HOLTON-LE-CLAY'S Ian Bellamy again demonstrated his all-round talents in a 46-run victory at Scothern in division one of the Lincolnshire County Cricket League.

Fresh from taking a hat-trick in the Grimsby Midweek League's Ibwest Cup final at Cleethorpes, Bellamy, pictured, scored 88 not out and took four for 31 in Saturday's league triumph.

Holton's 180 for four also featured 41 from opener Paul Holmes, as Calum Pearse took two for 35.

Nathan Pearse (27), Peter Wright (35) and Richard Johnson (34) then gave Scothern a decent start, but no one outside the top three could make double-figures as they were dismissed for 134 in the 39th over.

Holton's Danny Portus took three for 28 and Dave Taylor held three catches in the field.

Elsewhere in division one, Nettleham 2nds turned the form book upside down with a four-wicket home win over promotion hopefuls Broughton at Mulsanne Park – lifting themselves off the foot of the table.

Broughton were invited to bat first but only compiled a modest 160 for seven in the permitted 45 overs, opener Neil Simpson scoring 56, Sean Clixby 32 and Paul Reed 23, as Ben Connor took three for 36.

Nettleham's top four made 40 runs between them before being dismissed to leave the game interestingly poised.

However, numbers five and six, Ash Graham and Simon Grocott, made 52 and 50 respectively, as Nettleham went on to record only their third triumph of the season, with six overs in hand.

The wickets claimed by Broughton were shared equally between Paul Clark, Paul Reed and Pete Taylor.

An outstanding display of batting from Andy Lawson and a brilliant run-out by Oliver Coulman saw fourth-placed Outcasts gain what in the end was a comfortable 51-run home victory against bottom side Cleethorpes 3rds, but it wasn't as straight forward as it seems.

Lawson hit 73 from 52 deliveries, including five mighty sixes, just when Outcasts needed an injection to the run rate.

Coulman's direct hit of the stumps when Cleethorpes were looking set to challenge the Outcasts total of 208 all-out also came at the right time and heralded a collapse that eventually saw the Isle of Axholme villagers ease to victory, the Meggies dismissed for 157.

For Cleethorpes, Lewis Markham managed three for 69 and Stuart Harvey three for 49, Ben Marris held three catches and opener Will Abe top scored with 36.

Leaders Cherry Willingham were frustrated by the after-effects of heavy overnight rain, which washed out their scheduled home game with Louth 2nds.

In the premier division, Haxey visited second-placed Barton Town and caused the title-chasers many anxious moments before Town inched home by two wickets.

Barton were helped to their very important win by an excellent all-round performance from acting captain Paul Bell, who has taken over the reins from the sidelined Gareth Mellors in recent weeks.

Put in to bat, Haxey found it difficult to force the pace and built their 168 for nine, in 50 overs, around a watchful 54 from Nic Bisby and useful middle-order efforts by Jon Stanser (22), Isuru Gunasena (20) and Tom Scott (32).

Bell toiled through 25 overs to return the impressive figures of five for 51 – Will Yates and Marc Foster both chipping in with a couple of wickets.

Keeper Ian Andrew played his part with three catches and a stumping, despite being hampered by an injury.

Faced with an impressive spell of seam bowling from Gunasena, Barton made a disastrous start, slumping to 13 for three, which included the loss of usually prolific Aussie opener Simon McInerney for a duck.

However, Town's efforts were revived by a good stand between Chris Kipling (47) and Gary Bell (40).

Paul Bell then contributed a good knock of 53, only to fall victim to a well-judged catch in the deep by Tom Wraith – looking into the setting sun.

Further wickets fell and appeared to have put Haxey back in the driving seat. However, all-rounder Will Yates, batting low down at nine, saw Barton home with a sensible, unbeaten 18.

Gunasena finished with three for 29, but the best Haxey figures came from skipper Mark Atkins, whose 14 overs of miserly off-spin brought him four for 29.

A fine innings and a fine spell of bowling helped ensure leaders Messingham won by six wickets away to Alkborough, who are now fifth.

Alkborough – renowned for their batting prowess, especially at West Halton Lane – were dismissed for 178, John Knapton remaining undefeated on 65, as Andy Langford bagged seven for 69.

Left-hander Ian Dawson then contributed 77 as Messingham moved another step closer to securing the coveted championship pennant to add to their collection at Northfield Road HQ.

Bracebridge Heath 2nds slipped back into the relegation mire after suffering a disappointing defeat at Horncastle, who started the day in third-from-bottom spot.

Horncastle's 239 for eight featured decent contributions from skipper Richard Dixon (54), Nick Paige (48) and Mick Devereux (38).

There were two wickets apiece for Andy McDowall, Paul Fletcher, James Wright and Matthew Knights.

Bracebridge never recovered from being 16 for three, being bowled out for 129 in 39 overs, Andy McDowall scoring 28 and Wright 25.

Pubs Chandrasakara took three for 32, Richard Hickling three for 37 and there were two wickets for experienced all-rounder Devereux, who dismissed both the openers.

Scunthorpe Town lifted themselves out of the bottom two with a tonic home win over South Kelsey.

Town's all-out 184 at Heslam Park included 62 from Ramesh Chand, 44 by Ian Snowden and 24 from Simon Kiddle.

The spinners were in the wickets for Kelsey, captain Lol Waghorn managing three for 27 and Chandi Wathukarage three for 52.

Kelsey's response started badly, got worse and at one stage they were tottering on 20 for six. However, the lower order helped lift the score to 94 before the final wicket fell in the 35th over, Connor Hawkins scoring 25.

Seamer Ben Brumby ran through the top and bottom of the order to finish with a highly impressive five for 17 in nine overs.

Opening partner Chand managed three for 24, while Del Crabb chipped in with three catches behind the stumps.

Messingham 2nds' once very healthy lead at the top of division two is now down to only two points after they suffered an eight-wicket reverse at home to third-placed Grimsby Town 2nds.

Matt Lawson made 46 in the villagers' all-out 131, as Michael Brown bagged five for 16.

Experienced batsmen Andy Hardy and Nigel Fanthorpe then made 44 apiece as Town won comfortably and bagged the maximum 20 points on offer – leaving them just five behind Messingham.

Market Rasen, now a very close second in the table, were expected to win when they visited lowly Haxey 2nds – but the margin was only three wickets and Rasen failed to bag a maximum return.

Haxey's 133 for nine featured 37 from Graham Skelton, as Simon Bunn again bowled impressively, taking five for 54.

Darren Salmon made 40 as Rasen got over the line, despite the efforts of Aaron Moody (four for 29).

Owmby's very poor run continued when they lost at home to fellow strugglers Cleethorpes 4ths, for whom veteran opener Bob Leafe, once of Lincolnshire's Minor Counties side, held the innings together.

His patient 42 was the only effort above 20 in the Meggies' 152 for eight, as two wickets apiece were taken by Joe Atkin, Ian Sheriff, Andy Simpkins and Ciaron Deegan (who also held three catches).

Owmby were pegged back to 124 for nine (Sam Atkin 50 in the middle-order) as Owen King took three for 21 to make early inroads and Sam Would three for 24 at the end of the innings.

A good all-round display by Caistor 2nds was sufficient to secure full points from their home game with Alkborough 2nds, and keep them in the promotion picture.

Alkborough were dismissed for 79 at Brigg Road, opener Neil Gray playing another of his patient knocks before being the eighth man out, having made 25.

Paul Rendell (four for 18) and Paul Jackson (three for 25) did the bulk of the damage, leaving their batsmen with a moderate task.

Only three perished as Caistor won inside 22 overs, opener James Wright finishing 30 not out and Andy Holmes making 21.

Outcasts 2nds – bottom of the table – were involved in another close encounter, only to lose by 11 runs away to mid-table Hartsholme 2nds.

The Lincoln side elected to bat and were dismissed for 165 from the final delivery of the final over, Nick Wilkinson leading the way with 67 and Nick Saunders finishing unbeaten on 35.

Brett Smith bowled well for the visitors, grabbing four for 41.

Outcasts responded with 155 for nine, Charlie Mason top scoring with 31 in the middle-order, as Alastair Damen-Willems returned four for 31 in 14 overs.

Division three leaders Keelby hosted fellow promotion-chasers Hibaldstow and inflicted a six-wicket defeat on the visitors, who came into this match having smashed two records the previous week in a crushing defeat of Cherry Willingham 2nds.

The game of cricket is a great leveller, and Andy Smith's penetrative haul of six for 34 was the main reason for Hibaldstow's batting being brought back down to earth with an all-out 123.

Jerry Thomas made a decent 36 and Jon Taylor 22.

Keelby sensibly took few chances after tea, using up the best part of 33 overs to reach their modest target, Andy Bagnall leading the way with 43.

Josh Cowling took two for 25 for Hibaldstow, who returned home along the A18 with only two bonus points to show from the match.

Having totalled only 28 the previous week, second-from-bottom Cherry Willingham 2nds did better with the bat this week but 98 all-out still saw them lose by three wickets at Immingham Blossom Way, for whom Scott Hilton took five for 24.

Only just clear of the relegation zone, Broughton 2nds suffered a five-wicket reverse at home to mid-table Barton Town 2nds.

Top score in Broughton's 155 for eight was all-rounder Shaun Clark's 54.

Jeremy Evans and Reg Coen helped see Barton to victory but were both injured while batting, sustaining a damaged finger and a cut face respectively, and having to retire hurt.

One game fell foul of the weather, Holton-le-Clay 2nds, the bottom side, being forced to cancel their home clash with Washingborough.

It was billed as the Battle of the Wooden Spoon at Hibaldstow, where Scunthorpe Town 3rds hosted Brigg Town – the only team below them in division four.

But the expected close game did not materialise as Brigg won by the wide margin of 100 runs.

The visitors decided to bat first and must have been wondering about the tactic when experienced openers Gary Smith and Jack Richards both went cheaply.

However, Matthew Bell (78) and Liam McIntyre (64) shared a match-winning third-wicket stand of 145 in an impressive total of 194 for eight.

Scunthorpe batted disappointingly to be bowled out for 94 in the 39th over, with the exception of all-rounder Sami Ahmed who contributed a praiseworthy, unbeaten 62.

There was a notable bowling performance from each side – Scunthorpe's James Fussey taking six for 43 and Brigg's Rich Lancaster five for seven in 10.2 overs.

This was only Brigg's second win of the campaign and they are now only five points behind Town 3rds, with a game in hand. However, both sides have a mountain to climb if they are to pull clear of the re-election zone.

Chris Needham was in fine all-round form for Morton but finished on the losing side at Alford 2nds.

He took four for 30 and then scored an unbeaten 62.

Alford were bowled out for 149, Kev White making 26 and Jordan Dixon 25; the Gainsborough visitors responded with 121 –13 being the next best effort after Needham's half-century.

Experienced all-rounder White added bowling figures for three for 31 to his earlier good work with the bat for Alford, while Mike Honman managed three for 23.

This win moved Alford up to third spot in the table.

Three potentially interesting games involving teams near the top were all bad weather casualties.

Second-placed Old Lincolnians were due to visit Market Rasen 2nds, fourth-ranked Caistor Town 3rds faced a trip to Hykeham 2nds, while leaders South Kelsey 2nds planned to host Keelby 2nds.

In the East Yorks Alliance, Brigg Town 2nds conceded their scheduled away game at Humberside Police in division three, while East Halton were without a fixture in division two.