Century-maker Knapton helps Barton triumph on Alford visit

IN-FORM Barton Town captain John Knapton scored another century as his side won well at Alford & District in the Premier Division.

The opener hit 12 fours in his 106, while Gareth Mellors added a useful unbeaten 32 as Barton won with nine balls to spare.

Earlier, Alford had posted 232 for eight in their 50 overs, Wayne Garlick hitting 63, Andrew White 56 and Joe Irving 49.

Richard Dannatt (103) also hit a century for leaders Messingham, but his efforts proved to be in vain as Scunthorpe Town ran out winners by three wickets.

Meanwhile, second-placed Alkborough slipped to a four-wicket home defeat at the hands of mid-table Market Rasen.

Alkborough scored 178 for eight, Vaidik Kishan Raj scoring 61 and Steve Clay 46, as Matt Rutherford managed three for 54.

Rasen lost both openers cheaply in reply, but skipper Rutherford steadied things with an undefeated 55.

Cleethorpes 2nds – at the foot of the table – lost at home to Cherry Willingham, who are two places above the relegation zone.

Electing to bat first at Chichester Road, Cherry posted 221 for nine, Stuart Harvey taking three for 38 for the Meggies.

Cleethorpes' score of 192 all-out included 52 by John Mansfield and 34 from Ryan Harrison.

In Division One, Rich Griffin continued his fine all-round season as Holton-le-Clay won by six wickets when hosting Horncastle at Tetney Lane.

Phil Roberts scored 39 as the visitors made 142, as Griffin claimed four for 33 and spinner Danny Portus four for 37.

Holton-le-Clay were steered home by a good stand between Griffin (56 not out) and Paul Holmes (41 not out), Horncastle's Harry Smith taking three for 37.

Despite missing some regulars, leaders Broughton still proved too hot for Outcasts – winning by five wickets.

Half-centuries from Mick Bramley (64 not out) and Simon Taylor (57) were important as Scunthorpe side Appleby Frodingham 2nds kept on course for promotion with a five-wicket home win over Owmby at Brumby Hall.

Owmby posted 185 for six, including 40 not out from Charlie Anderton and an unbeaten 35 from veteran strokemaker Edwin Chappell.

After tea, Sam Atkin claimed three for 55 but Appleby Frodingham won with 14 balls to spare.

Scunthorpe Town 2nds suffered a very disappointing nine-wicket when they entertained lowly Scothern at Heslam Park.

Town negotiated all their 45 overs, but mustered only 154 for nine.

This was a surprise as they had been given a successful start by openers Neil Patrick (36) and Dylan Hopkins (39).

David Brown's 41 was the only innings of note to follow.

After tea, Pop Robson managed to dismiss one of the Scothern openers, but the very experienced Mark Conyors saw the visitors home with an undefeated 79, assisted by Peter Wright (44 not out).

In Division Two, a super century from Dan Mawer helped second-placed Grimsby Town 2nds defeat Cleethorpes 3rds at Augusta Street.

Mawer hit 19 fours in his 115, while openers John Maddock and Nigel Fanthorpe made 28 and 29 respectively in a total for 240 for five.

Scott Hilton claimed three for 44 for the Meggies, who went on to notch all five batting bonus points with a reply of 219 – thanks mainly to 55 from Reece Holberry and 33 by Ian Hallam.

Leaders Haxey 2nds hosted fourth-placed Keelby, and won by the wide margin of eight wickets.

Keelby were dismissed for 92, which included 48 from skipper Danny Bevis as Aaron Moody bagged four for 12, and Jon Stanser four for 32.

Haxey took a little over 21 overs to secure another 20-point maximum haul, Anthony Fleet scoring 26 and Stanser 24.

Third-in-the-table Alkborough 2nds won handsomely at Hibaldstow, whose yo-yo form continued.

Highlights of Alkborough's 186 for six were 41 not out from Grant Standerline and 34 by Neil Gray, as left-armer Gary Dixon took two for 22 from 14 miserly overs.

The seamer then showed form with the bat, making 23 down the order as Hibaldstow were dismissed for 77.

But as miserly bowlers go there are few who can top Alkborough's Rich Kirman, who grabbed five for 17 in 12.5 overs.

Paul Mitchell dismissed both Hibaldstow openers and later trapped a couple of tail-enders "leg before" to finish with four for 34.

It seemed reasonable to expect the runs to flow at Brigg Road, but Caistor Town 2nds failed to shine with the bat on their home turf, losing by eight wickets to Lincoln side Hartsholme 2nds.

Matt Travis scored 25 in Caistor's all-out 104, but despite Henry Gillott showing the cutting edge to dismiss both visiting openers, Hartsholme suffered no further loss in chasing down their target inside 32 overs.

In Division Three, a record team total for the section was posted by Outcasts 2nds when they entertained Grimsby side Laportes at the Hirst Priory ground, near Crowle.

The Isle of Axholme team rattled up 291 for seven in their 45 overs – the top all-time total in 50 years of the Lincolnshire League.

Laportes had only eight players, which made stemming the runs even more difficult.

But they stuck manfully to the task as Outcasts pressed home their advantage.

Star knock was 111 from Charlie Mason, with Russ Fletcher making 39 and skipper Jason Whiteley an unbeaten 25 at the end which helped achieve the record total in the final over.

Mick Barton, despite carrying an injury, was the pick of the Grimsby side's attack, sending down the maximum permitted 15 overs to take three for 67.

After tea, Laportes made a brave fist of things, scoring 179 which included 64 from opener Mick Hanson and a stylish and undefeated 55 from Gill Singh Palli.

Whiteley capped a good all-round day by polishing off the innings to return five for 38 on a road-like batting surface.

Much-improved South Kelsey journeyed to third-placed Barton Town 2nds, but suffered an 11-run defeat.

Town made 179 for seven, which featured 61 from Mike Wilkinson and an unbeaten 44 by Nathan Jones, as John Baty grabbed five for 51.

South Kelsey were bowled out with four overs still to go for 168, opener Rob Baty scoring 59, Rob Dennis 37 and Antony George 32.

Slow bowlers Lucas Waller and Andrew Tester both took three for 48 in 12 overs.

Market Rasen 2nds suffered a bit of a wobble as Luke Jelly starred for Old Lincolnians against them at Rase Park.

Dale Christie cracked 62 for Rasen, and Jon Stephenson 28, but they were dismissed for 137 in 39 overs, with Jelly taking four for 29.

The on-song all-rounder then moulded a match-winning 72 not out to see the visitors home with only two wickets down.

Divisional leaders Alford 2nds lost their unbeaten record during a 37-run defeat at Washingborough, who are second.

The home side's 203 for three left Alford with only a solitary bowling bonus point to show for 45 overs of toil in the field.

Opening batsman Paul Nickson – the seventh bowler to try his luck – returned two for 24.

Alford responded with 166 for six, Nickson leading the way with 51 and Dean Jacklin making 38.

In Division Four, Cleethorpes 4ths, who had not been having a very successful season, secured a nail-biting four-run win on their visit to Old Lincolnians 2nds – sending the city side into the re-election zone below the Meggies.

Put in to bat, the Meggies were dismissed for 121, but managed to bowl out their hosts for 117, opener Simon Taylor taking the eye with three for 29 from 13 overs.

Dean Cressey and Jack Tutass managed a couple of wickets apiece to assist the cause.

Fourth-placed Normanby Park won well at home to promotion-chasing Morton, from Gainsborough.

The Scunthorpe team got away to a very good start through openers Jack Cowling (73) and Alex Czabaniuk (33) but the next best was only 12 in a final effort of 154 for nine.

Cowling then opened the bowling and claimed three for 27 as the visitors were dismissed for 113 in the 32nd over.

Two centuries were posted for Scunthorpe Town 2nds as the Steelmen booked a place in the Bob Welton Cup final with an emphatic win against Scothern 2nds on Sunday.

Jake Smith (127) and Ben Ibrahim (103 not out) helped Town rattle up a daunting 281 for three in their 45 overs.

Scothern were then dismissed for 74 in the 23rd over.

Alkborough 2nds won the other semi-final against fellow Division Two team Cherry Willingham 2nds.

Visiting West Halton Lane, Cherry were dismissed for 89 – three experienced bowlers doing the bulk of the damage, Paul Mitchell taking two for seven, Steve Kirman two for eight and Rich Kirman two for 11.

Another seasoned campaigner, Dave Kilgallon, then made a valuable 34 to help see Alkborough home to victory.