By Report: Barton Town continue to lead the way at the top of LCCL
A number of hard-fought games took place in the Lincolnshire County Cricket League in the latest round of fixtures at the weekend.
LCCL PREMIER DIVISION
Leaders Barton Town continue to set the pace in the Premier Division after beating Caistor Town in a high-scoring game at Marsh Lane, where the visitors set a tough target of 205 all out. That was largely thanks to 46 from Scott Indian and 37 from Gareth Johnson. Aidan Jackson took five for 15 for Barton, who reached that target with four wickets to spare, as Joe Hewitt hit 45 and Alex Shreeve 36 not out.
Market Rasen moved up to second following their five-wicket win at bottom club Holton le Clay, who were bowled out for 160, as Will Bradford and Dan Clark took three wickets each. Will Clifford hit 36 in the lower order alongside 33 from Jim Birkwood, but in-form Will Carter made 50 and Graeme Bell 24 not out to see Rasen to victory.
Cleethorpes 2nds claimed 20 valuable points when winning by five wickets against Scothern at Chichester Road, where Tom Gregory hit 51 in Scothern’s total of 191 for nine, with Fred Lumby picking up three for 13. Half-centuries from Kris Hall (53) and Ed Carlton (50) helped the Meggies reach 194 for five, but Alex Stapleton captured four for 70 for the visitors from Lincoln.
LCCL DIVISION ONE
Lindum 2nds just keep going and they claimed a seventh straight victory when beating Normanby Park by 26 runs, setting a tough ask of 190 for eight, with 65 not out from Oliver Houldershaw. They then restricted Normanby to 164 for nine, as Declan Dunning fell one short of a half-century and Jordan Peters picked up three for 32.
Messingham had a convincing 120-run win at Rase Park against bottom-of-the-table Market Rasen 2nds, where they made 250 for seven then dismissed their hosts for 130.
The Lincoln derby at Mulsanne Park saw visiting Cherry Willingham beat Nettleham 2nds with five wickets to spare. Nettleham made 163, with 38 not out from James Stevens and 33 each from Archie Rossington and Jordan McCardell. Caleb Pipes-Goulsbra took four for eight late in the innings before 48 from Matt O’Halloran and 40 not out from Scott Coupland saw Cherry claim the 20 points.
There was a tight finish between Broughton and Louth 2nds with the former winning by just four runs. Broughton hit 220 for nine in the first innings, with 47 from Nick Dobbs and 42 for Richard Green. Sam Sillett took four for 46, then Alfie West made an excellent 88 and Wayne Garlick 49 not out as the visitors fell just short, with Shaun Clark taking three for 32.
The other Division One game was a high-scoring affair, which ended in a tie at Hirst Priory, where Appleby Frodingham made 211 for three with 75 not out from Liam Sylvester and 48 from opener Liam Grimes. But home skipper Rick Johnson led the way for Outcasts when hitting 77 alongside 51 from Matty Teal and 34 from Graham Clark as the Isle side levelled with the Steelmen to leave them tantalisingly close to their first win of the season.
LCCL DIVISION TWO
Grimsby Town 2nds took advantage of previous leaders Hibaldstow’s inactivity to climb above them after winning at Ashby Avenue against Hartsholme 2nds, where the hosts were dismissed for 203. Luke Cooling hit 58 and Sam Bunn 45, while Lee Wood took three for 36 and then Town reached 207 for eight, with Russ Blackburn smashing 88 and Andrew Pearson 53. Sam Bunn added five for 45 to the runs accumulated earlier.
Brocklesby Park have hit a dip in form, losing for the second time this season. This time it was against Alkborough, who bowled them out for 118, with 37 from Shahzad Ali as Matty Brown took three for 25. It took a steady but influential 26 not out from Lee Ridley to see Alkborough home with two wickets to spare, as Mohammed Saad Khan took three for 42 for Park.
Alford moved out of the bottom two when easing to an eight-wicket win at home to Barton Town 2nds, who were dismissed for 101 with Finlay Kelleher taking four for 26 before 37 from Jake Hamilton and 29 not out from Ryan Maidment guided Alford to victory.
LCCL DIVISION THREE EAST
Cleethorpes 3rds maintained their lead at the top of Division Three East when beating Caistor Town 2nds at Brigg Road, where Caistor were dismissed for 125 before the Meggies replied with 126 for two.
There was a rare occurrence in the other games, as Fraser Pemberton achieved a second successive hundred for Horncastle when hitting 114 not out, as they racked up 296 for five.
Liam Evans added 57 and Andrew Barker 53 not out before John Eccles made 80 for Grimoldby, who reached 180 for seven in reply, with Barker picking up 3 for 6 for the victors.
LCCL DIVISION THREE WEST
Scunthorpe Town 3rds continue to sweep all before them and remain unbeaten following their hefty win over Messingham 2nds, as opener Neil Patrick hit a classy 121 alongside 83 not out from Harry Crampton and 68 from Dan Barratt in a total of 296 for three. Aj Dosanjh led the way when taking three for 22, as Messingham were bowled out for 89.
Nettleham 3rds kept in touch with a six-wicket win at Haxey 2nds, who set a target of 129 all out, with 62 from Darren Johnson before 42 from Charles Patrick and 28 not out from Nathan Balding helped the visitors home.
There were runs galore at Cherry Willingham, where the seconds hit 190 for six against Outcasts 2nds. Andrew Phillips made 71 not out and Tim Mead 46, with stalwart Jason Whiteley taking three for 33 then skipper Martin Davey scored 57 and Russell Fletcher 52, as the Isle side replied to win the game by five wickets.
The other Division Three West fixture was awarded to Brigg Town, as Scothern 2nds were forced to concede.
