Spalding Town and Bourne 2nds both win in South Lincs and Border League Premier Division
Another chapter in the long-standing tussle between Spalding Town and Bourne 2nd at the top of the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division was written at the weekend.
Both secured big points wins to set up a mouthwatering fixture between the two at Spalding Grammar School on Saturday (1pm).
Bourne go into the clash in pole position after picking up 19 points from an 18-run win over Billingborough at Abbey Lawn last Saturday.
Batting at five, veteran David Christmas made a nice 61, including five fours, and Richard Hewitt was run out on 37 as Bourne posted 191/8.
Christmas then took three wickets in six overs but it was Adam Hilless who had the best figures of 4 for 29 off 12 overs.
Billingborough were 173 all out in 44 overs.
Spalding Town won by 89 runs at Boston 2nd, with Josh Newton hitting a half century and Jack Barratt taking 5 for 35.
Boston put Spalding into bat and perhaps would not have been too upset with 184/9. Damian Lawson’s outstanding 6 for 31 in nine overs included three maidens.
Almost as good was Barratt who caught and bowled Lawson (4) and knocked over fellow opener Ben Troops’ stumps.
Nobody made more than 20 as Boston struggled to 95 all out.
Meanwhile, Long Sutton 1st did the top two a favour by denting Woodhall Spa 2nd’s hopes of overhauling them.
It was a brilliant day for Sutton all-rounder captain Dan Oldfield, who did much of the damage with the ball with a fine 5 for 49 off 11 overs. Until then his decision to field at Jubilee Park had proved a dicey one as Woodhall edged towards a total of 203/8.
But with the bat number three Oldfield made an unbeaten 77, supported well by Rav Sangha (45). Sutton made 204 for 6, reaching the target with four balls to spare.
In Division One, Moulton Harrox made light work of Welby Cavaliers. They took 20 points with an eight-wicket victory.
Welby won the toss and elected to bat but it was a shortlived innings and they had made just 87 by the time they were sent packing in the 32nd over.
Moulton cruised past the target with the loss of just two wickets.
Down in Division Two, Long Sutton 2nd remain without a win this season.
Their 12th match without success came at home to title hopefuls Newborough, who were always likely to surpass the target of 102, although the loss of seven wickets was perhaps too close for comfort.
Sutton’s top scorer was number five Daniel Plant (29) and opener Jeremy Smith (20) and Ed Munson 18 chipped in too.
Newborough knocked off the required runs inside 23 overs. Steven Milnes and Andy Shaw picked up a couple of wickets each.
Premier Division P W L Pts
Bourne 2nd 16 11 2 247
Spalding 1st 16 11 2 244
Skegness 1st 15 9 4 211
Woodhall Spa 2nd 17 8 5 211
Freiston L&L 1st 15 8 4 194
Boston 2nd 15 5 8 166
Long Sutton 1st 15 6 6 165
Belton Park 1st 17 4 8 153
Grantham 2nd 16 4 8 153
Sleaford 2nd 16 3 9 144
Billingborough 15 2 9 115
Graves Park 15 3 9 112
Division One P W L Pts
Market Deeping 2nd 14 8 1 214
Moulton Harrox 1st 12 8 1 184
Stamford Town 12 7 3 176
Heckington 14 5 5 143
Spalding 2nd 11 4 3 130
Welby Cavaliers 13 4 6 130
Pinchbeck 12 4 6 118
Boston 3rd 14 1 6 95
Baston 11 2 7 80
Claypole 11 1 6 73
Division Two P W L Pts
Grantham 3rd 15 8 1 222
Newborough 14 8 1 213
Skegness 2nd 14 4 4 163
Billingborough 2nd 13 5 5 155
Spalding 3rd 13 2 6 105
Uffington 14 3 4 100
Belton Park 2nd 12 3 6 96
Freiston L&L 2nd 12 5 3 94
Sleaford 3rd 13 3 4 84
Long Sutton 2nd 12 0 7 82