Outcasts collect title after thrilling finish to season

HAXEY 2nds' 44-run defeat away to lowly Cherry Willingham 2nds on the final Saturday of the season cost them the championship.

The trophy and coveted clubhouse pennant go, instead, to fellow Isle of Axholme side Outcasts 2nds.

These village teams spent the whole season in direct competition – proving too strong for division three, and both now deservedly gain spots in higher grade cricket for 2010.

Haxey's loss on Saturday ended a thrilling finish which saw Outcasts collect the title by just two points.

Haxey started pretty well, securing five bowling bonus points by dismissing the Cherrymen for 137 – Paul Johnson taking five for 30.

But the visitors fell foul of Matt Spikings after tea – the spinner bagging seven for 22 in 16 overs to dismiss Gary Mann's men for 93.

Barton Town 2nds skipper Jeremy Evans, who has enjoyed another fine season with the bat, scored a superb unbeaten 93 as his third-placed team ended their campaign with a handsome home victory over Keelby 2nds, already destined to return to the basement section.

In division two, congratulations go to Lee Freeman's Louth 2nds – already declared champions – whose victory in their final match saw them complete a second successive season unbeaten.

Saturday saw Louth notch a quick win by seven wickets at Market Rasen.

Anuj Mankar and Rakesh Chandair-Nair took the eye for Owmby (fifth), who ended their summer with a handsome home win over third-placed Caistor 2nds.

Opener Rakesh cracked 90 and Anuj 34 in the middle-order as Owmby totalled a useful 228 for seven.

All-rounder Anuj then bagged six for 39 as Dan Healy's visitors were dismissed for 139 in reply.

Sixth-placed Messingham 2nds were unable to raise a side to visit Hartsholme 2nds (eighth) and have been deducted five points by the league, with Ash Boothright's Lincoln lads awarded 15.

In the Premier Division, there were only minor rankings to be decided on the final Saturday of the season.

Bracebridge Heath 2nds won at home to fifth-placed Horncastle by three wickets, while second-from-bottom Alford secured a 96-run triumph when hosting Barton Town.

That means Bracebridge finish seventh with Barton eighth, or third-from-bottom.

The margin of Alford's home win over Barton was a shade surprising, in view of the single place separating the sides in the table.

Wayne Garlick (68) and Tom Stocks (65) were the mainstays of Alford's all-out 233, as Will Yates managed three for 32.

Mike Wilkinson then hit 58 in Barton's 137, as Daryl Crow helped himself to six for 47.