Rasen hold firm to secure win

MARKET Rasen – leaders of division one in the Lincolnshire County Cricket League – suffered a slight wobble when visiting Appleby-Frodingham 2nds, but recovered to win the game by four wickets.

On their own square at Brumby Hall, the Scunthorpe Steelmen made 153 for nine, Mick Bramley scoring 48 and Ben Bramley 28 not out.

Ben then struck repeatedly to reduce Rasen to 33 for four, only for Liam Scales (56) and George Fussey (51) to break the shackles with a stand of 83 for the fifth wicket.

One bowler took the eye in each team – Matt Rutherford taking five for 50 for the title-chasers and the junior Bramley six for 44 for the home side.

An unbeaten 101 from Stuart Fraser-Cattanach was the highlight as Bracebridge Heath 2nds stayed on track for a return to the premier division after just one season in the second tier by beating Holton-le-Clay at home.

Stuart faced only 71 deliveries on his way to three-figures, hitting 14 boundaries. Andy McDowall's unbeaten 49 helped the Lincoln team to 222 for two.

The visitors replied with a creditable 190 for nine, highlights of which were 57 by Danny Portus and 52 by Paul Holmes.

Lowly Outcasts desperately needed to win their home game with Louth 2nds.

But, despite good knocks from Scott Buttrick (58) and Tom Sharpe (50 not out), their score of 170 for seven proved insufficient to test the visitors.

Indeed, Louth had 5.4 overs in hand, Steve Gale making 43.

In division two, with Dave Peacock taking five for 23, leaders Scunthorpe Town 2nds won by 36 runs when visiting Caistor 2nds at Brigg Road.

Scunthorpe were dismissed for 145 in exactly 45 overs, the top scorer being Pop Robson – batting at 10 – who made a valuable 32.

He shared a last-wicket stand of 39 with Josh Pashley (12 not out).

Opener Paul Rendell performed well for Caistor, claiming four for 27 in 15 overs.

The home side responded with 108 for nine, Matthew Travis finishing undefeated on 50 and Robson completing a good all-round display with three for 26.

There is quite a scrap going on to avoid relegation in this section.

Washingborough moved off the bottom of the table with a nine-wicket win at fourth-placed Keelby.

Tight bowling contained Keelby to 139 for nine (Matt Bevis 52), Phil Lawson taking four for 53.

Washingborough began in very determined fashion with an opening stand of 120 between James Sewell (43) and Mark Willey (61 not out) and wrapped up maximum points within 30 overs.

Another surprise win was enjoyed by third-from-bottom Alkborough 2nds when visiting third-in-the-table Messingham 2nds.

Opener Ian Dawson hit 79 of Messingham's 141 for seven, with Paul Mitchell scoring 38 and Neil Gray 37 as the visitors won in the 40th over.

Hartsholme 2nds are second following a three-wicket win secured on their trip to Mulsanne Park to take on Nettleham 2nds.

Ash Graham made 40 as Nettleham were dismissed for 122, with Matt Gormley scoring 39 for the Lincoln team.

Grimsby side Laportes would have been in with a fair chance of sneaking into the division three promotion picture if they had won Sunday's home fixture with mid-table Alford 2nds.

But they were denied by a real captain's knock from experienced all-rounder Mark Irving, who saw Alford home by two wickets.

Laportes posted151, skipper Inderjeet Sandhu top scoring with 37, as Mike Honman managed three for 15.

Alford's reply was dominated by Irving's undefeated 86, Gill Singh Palli claiming four for 33 for Laportes.

Gill Singh had also been in good form on Saturday, as Laportes began their busy weekend with a comfortable six-wicket win at Broughton 2nds.

He took five for 31 as Broughton scored 73 – quite a recovery after being 17 for six.

The revival was led by Kyle Kitchen, with 32 not out.

However, on a good pitch this total never looked like being sufficient and Mike Francis, the visiting opener, made 28 after the sides had enjoyed a very early tea.

Laportes still have a slim chance of going up, but must rely on Haxey 2nds and Hibaldstow slipping up badly.

Haxey are the new leaders, following Saturday's tonic four-wicket win at Alford 2nds.

Alan Irving top scored with 31 in Alford's all-out 140 – Wasim Ahmed capturing four for 28 and Andy Steeper three for two to wrap up the innings.

Opener Jeremy Evans – often a batsman to be relied upon in pacing an after-tea reply – made 37 before the even more experienced Kev White claimed his wicket in a return of three for 16.

The picturesque Brocklesby Park ground has seen many, many good games since cricket became established on the Earl of Yarborough's estate in early Victorian times.

This season it has become Cleethorpes 4ths' emergency "out ground" after their scheduled home venue became unavailable to them at short notice.

Saturday saw Outcasts 2nds win by the narrow margin of 11 runs – the visitors from the Isle of Axholme being perfect opposition, as they are also based near a stately home themselves - Hirst Priory.

Outcasts totalled 157 for eight – James Glew 38, Mark Foster 37 – while the Meggies made 146 for nine (Rob Cowlam 55).

The main reason for bottom side Cleethorpes not recording their second success of the season was the slow bowling of Anthony Fitzgerald, who finished with five for 27.

Celebrations were in order at Rase Park on Saturday night after Market Rasen 2nds had beaten Hykeham by 24 runs to secure the division four championship pennant with a game to go.

Rasen made 146 for nine and bowled out their visitors for 122 with four overs remaining in the match.

Old Lincolnians, who were without a game at the weekend, finish runners-up and also gain promotion.

The only issue remaining to be settled in the basement section is that of re-election.

Bottom side Scothern 2nds could still pull clear of the bottom two with victories in their final two fixtures.

They kept their hopes of a Houdini act alive with a fine display to defeat Keelby 2nds by 10 runs.

No-one reached 20 in Scothern's all-out 119, Keelby's John McLellan and Udi Sheik taking four for 31 and four for 40 respectively.

Another of the visitors' experienced men, Dick Papps, hit 24 – but Keelby were dismissed for 109, Andy Sawyer claiming four for 22 and Adrian Newton four for 30.

Second-from-bottom Immingham Blossom Way went down to a five-wicket reverse at Tetney Lane against Holton-le-Clay 2nds.

Kev Laister scored 29 of Immingham's 141 for nine, with Reece Brant taking four for 24.

Jim Birkwood's 46 was the best for Holton, with Liam Clarke managing three for 46 in the visiting attack.

Veterans Dave Gowshall and Ernie Allison starred for Caistor 3rds in an emphatic win over Scunthorpe Town 3rds at Hibaldstow.

Opener Dave stroked 72 in Caistor's 210 for seven, Andrew Hodder grabbing six for 66.

Off-spinner Ernie's six for 41 then helped dismiss the hosts for 95, of which Tim Foster scored 22.