Farrow fires Blossom Way on to title glory
Their latest fixture was one of the few to be completed in yet another weather-affected round of games.
Blossom Way needed two points to guarantee the league title and, in a game reduced to 16 overs, Western elected to bat.
They made a poor start, both openers falling cheaply. This brought Ian Bellamy (38) to the crease and, together with Paul Ridley (39 not out), they guided their team to 117 for six.
In reply, and despite conditions deteriorating rapidly, Blossom Way made a solid start, with Portus (24) and Todd (29) adding 59 for the first wicket.
Western's bowlers continued to test Unsworth (27) and Farrow (31) but the batsmen held their nerve to give Blossom Way Old Boys victory and the league title with two balls to spare.
Credit should go to the sides for continuing in the dreadful conditions in a game which was vital in both their quests for silverware.
At the other end of the table, the conditions also played a part in the Emplex versus Holton-le-Clay game at Barretts.
Emplex posted 108 for six from 16 overs, with Waghorn (40) the top scorer and Holmes chipping in with three wickets for the visitors.
HLC's reply was well on course as they reached 86 for one (Briggs 39, New 33 not out) at the halfway stage and were minutes from victory when the heavens opened.
The Emplex skipper took the honourable decision to concede the game rather than risk playing on.
The game between Springfield Ibwest (129 for two, Hollamby 55 not out) versus Old Winghams (65 for five from 10 overs) was still in the balance when the rain came, so points were shared.
Waltham Millers versus Barton Windows also fell victim to the downpours without a ball being bowled and, as a result of only gaining one point, Barton's stay in the top flight lasted only one season as they are now relegated.
In Division Two, Immingham Blossom Way are finding it difficult to make that final push over the finishing line as Phoenix 1 did the league double over them.
Phoenix posted 138 for nine from 20 overs with Jafri leading the way with 58 before becoming one of four run outs.
Experienced seamer Tony Marfleet grabbed three for 24 from his five overs.
The Immingham Blossom Way reply lost wickets at regular intervals to some consistent bowling and, despite Marfleet completing a fine personal performance with 21 not out from number eight, his team fell 20 runs short.
All other Division Two games were off, meaning none of the promotion or relegation places are assured yet.
Only one game survived in Division Three and that was down to it being played on the Tuesday.
Clee Academy 1st entertained Rovers and the youngsters sneaked home by three runs.
They posted 139 for eight from 20 overs with Would (58) and Dickens (36) in form with the willow.
Dickens then grabbed three wickets to keep the reply in check.
Plaskett (33) and Gash (24) kept the visitors in the hunt but they fell agonisingly short.
Hendry Electricals' cancelled game means they are now relegated to Division Four.
With the Wednesday matches in Division Four rained off, North Thoresby improved their chances of survival with a last-ball win over Westlands.
Westlands made a cracking start with the bat as openers Ken Meech (58) and S Ford (24) piled on the runs until they were both dismissed by Chris Padley (5-0-39-2).
D Patterson added 19 to give Westlands a total of 128 for five from 20 overs.
After losing an early wicket, Thoresby recovered through the second-wicket pairing of Alex Shreeve (34) and Dave Richardson (66). Dan Harrison contributed a crucial 12 before being bowled by Meech (5-0-20-2), leaving Andy Richardson (six not out) and Andy Webster (one not out) to complete the six-wicket win for North Thoresby.
The anticipated clash between the top two in Division Five was rained off, but it guaranteed Grainthorpe's promotion and left Crystal Millennium needing a point to take the title.
CSSC Emplex finally gained their first win of the season during a dramatic finale against Keelby at Barretts.
CSSC lost their first wicket with 12 on the board when M Phillips (4-0-15-2) struck.
The second-wicket pairing of Nick Gregory and Jeff Hutchinson put on 63 before Gregory was run out for 24.
Hutchinson soon followed for an excellent 51, then John Indian picked up two for 16 from two overs, but some late hitting and quick running from Karl Sykes (10 not out) and Lloyd Townsend (four not out) saw the CSSC total reach 117 for six.
Keelby began their reply well and the score had reached 32, before the first wicket fell, M Parker bowled by Chris Harrison (5-1-16-1) for eight.
Keelby continued to build but lost fellow opener P Parker for 38.
A Travis and A Briggs got the visitors within five runs of the target before Briggs (16) was dismissed.
With three needed off the last over, 13-year-old Kyle Sykes saw only one bye come off the first five balls of his over.
With two needed off the last ball, Travis (27) was caught by Karl Sykes to give son Kyle Sykes (1-1-0-1) a final over wicket-maiden and CSSC Emplex a memorable one-run victory.
Second-placed Clee United Old Boys increased their Division Six promotion chances with a nine-wicket win over One Medical 2nds.
Clee United's new-ball attack shared the first four wickets, with Jamie Withers (5-0-18-2) bowling S Hilton (17) and Mal Launder (5-0-28-2) accounting for N Southern (15) in the same manner.
Graham Hackney (5-0-16-2) bagged a brace of wickets, but some late-order batting from Ian Dye (17) and C Jackson (13 not out) gave One Medical a final total of 83 for eight.
Clee United lost one wicket, Phil Merrison (15), before Mike Hart (39 not out) and Richard Hull (15 not out) guided their side home after 14 overs.
Phoenix 2nds bowled first in their game with Novarris 2nds at the hospital ground, where a fine display of hostile fast bowling from young Henry Gillott (5-0-22-2) wrestled the early initiative from the visitors.
However, a tenacious innings from L Short (17) and a fine partnership between Hall (20) and Overton (36) got the board ticking over.
Evans (11 not out) and Beecham (16 not out) saw Novartis through to a final total of 113 for five, with Gareth Cook (5-0-17-2) once again bowling splendidly at the death.
The traditional Phoenix opening partnership of the cautious Kev Harris (20) and the more flamboyant Cook (51) put on 80 in the first 11 overs.
Jason Stead (16 not out) and Tait (19 not out) gave Phoenix a comfortable eight-wicket win, with four overs left.
The battle for third place in Division Seven saw the Corinthian Jedi's come out on top against Whitgift.
Whitgift made a good start through openers Metheringham (32) and Richard Braithwaite (21) and number three Thomas kept the momentum going with 37 before he was bowled by Kelly Drewery (5-1-15-2). McMahon added six not out to give Whitgift 112 for three after 20 overs.
The Jedi's struggled in the early stages of their reply against some good bowling from Braithwaite (5-0-28-3) and Thomas (5-0-20-3). The only top-order batsmen to get to grips with them was Drewery, who scored 20.
The visitors' change bowlers were unable to press home their advantage, as N Collins (41 not out) and Giles Hutchinson (18 not out) saw the Jedi's home by three wickets after 16 overs.
The Clee Academy 2nds v PO Milan 2nds game was rained off, while Crows Nest 2nds claimed the points against 3Q.
Harvest Moon moved to the top of the John Pettit's Grimsby and District Saturday Cricket League with a five-wicket victory over Clee United Old Boys.
Chris Humphrey (5-0-17-1) and Gavin Warnock (5-1-14-1) limited Clee United to 33 for two after 10 overs.
Mark Hutchinson (5-0-24-2) then chipped in with two wickets before Clarke and Mal Launder steadied the ship.
Gavin Turner bowled Launder for 21 in a devastating spell of four wickets in five balls, finishing with fine figures of 4.4-0-14-4.
Clarke was eventually dismissed for 46 when he was caught and bowled by Roger Bentley (5-0-25-1), and Clee United were bowled out for 98 in the final over.
Moon were rocked in the early stages of their reply, with Clarke (5-1-15-1) and Carr (5-0-23-1) grabbing two early wickets.
Bentley and Warnock began to accumulate runs in a good third-wicket stand that pushed the score up to 50 when Warnock (21) fell to Trevor Church (4-0-22-1).
Moon lost two more wickets, but with Bentley taking command they were always in a favourable position.
Bentley remained unbeaten on 56, as he and Mark Dent (three not out) steered Harvest Moon home.
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