BRIGG TOWN CELEBRATE CLINCHING THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Brigg Town cricketers are pictured above celebrating after clinching the championship yesterday (Saturday, August 25).
We caught up with some of the squad in the Britannia Inn - not their only port of call, we feel sure!
Brigg defeated second-placed Haxey 2nds by a wide margin to secure top spot for the 2018 season in division four of the Lincolnshire County Cricket League, having already clinched promotion the previous week.
Liam Redmond and Matthew Bell both hit half-centuries, while Tom Brock took seven wickets in yesterday's match at the Recreation Ground, off Wrawby Road.
It was Brigg's final division four home fixture of the campaign, and they won them all!
After opener Danny Bradley had made a fine 47 and Mark Dawson had chipped in 27, a 125-run partnership for the third wicket between Liam Redmond (66 not out) and Matthew Bell (51) put Brigg on the road to victory.
Experienced off-spinner Mark Atkins, the Haxey skipper, managed to dismiss Matthew, who has the highest batting average in the entire Lincolnshire League, across all five divisions, and then accounted for Brigg captain Nigel Beacock, to finish with creditable figures of two for 36 from 10 overs.
However, Brigg's 213 for five, made from the permitted 45 overs, set the visitors a daunting target.
Mark Atkins, who made 13, and opener James Percival, with 11, were the only visiting batsmen to make double figures in a total of 52.
They were bowled out in the 20th over, Tom Brock grabbing seven for 16 and opening partner Nick Beacock two for 14.
Twenty runs were added by the last Haxey pair before Liam Redmond came on with his off-spin to bowl the visiting skipper and set the scene for Brigg celebrations that went on long into the night.
Result: Brigg Town (20 pts) beat Haxey 2nds (2 pts) by 161 runs.
Umpire: Jim Balderson.
Match ball sponsor: The Lord Nelson Hotel, Brigg - mine host Richard Smith popping down to watch some of the match.
Brigg Town are without a fixture this coming Saturday and will complete their programme on September 8 with an away game at fourth-in-the-table Alford 2nds.
The second promotion place is still being contested by Haxey 2nds and East Halton, who both have three games to play.
Brigg have won 12 and lost one of their 13 league fixtures to collect 245 points out of a possible 260.

Applause for Matthew Bell after he had entertained the crowd with another half-century for Brigg Town at the Recreation Ground.

Liam Redmond's unbeaten 66 helped Brigg Town rattle up a big score.

Match ball sponsor Richard Smith, of the Lord Nelson, with Brigg Town captain Nigel Beacock, right.

The impressive community room at the Recreation Ground, awaiting tea being laid out for the Brigg Town and Haxey players. The room has a kitchen attached.

One of the boundary fielders posted by Haxey skipper Mark Atkins while he was bowling his off-spin.