Louth 2nds and Owmby finish season on a high

DIVISION Two champs Louth 2nds triumphed by seven wickets at Wolds rivals Market Rasen, as an absorbing season in the Lincolnshire County Cricket League came to an end over the weekend.

Rakesh Chandar-Nair cracked 90 in Owmby's home win over Caistor 2nds, while Simon Taylor bagged six wickets as Cleethorpes 4ths beat runners-up Hykeham.

Messingham 2nds – unable to raise a side for their trip to Hartsholme 2nds – have been deduced five points and the Lincoln side awarded 15, under league rules.

In Division Three, skipper Jeremy Evans' unbeaten 93 was a key factor in third-placed Barton Town 2nds winning at home to already-relegated Keelby 2nds.

second-placed Haxey 2nds lost by 44 runs away to lowly Cherry Willingham 2nds, for whom spinner Matt Spikings bagged seven wickets.

Haxey's defeat, and mere five-point haul, means leaders Outcasts 2nds, who had already played all their matches, are crowned champions.

Haxey's consolation is a promotion spot.

In Division One, champions Cleethorpes 3rds ended their programme with a 10-run home defeat at the hands of mid-table Outcasts, while already-relegated Alkborough beat Holton-le-Clay by two wickets.

Appleby-Frodingham 2nds failed to secure the victory they needed at home to mid-table Scothern to clinch runners-up spot, which is now taken by Scunthorpe Town, who had already completed their programme.

In Division Four, promotion-chasers South Kelsey 2nds lost by six wickets at home to Hykeham 2nds.

That gave Grimsby team Stamford Homes, who were not in action on Saturday, the chance to take second spot, depending on the outcome of the very last match played anywhere in the Lincs League – their clash away to Alford 2nds, themselves trying to sneak out of the re-election zone.

Stamford Homes finished 163 all-out, and Alford 2nds were 99 all-out in reply.

The result meant the Grimsby side were promoted as runners-up.

Other games on the final Saturday with no influence on promotion and relegation issues still produced interesting cricket.

In the Premier Division, Harry Smith cracked a century for Horncastle, but finished up on the losing side in a high-scoring game at Bracebridge Heath 2nds, for whom Dave Whapplington came very close to a three-figure innings.

The only other top-flight fixture saw Alford – already facing a return to Division One – winning their home game with Barton Town, Wayne Garlick and Tom Stocks both passing 50 in a winning cause.