his side’s win over Stamford. Hollingworth made 127 as Sleaford’s innings ended on 300 for seven before Stamford were bowled out for 176.
Belton Park lost just three wickets overtaking Woodhall Spa’s 194 for nine, Dave Richardson making 87 while Grantham defended their total of 186, restricting Moulton Harrox to 150 for seven. And Billingborough scored an eight wicket win over Lindum Ramblers.
Lower down the table, Bourne 2nd went down to Market Deeping and Spalding beat Boston 3rd.
Welby moved to the top of Division Two after beating Ropsley by five wickets with Skegness in second following their victory over Thomas Cook. Two players just missed out on centuries in one game – Neville Stankley of Sleaford Sunday with 93 and Peter Houghton of victors Skegness with 94.
Gary Peck made 80 for Stamford 2nds in their victory over Heckington, while Trevor Ginn bagged the highest number of wickets with 6-59 in Billingborough 2nd’s win over Cavaliers.
Baston top Division Three where fewer games have so far been played. John Lamin putting in the performance of the day with 65 runs and six wickets as his side beat Blankney – playing their first game of the season - by just six runs in a very tight game.
Timberland put last year’s problems behind them to kick their season off by beating Grantham 2nd and there was a six wicket haul at North Luffenham where the home side’s Robert Staniland took six for 26 but couldn’t prevent Moulton Harrox Sunday claiming victory.
For league tables use this link SOUTHLINCS


Division One
Lindum Ramblers 131, Billingborough 132-2 (Newman 72);
Sleaford 2nd 300-7 (Hollingworth 127, Burrows 55), Stamford 176;
Woodhall Spa 194-9 (Bee 54), Belton Park 198-3 (Richardson 87);
Market Deeping 2nd 211-8 (Davies 59), Bourne 2nd 177-6;
Boston 2nd 186-9 (Moore 65), Spalding 187-6 (M Kearns snr 66no);
Grantham 186 (Bennett 59), Moulton Harrox 150-7 (Barnett 57).

Division Two
Boston 3rd 80 (Dale 5-15), Spalding 2nd 81-5;
Stamford 2nd 191-9 (Peck 80), Heckington 158;
Cavaliers 180-8 (Robinson 76, Ginn 6-59), Billingborough 2nd 181-5 (Chessum 69, Wells 51no);
Ropsley 81, Welby 82-5;
Thomas Cook 117, Skegness 2nd 121-7;
Sleaford Sunday 213-5 (Goddard 76no. Stankley 93), Skegness 2nd 217-1 (Ainsworth 75no, Houghton 94).

Division Three
Baston 153-9 (Lamin 65), Blankney 147 (Behan 70, Lamin 6-21);
Timberland 177-9, Grantham 2nd 119-9;
Claypole v Burgh & District – abandoned
Moulton Harrox Sunday 141 (Barnett 54, Staniland 6-26), North Luffenham 114.