CLEETHORPES 3rds suffered disappointment in the final of the Bob Welton Cup – the Lincolnshire County Cricket League's junior knockout competition – losing to Messingham 2nds by 100 runs.

The final was played on Sunday at Alkborough's West Halton Lane ground. And Messingham, who lead division two, were dismissed for 192, in which Rob Talbot made 41, Adam Cook 34 and Matt Snee 31.

Mike Shelton took four for 42 for the first division Meggies, but they could muster only 92 with the bat, Callum Mawer grabbing four for 14 to clinch the man-of-the-match award.

Lincolnshire League chairman Bob Welton was on hand to present the winners' trophy to Messingham captain Paul Rocks.

John Knapton had a good all-round match as Alkborough won at Scunthorpe Town to move up to third place in the premier division.

He began by hitting 42 in Alkborough's all-out 193, fellow opener Craig Ross adding 40, Steve Clay 29 and James Barker 23.

Ben Brumby took four for 60, while Ramesh Chand managed two for 39 and Pop Robson two for 64.

Chand made 53 and Liam Redmond 28 but Scunthorpe were dismissed for 122, Knapton helping himself to three for 18, Clay taking two for 12 and Lee Brocklebank two for 34.

That home defeat leaves Town 13 points clear of the relegation zone.

Cleethorpes 2nds' Eddie Carlton matched Knapton's efforts as the Meggies tied on their visit to South Kelsey – another rain-ravaged fixture.

He took five for 15 in the villagers' all-out 187, then scored 63 as his team responded with 187 for seven.

Top performer for Kelsey was Chandi Wathakurage, pictured left, with 74.

Appleby-Frodingham 2nds, the bottom side, made the long journey south to Horncastle and returned home with the only bonus point gained before the match was washed out with the home team on 41 for three.

Rain also ruined what was billed as the top clash of the day between Caistor and Barton Town – both still in the race for the title.

The points were shared in the end, Caistor scoring 162 for eight (Paul Bell four for 48) and Barton replying with 144 for six in this uncompleted match (Simon McInerney 64).

Aimee Simms – batting at nine on the card – scored a praiseworthy 52 but could not save Holton-le-Clay from a four-wicket defeat at Louth 2nds in division one.

Invited to bat first at London Road, Holton were dismissed for 146 in the penultimate over, Mark Roberts taking five for 49, Lee Freeman two for 33 and Dale Chambers two for 38.

After decent top-of-the-order contributions from Dave Clarke (26), Mark Duell (18) and Dean Jacklin (47), Louth were pegged back but secured victory in the 41st over, despite the efforts of Danny Portus (two for 45 in 16.4 overs).

Still with a slight chance of making the top two, Broughton had a "must win" home game with Cleethorpes 3rds and grasped the opportunity with both hands, securing a 10-wicket victory.

The damage was done early on when they reduced the bottom-placed Meggies to 33 for eight. However, number nine Lewis Markham scored a fine 42 to help his side reach 91.

Cleethorpes found run-scoring difficult, but it was the exact opposite for Broughton openers Neil Simpson (51 not out) and Matt Hammond (36 not out) who saw their side home to the full 20 points in the 16th over.

Earlier, Paul Clark had sent down 19 overs for Broughton to capture six for 35.

While his opening partner, paceman Pete Taylor, took three for 42 in 15.

Behind the stumps, evergreen, former Lincolnshire Minor Counties keeper Nigel Dobbs – well-known in Cleethorpes for past deeds at Chichester Road – contributed five dismissals.

Nettleham 2nds remain second-from-bottom with precious little play being possible in the derby with Scothern. Nettleham were 29 for two after eight overs when heavy rain brought a very early finish to proceedings.

Hykeham's home game with Outcasts was dogged by bad weather as early as the fifth over when the visitors' innings was halted for more than an hour.

After that an outright victory for either side was nigh on impossible.

Andy Torr top scored for the Isle of Axholme side, hitting 37 not out and Dave Hobson made 23, as they were bowled out for 140 in the 45th and final over.

In the home attack, Chris Hammond took four for 51 from 22 overs, Rich Chester three for 28 and Andy Fletcher three for 45.

Hykeham, in reply, had reached 44 for two, in 10 overs, when the rain returned and the game had to be abandoned, Liam McAnaney taking both wickets to fall at a personal cost of 13 runs.

Haxey 2nds put some daylight between themselves and the division two relegation zone with a five-wicket win at Alkborough 2nds.

Having lost an early wicket, Alkborough consolidated with a 103-run second wicket stand between Neil Gray, who made 42, and Clive Coulthurst, 65.

Grant Standerline then contributed a very rapid, unbeaten 20 in the closing stages to help raise the final total to 183 for five.

Seamer Aaron Moody impressed for Haxey with four for 56 from 14 overs – his figures suffering in the final over as Standerline cut loose.

Haxey batted sensibly in pursuit of their target, acting captain Steve Ryan making 28, Graham Skelton 33 and James Needham 28.

But the dominant knock was an unbeaten 64 from Rob Young, victory being achieved with five overs to spare.

Alkborough's best bowling figures came from their openers, Liam Hebblewhite managing two for 50 and Paul Mitchell two for 29.

Sympathy should be extended to Ian Fletcher's Outcasts 2nds, whom Lady Luck seems to have deserted.

Having suffered a number of close defeats, they did it again on Saturday when leaders Messingham 2nds visited Hirst Priory and sneaked over the line by just one wicket, when faced with a target of only 127.

"Unlucky… again!" was the comment from Outcasts' veteran leader.

Second-placed Grimsby Town 2nds won comfortably against Owmby, who were bowled out for 91, Ciaron Deegan making 34 not out and Matthew Cocks taking five for 25.

Nigel Fanthorpe (39 not out) helped guide Town home to maximum points.

Caistor 2nds (fourth) added to Cleethorpes 4ths' relegation worries, the margin between the sides being 42 runs.

Visiting Caistor's 213 for five included 85 from James Wright, 52 by Andy Holmes and 38 by Kev Parker.

The Meggies made 171 for nine in response, Matt Shelton scoring 47 and Sam Would 27, as Paul Rendell captured five for 26.

The first promotion issue to be resolved this season saw Keelby clinch a return to division two after just one season.

They did it as the result of taking 11 points from a rain-ruined division three visit to Washingborough.

Keelby posted 208 for nine to secure the maximum five batting bonus points available, then managed one for bowling as their hosts replied with 84 for three.

Having also gained five match points for the incomplete match, it was enough to leave Keelby singing in the rain.

Stamford Homes kept up their bid for promotion with a workmanlike victory away to Barton Town 2nds at Marsh Lane.

The Grimsby visitors' 217 for nine included 38 by Inderjeet Sandhu and an unbeaten 34 from Andreas Xiarchos, as Barton employed seven bowlers.

The home side were dismissed for 108 in 36 overs (Nathan Jones 27), Sandhu completing a fine all-round performance with three for 14.

Hibaldstow's good season continued with an eight-wicket home win over Immingham Blossom Way.

Invited to bat first, Immingham were contained to 124 for seven, Mark Fisher scoring 34 and Jamie Fountain 20.

Left-armer Gary Dixon led the Hibaldstow attack and to say he gave little away would be an understatement – bowling nine overs for as many runs and sending down seven successive maidens. Mel Oades also gave little away, finishing with three for 22.

The result was never in doubt when Hibaldstow enjoyed an emphatic opening stand, Jon Taylor scoring 40 not out and captain Mark Nicholson 55.

Visiting skipper Ron Farmery took two for 13 in just four overs, but it was too late.

Some super bowling ensured Cherry Willingham 2nds enjoyed a vital seven-wicket home win over Broughton 2nds.

Not only did Cherry take all 20 points, they limited Broughton to just one. And that share-out of the spoils saw the Cherrymen go third from bottom and Broughton replace them in the relegation zone.

The visitors were shot out for just 55, Keith Whiteley leading the way with six for 28 and Matt Hudson claiming four for 27.

Bottom side Holton-le-Clay 2nds were unable to raise a team to take on Scunthorpe Town 2nds. In line with league rules, the villagers have had five points deducted, while Scunthorpe are awarded 15.

Udi Skeikh, Keelby 2nds' veteran spinner, turned back the clock with a vintage haul of seven for 25 in the home victory over Hykeham 2nds in division four.

Keelby's 150 for nine featured good efforts by openers Andy Sharp (37) and Bruce Roberts (64), plus 29 not out in the middle-order from Ashley Briggs.

However, Mark Leverett's introduction into the attack as the fourth bowler paid real dividends for Hykeham. He took six for 15 in nine overs as Keelby lost their last eight wickets for the addition of only 33 runs.

Hykeham's experienced opener, Steve Roe, made 24 but the innings fell away badly until the last couple of wickets brought about a slight recovery to 111.

Both with hopes of sneaking a promotion place, Alford 2nds and Caistor 3rds were pegged back by rain.

Alford bowled well to contain the visitors to 41 for three after 26.3 overs, but proceedings had to be abandoned.

There were very tidy figures from Aaron Wilkinson (two for eight in 11.3 overs).

Bottom side Brigg Town hosted Morton and suffered a five-wicket defeat.

Town's 160 for seven included a fine, undefeated 75 from Matthew Bell and 28 by opener Gary Smith.

Matt Gleadell, batting at five, then saw the Gainsborough visitors home with an unbeaten 84 after they had been reduced to 43 for three.

Leaders South Kelsey 2nds visited Rase Park for a local derby with Market Rasen 2nds, but the game was washed out after only 13.3 overs with Rasen on 41 for two.

All Lincs League teams at home this Saturday are reminded they need to ring the scores through to Glen Sands on 01724 798853 and not to the usual number.

In the East Yorks Alliance, mid-table East Halton's emphatic division two home win over bottom side North Ferriby 3rds produced James Mikkonen's first century – 110 not out in a total of 234 for two declared.

Kev Wright contributed a season's best 90, opener Nigel Godfrey 20 and there was a second-wicket stand of 180 between Wright and Mikkonen.

Ferriby were then shot out for 28, Rory "Rozza" Ronaldson demolishing the middle and late order with a burst of five for seven in just 3.4 overs.

Prior to that, Matt Lord managed three for four (plus holding three catches) and Stuart Davidson two for 11.

Brigg Town 2nds, who are fourth in division three, were without a fixture.