LEADERS Messingham enjoyed another emphatic home win in the Lincolnshire County Cricket League premier division, seeing off Bracebridge Heath 2nds by eight wickets.

But it was South Kelsey who recorded the top flight's top total with 279 while beating Scunthorpe Town in a match which produced an impressive 495 runs.

Barton Town were not far behind with 260 on their way to seeing off Appleby-Frodingham 2nds, Simon McInerney scoring a century.

Super Simon was matched by big-hitting James Barker as Alkborough chased down 240 to win at Caistor, who started the day in second spot.

In a much closer encounter, Horncastle won by 17 runs at Cleethorpes 2nds – both teams topping 200.

In division one, leaders Cherry Willingham had to work very hard to preserve their unbeaten record with a one-wicket home win over Outcasts.

Louth 2nds' improvement continued with a seven-wicket success over Holton-le-Clay, while promotion-chasing Alford won by the huge margin of 212 runs at lowly Hykeham.

Division two leaders Messingham 2nds tasted defeat for the first time in the league this season, going down by eight wickets to second-placed Grimsby Town 2nds.

Caistor 2nds won by four wickets on their travels at Alkborough 2nds, while Haxey 2nds eased relegation concerns with a convincing home win over Cleethorpes 4ths.

However, bottom side Outcasts 2nds remain winless following a nine-wicket home defeat at the hands of Hartsholme 2nds.

The chase to land the division three championship pennant remains wide open, with the main contenders winning convincingly.

Keelby saw off Broughton 2nds by eight wickets, while Stamford Homes chased down 235 to defeat Barton Town 2nds.

Scunthorpe Town 2nds eased their relegation worries with a comfortable home win over bottom-placed Holton-le-Clay 2nds.

But Immingham Blossom Way are left looking a shade anxious about their position following a heavy reverse against Hibaldstow, who could yet challenge the top two.

In division four, Caistor 3rds stepped up their push for promotion with a dominant, ten-wicket defeat of Scunthorpe Town 3rds.

But Old Lincolnians' bid to secure higher grade cricket next summer was dealt a blow by losing to Alford 2nds.

Market Rasen 2nds showed welcome good form in beating Keelby 2nds in a low-scoring encounter. Bottom team Brigg Town set a decent target at Morton but it proved insufficient.

PREMIER DIVISION: Barton Town 260 (McInerney 127, Ayub 8-74), Appleby-Frodingham 2nds 77; Caistor Town 239 for six (Wijerathne 91, Boulton 65, Roden 5-40), Alkborough 240 for six Barker 100); Horncastle 218 for nine (Paige 59, Freeman 56), Cleethorpes 2nds 201 (Farmery 56); Bracebridge Heath 2nds 137 (A Langford 5-35), Messingham 141 for two (I Dawson 58 not out); South Kelsey 279 for seven (Wright 88, K Wijayaratna 50), Scunthorpe Town 216 for six (Patrick 80, Sen 74).

DIVISION ONE: Outcasts 106, Cherry Willingham 109 for nine; Holton-le-Clay 163 for eight (Bellamy 66), Louth 2nds 167 for three (Ahmed 60); Alford 300 for five (Keeling 88, A White 85, Calvert 64 not out), Hykeham 88 (James 7-30).

DIVISION TWO: Alkborough 2nds 131 (Healy 6-24), Caistor Town 2nds 137 for six (Jackson 50 not out); Messingham 2nds 167 for seven, Grimsby Town 2nds 168 for two (Wood 51 not out); Haxey 2nds 208 for eight (Ryan 77), Cleethorpes 4ths 78 (Moody 5-26); Outcasts 2nds 114, Hartsholme 2nds 116 for one.

DIVISION THREE: Hibaldstow 205 for six (Nicholson 52), Immingham Blossom Way 126; Broughton 2nds 138 (Smith 5-34), Keelby 142 for two (Robson 74 not out); Scunthorpe Town 2nds 212 for eight (M Pashley 61), Holton-le-Clay 2nds 132; Barton Town 2nds 234 for eight (Graves 65, Evans 52, Hanson 7-71), Stamford Homes 237 for five.

DIVISION FOUR; Old Lincolnians 163 (M Jelly 54), Alford 2nds 167 for six; Keelby 2nds 89 (Salmon 5-18, Norburn 5-29), Market Rasen 2nds 90 for three; Brigg Town 183 for six, Morton 184 for eight (Hildreth 5-53); Scunthorpe Town 3rds 140, Caistor Town 3rds 143 for no wicket (R McKitton 94 not out).