Finally some Cheer for Spalding Town despite Jon’s century

A top team display helped steer Spalding Town to their first Lincs ECB Premier League success of the season on Saturday.

Town picked up the maximum 20 points on offer at Sleaford as they amassed 236-6, before bowling their hosts out for 193.

Having been put into bat, Spalding started pretty well with skipper Rob Ambrose making 42 and Warren Nel managing 40.

New Zealand ace Mark Joyce (35) and Luke Hollingworth (40) also chipped in with decent knocks, while Ben Smith (13), Tim Norris (15), Charlie Kearns (15no) and Jimmy Hook (18no) kept the score board ticking over nicely.

Sleaford opener Jonathan Cheer (115no) made a superb century as the hosts looked to knock the runs off, but he never really good any support. Indeed, only Tom Shorthouse (19), Andy Hibberd (15) and Shaun Morris (14) managed double figures.

That was largely down to excellent bowling from Town’s Nel (4-38) and Joyce (4-68), while Kearns (1-42) also snared a victim.

The win doesn’t move Spalding off the foot of the table, but they are now just six points behind nearest rivals Louth.

Lincs ECB Premier Division

Results: Louth 175 (Bandara 5-64), Woodhall Spa 176-3 (Luffman 85no); Market Deeping 204 (Kriek 61, T Andrews 50, Bansal 5-61), Grantham 119; Bourne 277-8 (Louth 151no, Morgan 60), Market Rasen 86 (Shillito 5-39); Lindum 207 (Robinson 51, Middleton 60), Skegness 155 (Peatman 6-45); Bracebridge Heath 67 (Charlton 6-31), Grimsby 70-4; Spalding 236-6, Sleaford 193 (Cheer 115).

South Lincs and Border League

Premier Division: Grantham 2nd 59, Belton Park 60-3; Woodhall Spa 2nd 105 (Elleray 6-19), Boston 107-2; Stamford Town 168 (Shelley 6-52), Sleaford 2nd 169-5 (Godby 78no); Lindum Ramblers 170-8 (Waller 53), Billingborough 122 (Brown 55, Wells 6-20); Spalding 2nd 205 (Hussain 95), Moulton Harrox 131-6; Bourne 2nd 154, Long Sutton 118;

Division One: Cavaliers 181-5, Skegness 2nd 185-4 (Brant 53no); Market Deeping 2nd 243-4 (Bainborough 109, Hyman 75no),  Lindum 3rd 216-7 (O Alford 76); Heckington 145-9, Long Sutton 2nd 135 (Wilson 6-22); Welby 55, Freiston 59-7 (Curran 5-14); Boston 2nd 224 (Poole 76, M Troops 56), Billingborough 2nd 68 (Deans 5-7).

Division Two: Burgh & District 66, Baston 68-2; Timberland 148 (Wright 61), Belton Park 2nd 149-7; Claypole 270-9 (Ragless 91, Sullivan 69), Grantham 4th 129 (Robinson 71); Graves Park 256-6 (Howsam 51, Hodgson 54), Spalding 3rd 211 (Butcher 82, De Camos 58, Ashton 5-44).