BRIGG BLOG'S MIDWEEK SPORTS ROUND-UP: FOOTBALL, CRICKET SEASON REVIEW & HOCKEY

There was league football to watch in Brigg last night (Tuesday, September 20) but the 2022 cricket season has now drawn to a close - prompting us to look back on local team and individual efforts with bat and ball. We also preview the new hockey season which has just started.
Brigg Town Development drew 0-0 with Tetney Rovers in last night's Balcan Lighting Supplies Lincolnshire Football League Premier encounter at the EC Surfacing Stadium (Hawthorns). This was a useful point gained by the Zebras.
The final tables issued by the Lincolnshire County Cricket League demonstrate a moderate season overall for our four local teams.
On the plus side, a spell of hot and dry weather ruled out rain-affected 'No Result' fixtures over many weeks, ensuring plenty of action.
It was comparable to 1976 - a Lincs League campaign a few of us can still remember!
Broughton 1sts, who some expected to be pressing for promotion to the top flight, had to settle for fourth spot, with nine wins and nine defeats from 18 games.
Nick Dobbs led the batting with 476 league runs (average 34.00) while Sean Clixby averaged 18.48 with the ball, taking 27 wickets.
Shaun Clark managed the same number of wickets but at a slightly higher cost.
Hibaldstow 1sts, in Division Two, narrowly avoided relegation, managing only three league victories. However, Lee Robinson impressed with the bat, hitting 494 runs at a healthy average (32.93). Jason Scatcherd took 20 wickets (average 22.40).
In Division Three West, Broughton 2nds provided a bright spot - finishing runners-up and also winning the Supplementary Cup (played on a qualifying group basis, followed by semi-finals and the final).
In the latter, Broughton saw off Caistor 2nds in quick time - by 10 wickets. View details here...
Broughton 2nds' best average with the ball in league games (10.78) came from youngster Sam Hayton who claimed 23 wickets.
Brigg Town finished bottom of the West section, having won four of their 14 fixtures. Just one more victory would have moved them into a mid-table spot.
Consistent run-scoring was the main issue for the team, although skipper Danny Bradley had a decent campaign, scoring 229 runs (average 19.08).
Jack Richards (21.86) and Paul Neal (19.13) had better averages but scored fewer runs than their captain.
Experienced left-arm seamer Nick Beacock took 21 wickets (average 12.14) while Vijay Raju managed 17 at 16.94 apiece.
Danny Bradley (eight catches) and Paul Neil (seven catches & one stumping) contributed well in the field.
Brigg's most memorable match of the campaign came at Hirst Priory, near Crowle, where they chased down a 200-plus total to beat Outcasts 2nds, and the action was live-streamed on the internet via a webcam!
Two local teams played in North Lindsey League Division Two on Sundays - Hibaldstow 2nds finishing bottom and Broughton 3rds one place above them.
For Broughton, Ben Fish scored 275 runs and Jack Johnstone 249, while Hibaldstow's Lee Robinson hit 216.
Brigg Blog had an away day (actually, two of them) in Cleethorpes to watch the Lincolnshire county team in championship action during the heatwave. Lincs went on to top East Division One but later lost in the play-off final to the winners of West Division One in what's now the NCCA Championship (formerly known as the Minor Counties).
Brigg Hockey Club's fixtures for the 2022/23 season have been supplied to us for four men's teams and three ladies' sides.
The Men's 1sts will be covering some mileage for away games - their destinations including Newcastle, Durham and Whitley Bay
The Ladies' 1sts will also be travelling north to Northallerton and Thirsk.
Many of the other leagues involving Brigg teams are regionalised - reducing travelling distances.
The local club's home games will be on the all-weather floodlit pitch at Brigg Recreation Ground, with staggered start times making three or four games possible on the same Saturday.

PICTURED ABOVE: Top row - Brigg Town FC's EC Surfacing Stadium and cricket being played at Brigg Rec; lower row - the Broughton and Hibaldstow cricket venues, and hockey on the all-weather pitch at Brigg Rec.