A visit to Abbey Lawn could see Bracebridge Heath take their fifth Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League title in succession as they take on a Bourne side whose inconsistent batting has been the main feature of their season.

Second placed Grimsby travel down the A46 to Nettleham knowing that an outright win would virtually guarantee them the runners-up slot. However, Lindum are still in contention and will be looking for maximum points at home to Louth in anticipation of their final match at Grimsby the following week.

At the bottom of the table, Boston – who now have only the slimmest chance of avoiding relegation - are away at Woodhall Spa while above them Caistor, who occupy the other relegation slot, take on Market Deeping at Brigg Road. The Deeping side was boosted by last week’s 20-point win and, with David Gillett currently topping the batting averages, could prove tough opponents for Caistor.

Bracebridge captain Mark Fell heads the individual runs total with more than 800 runs to his credit while five other players, including Caistor’s Marc Watkins, have topped the 700 mark.

Lindum team-mates Matt Rutherford and Josh Brodie are at the top of the list in contention for the number of wickets taken with 37 and 36 respectively. And Messingham’s Jason Scheepers leads the table for wicket-keeping dismissals with 30 to his name, while Woodhall’s Tom Luffman is second on 26.

Messingham’s match against Sleaford is being re-arranged following an early start to work on re-laying the pitch at the Northfield Road ground.

Bracebridge and Nettleham will be in action again when they contest the Bews Brown Cup in the final to be held at Sleaford on Sunday 9, beginning at 12 noon. Spectators are welcome.

For weekend of September 1 and 2

With three weeks to go to the end of the season, the bottom two clubs in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League, Boston and Caistor, meet in a crucial match that could decide relegation from the league.

With inspections of the feeder league clubs seeking promotion currently taking place, should only one team be admitted to the league, then the bottom club would go out and Boston will be seeking the victory over Caistor at the Mayflower Ground that could move them closer to avoiding this fate.

At the other end of the table, Bracebridge Heath entertain Sleaford who will be looking to improve on last week’s poor batting performance and pick up points that will move them up from their current fifth place.

Second placed Grimsby know that victory over Woodhall Spa at Augusta Street would open up a gap above the chasing pack but with their visitors enjoying a good run, this could be one of the tightest matches of the weekend.

Lindum’s third position could be under threat from Bourne who are away at Market Deeping in the south of the county derby. Both sides have had an inconsistent season with the bat and Deeping, lying ninth, are still not out of danger of slipping into the relegation zone.

Just above – and within reach of - Deeping, are Louth and Nettleham who meet at Owmby. Both sides are on good batting form and should provide an entertaining match.

For weekend of August 25, 26 and 27

This weekend’s match of the day in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League should be at Sleaford where the visitors are Lindum, currently lying third, one above their opponents. Sleaford have been on good batting form recently with a strong top order, while Lindum’s batting has slipped but their talent for bowling out opponents cheaply has kept them high in the table.

Victory for either team would put the pressure on second placed Grimsby who travel the short distance to Caistor where the home side are still in the relegation zone despite recent good results.

Below Caistor are Boston who are away to a Bourne side whose erratic performances have seen them fall to fifth place. Boston will be looking to pick up as many points as possible in advance of the following week’s crucial fixture against Caistor which could decide the bottom of the table places.

Just above these two are Nettleham and Messingham who meet at Mulsanne Park knowing that neither are out of danger of relegation but also that a victory would threaten Louth who are eighth.

Louth take on fellow league newcomers Woodhall Spa at Jubilee Park and with both sides enjoying a good run, this could be another tight game.

At the top of the table, Bracebridge Heath now look set to take their fifth championship, particularly if they can overcome the challenge of visitors Market Deeping, another team whose performances have been inconsistent.

Messingham are in action again on Monday when they entertain Lindum in a match re-arranged from September 1 while Sunday brings the two Bews Brown Cup semi-finals.

Non-ECB League Skegness have battled their way through to a tie against Nettleham at Mulsanne Park having beaten Woodhall Spa and Hartsholme along the way, while the home side had victories over Caistor and Messingham.

The second semi-final is at Cross O’Cliff Court where Bracebridge Heath take on Yorkshire League side Cleethorpes. The final takes place on September 9 at Sleaford.

Under-11s cricket

Four Area Development Groups entered teams in the Lincolnshire Cricket Board under-11s hardball competition with Lincoln ADG coming out on top after going through the tournament undefeated. Lincoln ADG ran a pilot scheme through the winter with coaching sessions for nominated 10 year olds and this squad was entered in the competition which was held at Lindum CC.

Boston and East Lindsey came second and boasted the tournament’s top scoring batsman in David Richardson, while four bowlers each took three wickets – Harry Capstick and Iain Dunn, both from North East Lincs, Oliver Alford (Lincoln) and Freddie Jackson (Boston).

Co-ordinator Harry Pougher explained that, as well as providing an enjoyable day’s cricket for the boys, the competition brought additional benefits. He said: “It encourages the better 10-year-olds to play hardball cricket and helps the ADGs to identify a nucleus of players for their under-12s winter coaching programme. The Lincoln ADG coaching scheme has been a huge success and hopefully all areas will adopt it.”

For weekend of August 18 and 19

Top plays bottom in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League when Bracebridge Heath travel to Boston.

With their season now at a crucial stage, Boston face a desperate fight to beat relegation and safeguard their place in the league while Bracebridge are well on the way to their fifth championship in succession.

Still challenging for the title are Grimsby and Lindum, the former at home to Bourne whose current poor batting form has seen them slip to fifth and who are likely to feel the backlash of Grimsby’s defeat last weekend – their first of the season.

Lindum have a Lincoln derby at St Giles Avenue against Nettleham, the visitors needing a run of good results over the final five weeks of the season to stay above the bottom two.

Messingham, who are also not yet out of danger in the bottom half of the table, entertain Woodhall Spa who suffered an uncharacteristic batting collapse last week against Lindum and will be looking to get back on track and retain their place in the top six.

Above, Messingham Market Deeping and Louth now look reasonably safe if they can continue bringing home the points, though Deeping are likely to face a tough game at home to Sleaford while at Owmby, Louth will meet a Caistor team on a high after recent good results.

For weekend of August 11 and 12

All eyes will be on Cross O’Cliff Court this weekend when Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League leaders Bracebridge Heath take on second placed Grimsby. Just three points, equating to 1.5%, separate the two sides and with six weeks of the season to go, this could be the match that decides the championship. Both sides have won four matches but where Bracebridge have lost one outright and drawn five, Grimsby are still undefeated, having drawn six. Grimsby have one more batting point than their opponents who in turn are one up in the bowling points and if both teams are at full strength this should be a close and entertaining match.

At the other end of the table, Boston travel to Market Deeping who have suffered two heavy defeats in the last fortnight. The bottom side will be looking to make it three and pick up sufficient points to keep them in touch with the teams above them. Caistor, who remain in the relegation zone, will have to fight hard to overcome a Messingham side who are now up to seventh after a good win last week and are likely to relish batting at Brigg Road.

Two in-form sides meet at Jubilee Park where Woodhall Spa, lying sixth, take on third placed Lindum. And between them in the table, Sleaford in fourth are home to Nettleham – who are still not clear of relegation danger – while fifth placed Bourne entertain Louth who appear to have overcome a lean spell and are putting in some good performances. These four teams are bunched together behind Grimsby while the gap between Louth - in ninth place - and Boston is not insurmountable.

From this weekend, all matches will start at 12 noon.

For weekend of August 4 and 5

Having welcomed back Kevin Evans last week, the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League will see another familiar face return to the county this weekend. Duncan Heath, who played for Market Rasen during their time in the top flight, has transferred from Wollaton in Nottinghamshire to play at Woodhall Spa and is set to make his debut against Nettleham at Mulsanne Park.

The weekend’s matches see six teams from the top half of the table play the six from the bottom half, with Louth facing the toughest fixture against leaders Bracebridge Heath. With a close-run draw and an outright win in their previous two matches enabling them to open the gap above the relegation zone, Louth will be looking to pick up as many points as possible in their first home match at Owmby since June 9.

They will also be watching the scores at Mulsanne Park, knowing that a win for Nettleham could mean yet another reversal of positions. Caistor’s hopes of moving away from the bottom two could also hinge on the Nettleham result as they travel slightly closer to Lincoln to take on Lindum whose talented young players have defied all the odds to hang on to third place.

At the bottom of the table, Kevin Evans and Boston skipper Richard Tomlin face their old club Sleaford at the Mayflower Ground where they will be seeking desperately needed points to keep alive hopes of avoiding relegation. Bourne, who are on equal points with Lindum, have been finding runs hard to come by. However, the Messingham pitch, scene of many high scores, may be more to their liking. And higher up the table, second placed Grimsby entertain Market Deeping who will be aiming to put in a better performance than last weekend when they lost heavily to Louth.

With six weeks of the season left, Bracebridge and Grimsby are beginning to pull away at the top of the table and both will be fighting for maximum points this weekend in preparation for their fixture at Cross O’Cliff Court the following Saturday.

For weekend of July 28-29

The Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League faces the prospect of another weather-disrupted weekend if grounds fail to dry out after last week’s deluge. However, with a reasonable forecast and most of the games taking place south of Lincoln, it is hoped that at least some play will get underway during the afternoon.

The only match north of the city is at Caistor where a relegation-affecting fixture takes place with Nettleham who have slipped into the bottom two.

In Lincoln itself, leaders Bracebridge Heath will take on Messingham, should the club’s desperate efforts to make the ground fit pay off. On two occasions this season, Sleaford have played when all other games have been called off and their match against Woodhall Spa could be the one in least danger. Sleaford are only a fraction of a percentage behind third placed Bourne who are at home to Lindum, the team just below Sleaford.

And though Grimsby are second and in touch with the leaders, their place could be threatened by any of the three teams below them. Grimsby travel to the Mayflower Ground to play bottom placed Boston who will make another attempt to welcome Kevin Evans back into the league after last weekend’s planned appearance by the former Sleaford skipper fell foul of the weather.

Market Deeping are also at home, entertaining Louth who will be looking to build on the return to form they showed at Grimsby two weeks ago and pick up points that will keep them above the relegation zone.

On Sunday, Messingham and Nettleham make another attempt to play their second round Bews Brown Cup fixture, while Skegness and Hartsholme, who were rained off last Saturday, will decide who goes through to the semi-final when they meet in this weekend’s Lincolnshire County Cricket League match.

For weekend of July 21-22

A familiar face is set to return to the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League with the transfer of ex-Nottinghamshire all-rounder Kevin Evans back into the county. The former Sleaford skipper, who moved to Barlaston CC in Staffordshire at the start of the 2007 season, is returning to play for Boston where he will join another ex-Sleaford team-mate Richard Tomlin, now captaining the Mayflower side.

Evans joins Boston at a time when the bottom-placed club has just celebrated its first outright victory of the season and he could come into selection options Saturday’s match against Louth at Owmby. This is a crucial match for both sides, with Louth lying only one above the relegation zone, while Nettleham are under even more pressure at home to Bourne, the Lincoln side now lying 11^th in the table while Bourne have moved up to third.

The match of the day is undoubtedly Grimsby versus Sleaford, second against fourth – Sleaford have become their opponents’ bogey team in recent years and Grimsby will be looking to break the spell and stay in touch with the top of the table.

Leaders Bracebridge Heath make the short journey across the city to Lindum and will be keen to play after being the only rained off match last weekend while their hosts will be looking to bounce back from last week’s defeat by Market Deeping. The latter are at Messingham for a game that traditionally produces high scores from both sides. And the visitors have added incentive to pick up points, having just made it into the top half of the table.

Woodhall Spa host Caistor who moved out of the relegation zone and up to eighth place in the table in a high scoring draw at Sleaford. However, Caistor know that defeat this week could push them back down again should the teams below them come good.

Saturday also sees another match in the Bews Brown Cup when non-Premier League sides Skegness and Hartsholme meet at Richmond Drive in a re-arranged game on a day that neither has a Lincolnshire League match. Hartsholme got through the first round by beating Louth while Skegness saw off Woodhall and the winner of this quarter-final will play either Messingham or Nettleham who play on Sunday July 29.

For weekend of June 23-24

Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League leaders Bracebridge Heath could find their top place under threat when they take on Bourne at Cross O’Cliff Court in what should be the match of the day. Following last weekend’s defeat by Sleaford, Bracebridge are now within reach of Grimsby and Bourne - both on 75 per cent - and victory for the southern side would blow the top of the league wide open.

Close behind these two are Lindum, who make the short trip up the A15 to Owmby to take on Louth, the home side needing points to keep them above the relegation zone. And breathing down’s Lindum’s neck following their victory over the leaders are Sleaford who entertain Messingham, a team that will relish the good batting track at London Road.

Grimsby know they need maximum points to stay in touch with the leaders when they take on Nettleham at Augusta Street. However, the visitors will field a side strengthened by the arrival of a fresh overseas player. Bangladeshi Rahman Ashique, who is 23, represented his country at the under-19 World Cup and has also played first-class cricket and Nettleham are hoping he will revive their fortunes.

Lower down the table, bottom team Boston face a number of their former players when they play host to Woodhall Spa who currently lie sixth. And Caistor make the journey to Market Deeping where they will need to be on top form against Deeping’s strong batting line-up.

Sunday sees an attempt to play two Bews Brown Cup matches that were lost to the weather over the May Bank Holiday. Cleethorpes take on Bourne at Chichester Road while Nettleham are away at Messingham.

For weekend of June 9-10

Following their heavy defeat by leaders Bracebridge Heath in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League, bottom placed Boston face another tough game when they entertain Bourne, who have slipped to fourth but will still pose a formidable challenge to the home side’s young team.

Second placed Grimsby play host to Caistor, who lie one above Boston and will go into this match with renewed confidence following their first victory of the season last weekend but will meet a Grimsby team fresh from a nine wicket win over Bourne and keen to keep up their challenge at the top of the table.

The match of the day could be at Lindum who lie third and take on fifth placed Sleaford, both sides enjoying an excellent run of results. The home side’s New Zealand import, Josh Brodie, who has scored almost 500 runs and taken 25 wickets in the league, will need to be on top form against a side that also has a useful overseas player in South African Warren Nel.

League newcomers Louth and Woodhall Spa face each other for the first time since winning promotion with Woodhall, who travel to Owmby, lying two places above their opponents in seventh.

Below Louth are Nettleham whose results have suffered since the loss of their overseas player and who will face another tough match against Messingham who have moved up to sixth in the table.

Market Deeping’s compact ground could mean some happy hunting for Bracebridge Heath’s batsmen, with skipper Mark Fell heading the list and lying just behind Brodie in the runs table. But Deeping have been steadily improving, following a poor start and will be out to gain as many points as possible from the leaders.

For weekend of June 2-3

Second plays fourth in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League as Bourne host Grimsby Town at Abbey Lawn, both sides keen to close the gap on leaders Bracebridge Heath who take on Boston at Cross O’Cliff Court. Grimsby will be hoping to turn out a full team after losing a number of players last week, while Bourne’s equally young side are growing in strength and confidence and will prove a real challenge for their northern opponents.

Boston’s aim will be to come away with as many points as possible against a strong Bracebridge team whose skipper Mark Fell is currently riding high in the runs table, having hit 373 so far this season, closely followed by Lindum’s Josh Brodie with 349. Brodie has also taken 16 wickets and Lindum, who moved up to third last week, will be hoping for another good performance from the Kiwi in their Lincoln derby against Nettleham at Mulsanne Park, where the home side have had a torrid run of results which has seen them slip down the table to ninth place.

Caistor, like Boston, are still looking for their first victory of the season and may fancy their chances at Brigg Road where they play Louth, who have had a disappointing couple of weeks and have dropped to equal eighth in the table.

Sharing this slot are Messingham, but the Scunthorpe side have seen a marked improvement in performance recently and will travel to Woodhall Spa with renewed confidence. However, their batsmen will need to be on good form to see off Australian bowler Robert Voss who has so far taken 19 wickets.

The match of the day should be at London Road where Sleaford are home to Market Deeping and with both sides on a winning streak, the competition for points will undoubtedly be hard fought. Bowlers Stephen Bradford, Nick Goacher and Richard Dannatt of Sleaford all feature in the top 20 for the season, as does Deeping’s Lee Peacock, while Sleaford’s Shaun Morris and opposite numbers David Gillett and John McDougall are neck and neck in the batting top 10.

For weekend of May 26-27-28

Louth face another big match this weekend, following their heavy defeat last weekend by Readers Lincs ECB Premier League leaders Bracebridge Heath.

Second placed Bourne take their talented young side to Owmby to meet the league newcomers who currently lie mid-table after five matches.

In joint third place are Woodhall Spa who are going from strength to strength in the top flight. This weekend they go to St Giles Avenue to take on Lindum another club that fields a side of very young but enthusiastic players who could give Woodhall a run for their money.

Bracebridge, who are still undefeated, travel to Grimsby who share third place and whose batting prowess has so far been nullified by an inability to bowl sides out, resulting in three drawn games so far this season.

Another side with a growing record of drawn games is Market Deeping who nevertheless are gradually climbing the table. Deeping’s hosts are Boston, another side that will be looking to recover from last weekend’s poor result.

At the bottom of the table, Caistor badly need points and will hope to take a full complement of first teamers to Messingham after losing a number to illness last Saturday.

And Nettleham will also be looking for a win but will find the going tough against a rejuvenated Sleaford who are putting together a run of good results that has taken them up to fifth in the table.

Monday sees three of the Bews Brown quarter-finals taking place – Boston have another home match against Bracebridge Heath, Messingham are home to Nettleham and Bourne travel to Cleethorpes. The fourth match, Skegness v Hartsholme, is being re-arranged.

For weekend of May 19-20

Fourth placed Louth take on Readers ECB Premier League leaders Bracebridge Heath at Cross O’Cliff Court on Saturday May 19 while second placed Bourne play host to Messingham. With skipper Mark Fell scoring runs freely at number one for his side and a strong Bracebridge bowling line-up headed by Jonathan Davies and Stuart Airey, Arran Brindle’s team will face their toughest test since joining the league.

Boston skipper Richard Tomlin returns to his old club when his side meets Sleaford at London Road while Caistor, who occupy bottom place below Boston are home to Lindum whose New Zealand import Josh Brodie should find the Brigg Road pitch to his liking.

Match of the day could be at Jubilee Park, where Woodhall Spa take on Nettleham, now back on track with a 20-pointer last Saturday and a victory in the Cockspur Cup last Sunday. Nettleham currently lie below Market Deeping whose guests are Grimsby. Deeping are showing an improvement in form, while Grimsby will be looking for points after being rained off last weekend

For weekend of May 12-13

The bottom of the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League table is the focus of attention as the league goes into the fourth week of the season.

Caistor travel to Mulsanne Park for the second time in a week and, with the return of skipper Kris Adams to strengthen the side, will be looking to overturn the result of last Sunday’s Bews Brown Cup match, which Nettleham won convincingly. Nettleham lie just one point above their visitors at the bottom of the table but Caistor could feel the backlash of the hosts’ disastrous defeat at Bourne last Saturday.

At the other end of the scale, leaders Bracebridge Heath — who have already made two 300-plus totals this season — travel to Messingham, traditionally the scene of high scores and sure to be an inviting track for Mark Fell’s men.

Bourne are now second in the table and this weekend travel to Lindum, who suffered at the hands of the top team last week and consequently slid several places down the table.

Jubilee Park could host a close match when Woodhall Spa, currently equal second, take on Sleaford, whose fortunes have taken a turn for the better since their early season poor showing.

And the Todmoor ground at Owmby is also likely to see a tight game when Louth entertain Market Deeping whose confidence will be high following a high scoring victory the previous week. However, Louth will welcome back captain Arran Brindle and a number of other key players who missed last Saturday’s match so will be formidable opponents for the south county side.

In the final match, Grimsby, currently fourth, are at home to Boston who have been giving a better account of the themselves this year and will be looking to take home enough points to keep them out of the bottom two. Grimsby hold fourth place but are only two points off second place.

For weekend of May 5-6-7

Last year’s league winners and runners-up battle it out in the third week of Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League. Bracebridge Heath and Lindum meet at Cross O’Cliff Court with the 2006 positions currently reversed, Lindum leading the pack with their opponents second. Lindum were the only team to beat Bracebridge outright last year, but with only two points separating the sides and Bracebridge boasting a devastating bowling line-up, the St Giles outfit will need to be on top form to retain their lead.

Third placed Grimsby are away at Sleaford, both teams having been on the winning side in close finishes last weekend and Louth travel to Boston who have a much stronger line-up for 2007. But they will meet a side keen to keep their early position in the top half of the table.

Market Deeping and Messingham traditionally fight out tight games, so Outgang Road could see the runs flowing while Bourne will want to put last Saturday’s below par display behind them when they entertain Nettleham at Abbey Lawn.

Caistor face the other league newcomers, Woodhall Spa at Brigg Road and will then take on Nettleham on Sunday when the remaining Bews Brown Cup first round fixtures take place with eight teams vying to join Bracebridge Heath, Messingham, Skegness and Bourne in the quarter-finals.

Also on Sunday, Grimsby have a local derby against Cleethorpes and non-league Alkborough will have the chance to try their strength against Boston. And on Monday Louth are away to former Lincolnshire County Cricket League rivals Hartsholme.

For weekend of April 21-22

Lincolnshire cricket scores a national first as the new cricket season gets under way – a female captain in its premier league.

England player Arran Brindle takes the helm at Louth, newly promoted to the Readers Lincs ECB Premier League and with the additional signing of Clare Connor, the county could see two England players turning out in the top flight. Arran described the invitation to skipper Louth as “a massive honour” nd added: “This group of guys have asked me to lead them into the unknown, to help them face the huge challenge of moving into the premier league. I played a couple of games in this league two years ago and the difference at this level is that the standard gets better right through the team, you don’t just get two or three players who perform, everyone plays better cricket for a much larger part of each match. We are training hard, putting everyone through their paces and the best thing is that it’s extending right through the club, even the 3rds and the Sunday side are keen.” Louth have also secured the services of Nuwan Shiroman, the Sri Lankan all-rounder who helped Lindum CC finish runners-up in the league last season.

A full complement of 12 teams will set off on the pursuit of the Premier League championship.

In addition to the promotion of Louth, last year’s 10 members have also been joined by Woodhall Spa, champions of the South Lincolnshire and Border League. Woodhall are preparing for the challenge of Premier League cricket by bringing over Australian Robert Voss and have also signed Ricky Lovelace from Boston.

But Boston are unlikely to be too concerned, having pulled off the transfer of Sleaford opening bat Richard Tomlin who will take the helm at his new club with the aim of pulling them up from last season’s bottom position. Boston also have two Australians arriving, District player Daniel Milgate and Liam Aggett who plays under the league’s under-18 ruling.

Caistor, who finished in the bottom two in 2006 are also looking to climb the table with the appointment of the league’s 2006 leading wicket-taker Kristian Adams as captain. Adams has moved from Grimsby and Caistor, who have again signed an Australian as their overseas player and are also hoping that South African Fanie Nel, now a UK resident, will return to the side.

Champions Bracebridge Heath have lost Martyn Dobson, who has left the area, but have two more Lincolnshire Minor County players on board - batsman Vikram Atri and bowler Stuart Airey, who has moved from Sleaford.

Further south, Market Deeping will be without Mohammed Haroon but have several new signings, including promising wicketkeeper/batsman Jamie Morgan who replaces Ged McDougall behind the stumps.

Nettleham have picked up two established players in Nathan Poundall, who has moved from Hartsholme, and former Sleaford player David Lea while South African signing Kim Roodt, at well over 6ft tall, could create problems for some of the league’s batsmen.

In Lincoln itself, Lindum will be joined by Richard Bishop, who played for Owmby during their spell in the Premier League. With the retirement of Paul Butler, Hymie Bentley’s move to Sheffield and the loss of Aaron Onyon and Andy Carter - who have both caught the eye of Nottinghamshire CCC and consequently have moved to play in that county - the Lincoln side will be looking to bring on more of their talented young players.

Lindum’s first match is against Boston, giving both sides the opportunity to try out their “new look” teams, while Kris Adams and Caistor face a tough opening test at Bourne, though not as tough as newcomers Woodhall Spa who travel to Bracebridge. Louth take on Sleaford at London Road, Nettleham travel south to Market Deeping and in the north of the county a local derby pits Messingham against Grimsby at Augusta Street.