Nel boost as Spalding Town CC prepare for life in lower division

Cricket swings and seams back into action this weekend with a new league season.

For Spalding Town 1st, it means starting life back in South Lincs and Border League Premier Division after relegation from the Lincs ECB Premier League.

Captain Robert Ambrose said: “It might do us some good in the South Lincs league.
“We want to get back to bonding and enjoying our cricket because there wasn’t a great deal of that last year.
“We started last season a little bit short and the first five or six games killed us – we never got going.”

Ambrose has managed to keep hold of the majority of the squad, including star all-rounder Warren Nel. But there was a blow this week with news that pace bowler Charlie Kearns, who is now living in Doncaster, has decided to play in that area.
Other departures are Henry Charlton (Burghley Park) and Paddy Harrington (Market Deeping).

Ambrose said: “We’ve got eight or nine players who will play each week and then it will be a matter of one or two from the 2nds and the young lads stepping up and playing a bit.
“The academy is building up nicely now.”
He added: “If everyone puts the commitment and effort in we’ll be fine, but we can’t just rock up each week and expect to win.”

Ambrose is keen to see how his side performs in the curtain-raiser against Bourne 2nd at Abbey Lawn on Saturday.

Fixtures (1pm start): Premier Division – Billingborough v Belton Park; Boston 2nd v Grantham 2nd; Bourne 2nd v Spalding; Stamford Town v Woodhall Spa 2nd. Division One – Skegness 2nd v Grantham 3rd. Division Two – Long Sutton 2nd v Spalding 3rd.