The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Downbeat skipper Rob Ambrose admits that Spalding Town now only have a “50/50” chance of winning the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division ahead of their season finale on Saturday.
Town watched on as rain sabotaged their top-of-the-tale clash with Sleaford 2nd last Saturday, handing their rivals the title initiative.
Spalding had been going well, with Hafiz Majeed (80) and Dan Milgate (57 not out) firing them to 197-7 from their 45 overs before torrential rain caused the game to be abandoned.
“It was absolutely typical,” bemoaned Ambrose. “That was the only result we didn’t want.
“I’d rather have played the game and lost, at least we’d know definitively what is going on.
“We tried to get them (Sleaford 2nd) to make it a limited overs match with rain forecast, but they weren’t having it.
“Still, we batted well and we’d have fancied defending that. But as soon as the rain came, that was that.
“It’s incredibly frustrating as we’ve now had four games rained off this season, but I suppose it has evened things out and made the league more exciting.”
That washout leaves Town 29 points clear at the top ahead of their final home match against Stamford at Spalding Grammar School this weekend (1pm).
Sleaford, however, have two games in hand, meaning Spalding have no choice but to go for a 20-point haul.
“We spent a lot of time looking at the table over the weekend,” added Ambrose. “Basically, it looks like they’ve got to lose one.
“As far as I can tell, they can even afford to have one rained off if they win the others.
“We need to go into the Stamford game and take maximum points. But whatever happens, we’re in the lap of the gods now.
“I’d say our chances are 50/50, which isn’t ideal. It’s our last game of the season on Saturday and we’ll walk off not knowing our fate.
“That’s put a bit of a downer on what has been a really good season for us. I’ve actually really enjoyed everything about this season, but we want to be back in the Lincs ECB Premier Division next year.
“We’ll have a good night out on Saturday night regardless, there’s nothing you can do when the rain comes in. If it comes again on Saturday, that’ll be us done for.”
Bowler Cameron Roy returns for the finale, with fellow seamer Jack Barratt the only absentee.
