SPRINGFIELD Ibwest need just one point at lowly Catholic Sports to wrap up the John Pettit Grimsby and District Cricket League division one title this week.

Barring an upset comparable with the David versus Goliath fixture from a few years ago, Springfield will be crowned champions.

Second-placed Blossom Way Old Boys can win their remaining game against cup kings Western OB.

But that victory would prove insignificant if Springfield clinch the solitary point they need.

A superb victory over the aforementioned Western OB put Springfield within touching distance of the title.

Batting first, the Old Boys posted a more than respectable 132 for three from 16 overs, with the big-hitting Stuart Airey scoring 49 and fellow opener Jamie Richardson making 30 – before being run out.

The Springfield reply suffered the early loss of Hollamby, for one, but this brought the Osmond brothers together and they set about the Western attack.

James carried his bat for 74no and Alex backed him up with 54no; the target was reached with seven balls to spare.

The other match taking place in division one saw Catholic Sports win a 'basement battle' against Waltham Millers, by four runs.

Catholic set 115 for four from 16 overs, with Hughes (33) G Clarke (31) and Henry (37no) in the runs.

Judah, with a superb opening spell of 4-2-6-2, was the only bowler to have any real joy.

The Millers' reply started strongly, with Judah (36) and Griffin (22) building a solid platform.

However, change bowlers Hughes (three for 25) and Liam Clarke (two for 13) snatched both the initiative and then the points as the middle order crumbled and the overs ran out with the Villagers on Nelson.

The division two title race, meanwhile, will go to the last game of the season.

Grimsby Pumas and One Medical 1's title-deciding match was set up after both teams failed to pick up points last week, leaving the Pumas needing just a point to claim the silverware.

The Meds were unable to raise a side and the Pumas fell to a three-run defeat at Emplex.

The Pumas managed to bowl out Emplex at the start of the 19th over for only 113 runs.

Marcus Meadows held the innings together, scoring 54 before becoming one of the three victims of experienced seamer Nick Gibbons' hat-trick.

The Pumas' reply was anchored by Harry Warwick, who top-scored with 33.

But even with good contributions from Taylor (20no) and White (25), some impressive catching and tight bowling – notably from Lond (two for 31) – at the death meant the Pumas fell short.

With PO Milan also unable to raise a team, the only other division two game was near the foot of the table – Willys and Wilkin Chapman BWT battling to stay out of the bottom two.

Wilkin Chapman BWT batted first and found runs hard to come by from the start as bowlers Sunley 5-1-13-1 and Tunney 5-0-25-2 took the initiative, aided by some good catching in the field.

E Carlton scored 21 before being caught on the boundary by Ellis. BWT were 39 for 3 after 10 overs.

P Robinson (24no) and C Laister (11) tried to move the score along quicker, and pushed the final total on to 103 for 7 after the 20 overs.

R Cowlam 5-0-23-2 was the pick of the change bowlers.

Willy's needed a good start to their innings but lost three batsmen quickly; C Laister 5-0-24-4 bowled an excellent opening spell leaving Willy's 20 for 3 after four overs.

Lee Melville (39) and B Marris (14) then went about rebuilding the innings and when Melville was eventually seventh out the score was 94 in the 18th over.

Despite S Laister's economic spell of 5-0-15-1, Tony Melville (21no) took charge and ensured he was on strike at the right time.

Late run outs kept the score in check, but Melville scrambled the winning runs off the last ball of the game to give Willy's a one-wicket victory.

CHAMPIONS Punjab Lions continued their winning run with victory over Humberston Blossom Way in division three of the John Pettit Grimsby and District Cricket League.

The game was dominated by Pali Gill (pictured) who, following Indi Hayre's 53, came out at number five and smashed a late 32no in the Lions' total of 133 for three.

He then proceeded to open the bowling and take four for 14 before donning the wicket-keeper's mitts and helping himself to a catch and two stumpings – it was a true all-round performance.

Udi Sheikh also bowled well, returning three for 12.

Despite Sharp's 32 at the top of the order, HBW were all out for 76.

Meanwhile, Bradley Old Boys' division three game against Cuxwold was rained off.

TETNEY clinched the division four championship crown with a seven-wicket victory over Woodlands.

Woodlands openers C Greaves and Paul Fannon both scored 17 before falling to Paul Shawcross (4-0-19-3).

M Brown added 13 and Cullen hit 28 not out.

Joe Farmery took two for seven from three overs as Woodlands closed on 109 for seven after 16 overs.

Jack Harrison led Tetney's reply, but lost fellow opener Dean Jacklin, who was bowled by Greaves for 11.

After another wicket fell, Harrison was also bowled by Greaves (4-0-29-2) for 58, leaving J Fountain (12 not out) and D Harvey (23 not out) to complete the victory for Tetney after 13 overs.

Grainthorpe condemned North Thoresby to one of the two bottom places after an explosive batting display at the hospital.

Mike Palmer was the first Grainthorpe batsman to fall, having made 20. Conor Elvidge (66) and Phil Burrell (94 not out) then dispatched the bowling to all parts of the ground as the home side closed on 202 for two after 16 overs.

Thoresby then lost early wickets to D Callanan (4-0-13-1) and Ashley Smith (3-1-20-2).

J McDonnell (20) and Scott Freeman (11) fell to Rav Bains (2-1-4-1) and Palmer (4-0-29-2) respectively, while an unbeaten 30 from Chris Padley gave Thoresby a total of 88 for seven, 114 behind Grainthorpe.

With just one more found of matches to play, the battle for the division five runners-up spot is between three teams.

Crows Nest 1sts lie in second place after their nine-wicket win over Norfolk Line.

Jimmy Rock bowled a tidy spell for the Crows, conceding 10 runs from three overs.

Norfolk Line then enjoyed a good second-wicket stand between Hilldreth (34) and S Arundel (21) before both batsmen were dismissed by Paul Holmes (3-0-20-3), as the visitors closed on 86 for five after 12 overs.

Crows Nest lost Lewis MacDonald for 29, before Holmes (28 not out) and Andy Edwards (22 not out) completed the victory with an over to spare.

Keelby stand third on the same points as Crows Nest and in their latest game limited Stallingborough to 80 for eight after 20 overs.

The main contributions for the home team came from their two openers: John Smith (22) and Wade (23). For Keelby, Fytche was the chief wicket-taker with four for 21 off five overs.

After a strong start, Keelby lost their first wicket when Phillips fell on 30.

Opener Travis (21 not out) was joined by Bevis (22 not out) and this pair secured Keelby's nine-wicket win in the 14th over.

Champions Clee Vagabonds played host to promotion contenders Clee United Old Boys at Chichester Road, where an exciting game ensued.

Mike Harness opened the Vagabonds' innings and scored 21 before becoming one of Trevor Church's (5-0-26-4) four victims.

Fred Lumby and Paul Coultas made 22 and 21 respectively before they were both dismissed by Graham Hackney (5-0-33-2).

The Vagabonds closed on 120 for seven, with Tolson (21 not out) and Craig Brown (12 not out) unbeaten in the middle.

Old Boys openers Mike Hart and Machon went for nine and 15 respectively, with the latter falling to Carter (5-1-24-2). Rob Kurz added 18 as Hackney led the chase, while Dave Ricketts contributed nine.

Requiring five to win off the last ball, Clee United hit a four to tie the game. Hackney remained unbeaten on 51 while Richard Hull made nine not out.

Phoenix clinched the division six runners-up spot after gaining a comfortable 67-run victory over CSSC Emplex.

A good second-wicket stand for Phoenix between Tim Tait and Jason Stead came to an end when Chris Mitchell (4-0-13-3) had Tait caught for 31.

Stead batted throughout the rest of the innings and his 57 not out helped Phoenix reach 112 for six after 16 overs.

In reply, CSSC crumbled against Henry Gillott (4-0-19-4) and Andy Dulieu (4-0-21-2) as only Jeff Hutchinson (14) made double figures.

Tim Gillott (1.3-0-2-3) and Craig Dickson (1-0-2-1) polished off the tail as CSSC were bowled out for 45.

It is often said that lbw decisions are almost impossible to achieve in the midweek league, but in one match four of the 16 wickets fell that way - which is possibly a league record.

Top played bottom when Post Office Milan 2nds welcomed Novartis 2nds to Barretts, with the visitors battling first.

A superb opening spell from Andy Currie (4-0-10-4) had Novartis struggling on 33 for five after eight overs.

Martin Robinson (20) and Short (10) led a fightback until they were both dismissed by Ian Bontoft (4-0-21-4) while an unbeaten 10th-wicket stand of 28 between Chris Deans (18 not out) and John Fields (11 not out) gave Novartis a total of 90 for nine from 16 overs.

The Posties lost their first wicket in the fourth over when Deans (4-0-30-2) had Glyn Benbow (14) caught on the boundary by Fields.

Fellow opener Nathan Stannard (37) held the innings together with good support from Gwyn Frendenberg (eight) and Ian Johnstone (14), whose last bat was back in 1997.

The three aforementioned batsmen all fell to Fields (3.5-0-16-3) leaving PO Milan needing five off the last over, and with a beautifully struck drive for four from Paul Cape-Melbourne (six not out) they clinched their four-wicket victory with one ball to spare.

One Medical 2nds made a decent start through their openers Swift (24) and Moore (12) in their game with Crows Nest 2nds.

An unbeaten 37 from Hawkins gave One Medical a total of 113 for five from 16 overs, while A Hotchin (4-0-43-2) picked up two wickets for the home side.

Crows' opener N Gray set off at a cracking pace, blasting 55 before succumbing to Cant (3.2-0-15-1) Tom Brierley (19 not out) and Richie Hopkins (14 not out) sealed the Crows Nest nine-wicket win in the penultimate over.

3Q wrapped up the division seven championship when their game with closest rivals Healing RBL was rained off.

Grimsby Institute won their second successive game after a fine bowling display held Whitgift to 42 for five off 16 overs.

Richard Braithwaite (10) top-scored for the home team, while fellow opener Grest made nine before falling to Salesh (4-0-8-1).

Two parsimonious spells from change bowlers Pete O'Connor (4-1-4-2) and Ian Barnsley (4-2-6-1) kept the shackles on the Whitgift batsmen.

The Institute lost three wickets, two to Grest (3-0-12-2) before Satesh (31 not out) saw them home to a seven-wicket victory in the seventh over.

Clee Academy 2nds bowled Huntsman Hotspurs out for 76 inside 19 overs, as Hornby took three for 17 off five overs.

Fellow new-ball bowler Knapton (5-1-15-2) had Kevin Tilby caught for 20, while Robinson (4-0-23-3) accounted for Nicholson (22) and Greenhough (4.2-0-15-2) took the last wicket, with Matt Cooley stranded on 20 not out.

The Cleethorpes innings was built around an unbeaten 50 from Markham, and they notched their seven-wicket win at the end of the 15th over.