DISAPPOINTMENT FOR BRIGG TOWN CRICKETERS BUT BROUGHTON WIN A THRILLER

Brigg Town's cricketers have returned to the bottom of Lincolnshire County League Division Three West after the previous occupiers of the foot-of-the-table spot beat them yesterday (Saturday, September 3).
This important game was played at the Immingham Blossom Way ground due to grass-related issues at Caistor's Brigg Road venue.
Brigg bowled Caistor 2nds out for 157, with long-serving left-arm seam bowler Phil Dewfall taking four wickets for 34 runs.
But Town fell short with 124, despite skipper Danny Bradley hitting 40 and Owen Dunderdale 21.
Brigg and Caistor both have one game left to decide the recipients of the proverbial wooden spoon.
Broughton 2nds - occupying second spot in the West section - visited Outcasts 2nds yesterday and bowled the Hirst Priorymen out for 189 from the last ball of the innings - Jack Johnstone claiming three for 41.
Broughton responded with 185 to lose narrowly by four runs, Jack Johnstone and Jamie Robinson both contributing 45 and Robbie Glentworth scoring 43.
In Division One, Broughton 1sts won a thriller after posting a sizeable 223 for five in the permitted 45 overs during their home game against Cherry Willingham. Opener Graham Wilson led the way with an unbeaten 85 and Richard Green scored 47.
The visitors fell agonisingly short, finishing on 222 for seven.
So Broughton (18 points) won by one run, with Sean Clixby taking three wickets and Shaun Clark and Paul Mitchell two apiece.
Hibaldstow 1sts managed four bonus points while losing their home game to Nettleham 2nds in Division Two.
Nettleham posted 207 for eight (Jason Scatcherd taking three for 44) but Hibaldstow were dismissed for 137 (Lee Robinson top scoring with 33).
Hibaldstow remain just clear of the relegation zone with two games remaining.
Brigg Blog offers best wishes to Lincolnshire's county cricketers who today begin their bid to become national champions of what was formerly known as the Minor Counties competition (one step beneath first class status).
Lincs, who topped NCCA Eastern Division One, are meeting Western Div One winners Berkshire in the championship final, to decide the overall champs.
The four-day, two innings game in the Midlands at West Bromwich starts this morning (Sunday, September 4).
Brigg Blog watched Lincolnshire's divisional home match at Cleethorpes against Staffordshire in early July, as did other sports fans from this area.
Only one championship home fixture is played in the north of the historic county each season.
Cricket at this level never adopted local government boundary changes in 1974 which introduced Humberside - removed in 1996 following a further review which led to the North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire authorities being created.
The Lincolnshire County Cricket League (established in 1963) still uses the traditional 'old county' as its boundary for membership - Brigg Town, Broughton and Hibaldstow being in the set-up today.

PICTURED: Brigg Town's Phil Dewfall (top left) and Danny Bradley who both turned in good individual performances yesterday, and Lincolnshire v Staffordshire at Cleethorpes in July.