Spalding Town will temporarily put their Lincs Premier League Premier Division relegation battle to one side on Saturday, with silverware at stake when they travel to Woodhall Spa for the George Marshall T20 Cup Finals Day.
The Spalding side’s league position worsened after a 61-run home defeat by Scunthorpe Town. They are now 26 points adrift of safety, with only 60 points still available from their remaining matches against Bourne, Grantham and Woodhall Spa.
There is still a route to safety. Grantham are bottom of the division and Woodhall Spa sit two places above Spalding, giving the club hope despite the size of the gap.
Spalding’s route to Finals Day
Spalding have reached the cup finals day after overcoming Ketton Sports, Bourne, Grantham and Boston. They will face the hosts, Woodhall Spa, and Bracebridge Heath at the weekend, with the T20 format offering a different challenge from the longer league fixtures.
Their latest league defeat came against leaders Scunthorpe, whose bowling attack proved too strong. Spalding dismissed the visitors for 254, but were bowled out for 193 in reply.
Scunthorpe had been under pressure at 40 for four and later 128 for six. Barnaby Dring led Spalding’s bowling effort with five wickets for 59 runs, but Scunthorpe captain Henry Wilson steadied the innings with 84 in the middle order.
Spalding struggled to maintain the required scoring rate during their reply, slipping to 37 for three and then 72 for six. Captain Ollie Dring made a run-a-ball 40 before Jamie Coles led the late resistance with an unbeaten 29.
Coles and Walter Kinlock, who scored 19, added 62 for the final wicket. Their stand helped Spalding reach 193 but could not prevent defeat against the division leaders.
Moulton Harrox seal emphatic win
Moulton Harrox enjoyed a much stronger result in Championship South, defeating Boston by seven wickets inside 21 overs.
After winning the toss, Matt Rose chose to field first. The decision paid off as Boston were dismissed for 80, losing five batsmen without scoring. Only Boston captain Luke Gilding made a significant contribution, reaching 36.
Paul Edgeller was the leading bowler, taking five wickets for 18 runs from eight overs, including two maidens. Moulton Harrox completed the chase at 81 for three, with Ruari Drumm unbeaten on 27 and Charlie Poulter making 23.
Long Sutton Seconds win derby match
Long Sutton Seconds claimed their first victory of the Division Two South campaign with a five-wicket win over derby rivals Spalding Seconds.
Spalding Seconds chose to bat after winning the toss, but were dismissed for 148 in 30 overs. Captain Dan Mulley was one of three Spalding batsmen out for a duck, while Daniel Plant took five wickets for 37 runs.
Connor McGinn provided the main resistance for Spalding Seconds with an unbeaten 55. Long Sutton built a solid reply through Aran John, who scored 37, Rajan Sangha with 30 and Paul Rishen with 22. Sutton reached 149 for five in the 36th over to take the points.
Captain Harry Lovell retired not out for 59 and Ruari Drumm added 48 for Moulton Harrox in Division Four of the Rutland Sunday League, but the total of 199 for seven was not enough. Oundle Town reached 203 for two in fewer than 32 overs, hitting 30 boundaries on the way to victory.
Long Sutton Colts also pushed their opponents close in the Mid-Norfolk Sunday League Kevin Grimmer Division. Ed Blundy-Gent scored 50, supported by Tim Norris with 30 and Steve Norris with 20, as Sutton recovered from 51 for two to 56 for six before posting 144 from 29.5 overs.
Dan Oldfield took two wickets for 10 and Riley Norris two for 38 as Downham Stow were made to work for the result. However, an unbeaten 62 from Olly Hooker helped the runaway champions reach 145 for eight and preserve a ninth win from nine matches, with two wickets remaining.
