MEMORABLE BRIGG MATCHES ENJOYED IN THE NORTH LINDSEY CRICKET LEAGUE

Broughton and Hibaldstow will be playing in the North Lindsey Cricket League this season, but not Brigg Town who left this Sunday competition some years ago. Hopefully one day they will be in a position to consider re-applying for membership.
This league will get into full swing on May 1 with games in the Mick Walker Memorial Trophy - named after an award-winning umpire from Messingham who contributed much to this summer sport at local level.
There will be two sections for the 2022 campaign, with Hibaldstow and Broughton both being in Division Two.
The season is due to end on Sunday, September 4 - unless there are re-arranged games to fit in after that.
Brigg Town first joined this historic league in 1979 when many games were still being played on Saturdays.
That season produced a rare match result - a tie between Belton 2nds (the home team) and Brigg 2nds, with both sides making 44 all-out.
There was also a one-day tournament played at Heslam Park, Scunthorpe, plus two knockout cup competitions involving all member teams.
Brigg left and rejoined several times in the decades that followed.
One season in the late 1990s there were FOUR divisions and Town's team won the championship and the divisional knockout cup.
The final was hosted by Haxey, and the double-winning Brigg team later celebrated back at the Black Bull, on Wrawby Street.
Playing in a North Lindsey match in 2004, Paul Taylor claimed all 10 wickets - a record for Brigg - in a match against Scunthorpe side Appleby-Frodingham.
Town, over the years, played the vast majority of NLL home games at Brigg Recreation Ground but also used Sir John Nelthorpe Upper School and Brigg Sugar Factory's sportsfield off Scawby Road, Scawby Brook, from time to time.
A couple of home games were also staged at Vale of Ancholme School, using a pitch (with wooden pavilion) located near the Sports Hall & Design Centre (since demolished) off Grammar School Road. The venue switch was due to Brigg Rec being unavailable.
Many teams from the Isle of Axholme used to play in the North Lindsey League, meaning some westerly drives for Brigg players.
Haxey, Luddington and Outcasts (based near Ealand, Crowle) are still members today.
Brigg visited other Isle village venues in the 1980s and 1990s, including West Butterwick (famous for the quality of its teas), Epworth and Owston Ferry.
Latterly, Brigg called its Sunday team the 3rd X1. It offered cricket to players who could not play on Saturdays due to work (and other) commitments, and gave some promising youngsters an opportunity to develop their skills.
They were joined by regulars from the first and second XIs who fancied two games in the same weekend.
South Kelsey had a North Lindsey League team for some seasons, playing at the former Nettleton Mines ground, Holton-le-Moor.
Caistor enjoyed considerable success and hosted a number of cup finals.
In a league match at Caistor's Brigg Road Ground many years ago, Brigg Town batsman Jack Richards scored a memorable century.
Barnetby ran a North Lindsey Division Two team in 1977 and 1978, playing 20 league fixtures each season and finishing mid-table. Some of the former Barnetby players later joined Brigg Town.

PICTURED: Brigg's Paul Taylor (left) leaving the field at Brigg Rec after taking all 10 wickets against Appleby-Frodingham in a Sunday game played 18 summers ago, and Brigg batsman Jack Richards at the same location in July 2018.