An unbeaten half-century from Mike Kearns Snr helped steer Moulton Harrox 2nd to a derby win over Spalding Town 2nd in South Lincs and Border League Division One on Saturday.
Opener Kearns scored a typical 54 not out for Moulton as they made 94-2 in reply to Town’s 91 all out at Harrox Field to seal an eight-wicket success.
With hosts Harrox winning the toss and sending Spalding into bat, they were made to suffer early on with openers Mohammad Alam (19) and Neo Timothy (39) scoring well.
But, once the top two were dismissed, Town toiled with only number ten Carl Andrews (11) making double figures.
Danny Jackson (4-17) was their chief tormentor with the ball, while Harry Lovell (2-33) and Jamie Juckes (2-9) both grabbed two scalps apiece.
Harrox’s reply was dominated by Kearns, who was a calm influence at the top of the order.
Lee Eyett (13) and Danny Jackson (9) fell around him, but former Spalding skipper Simon Juckes (6 not out) joined him at the crease as the hosts reached 94-2 in the 21st over.
Harrox bagged 20 points for the win, with Town taking just one.
Up in the Premier Division, Long Sutton 1st also picked up 20 points as they made it back-to-back victories.
They defeated hosts Freiston by four wickets to move up to fourth in the early standings.
Sutton skipper Jake Burton won the toss and inserted Freiston, who could only muster 79 in 23.5 overs.
Adam Whitaker (3-10), Josh Baker (3-13), Charlie Crisp (2-19) and Barry Stanway (1-26) all bowled well to secure maximum bowling points.
Sutton’s reply stuttered a little, but contributions from Paul Edgeller (25 not out), Dan Oldfield (22) and Baker (18 not out) ensured that they reached 80-6 in 20.5 overs.
Also winning in the top tier were Moulton Harrox, who beat hosts Woodhall Spa 2nd by 32 runs. Harrox were put into bat first and racked up 169-9 in their 45 overs, with Jake Morton (35) and Matt Barnett (29) top scoring.
Hosts Spa could only manage 137 in their innings, with Jack Barnett (3-38), Stephen Coles (2-27) and Travis Harrison (2-28) doing the damage for Moulton – who took 18 points.
The winning theme continued in Division Two, with Long Sutton 2nd racking up 20 points in their game against Freiston 2nd at Paradise Field.
Sutton stormed to 216-7 from their 45 overs, with an unbeaten lower order stand of 80 from Ed Munson (53 not out) and Joe Whitaker (42 not out) the highlight.
Aaron John (6-32) and Steven Milnes (4-28) then dazzled with the ball as the visitors were bamboozled for 98 to seal a big 118-run success.
Meanwhile, Spalding 3rd (152-3) lost by 21 runs at Boston 3rd (173-9).
Steven Elleray’s 107 was key for Boston, while Joseph Watson (43 not out), Nigel Gardner (42) and Sophie Smith (34) all batted well for Town.
Selected fixtures (Sat unless stated, 1pm): Moulton v Grantham 2nd; Long Sutton v Woodhall Spa 2nd; Billingborough 2nd v Spalding 2nd; Grantham 3rd v Moulton 2nd; Belton Park v Long Sutton 2nd; Sleaford 3rd v Spalding 3rd (Sun).
