THE destination of the championship pennant is yet to be decided, but Cherry Willingham and Alford have now secured the top two spots.

But promotion to the top flight is not automatic, depending on gaining sufficient marks in ground inspections to be carried out later this month.

Broughton's slim hopes depended on a 'must win' home game with mid-table Scothern on Saturday.

But Scothern's Ian Brown had clearly not read the script, earning himself a place in the Lincs League records book with a performance unrivalled in Division One for 35 years.

He took four wickets without conceding a run in just three overs during a crushing win for his team – figures only recorded once before in Division One.

That was in 1975 by B Leaning, of Market Rasen, in a match against Louth.

Broughton were skittled for only 41 – 17 of which came from the bat of Paul Reed in the middle order.

There were ducks for five of the last six men to visit the crease.

Ian McGowan's analysis was also very good – four for 15 in nine overs.

After tea, Paul Clark took two wickets for Broughton – but Scothern needed little more than 10 overs to secure victory, Sam Naughton being unbeaten on 24.

Third-placed Outcasts made hard work of beating nine-man, second-from-bottom Nettleham 2nds.

Visiting Hirst Priory, Nettleham made 107 batting first, Phil Cosgrove hitting 25 and Ben Connor 22 not out, as Alex Fletcher took two for 11 and Peter Tait two for three.

But the Isle of Axholme side were made to sweat, losing seven wickets in reaching 108, David Hobson scoring 39 as James Pickering took an impressive six for 41.

Top side Cherry Willingham squeezed to a narrow 10-run win when they visited bottom-placed Cleethorpes 3rds.

That result, and others affecting lowly sides, means the Meggies will suffer relegation.

Yet, on Saturday, they turned in a fine bowling performance to reduce the leaders to 122 for nine in 45 overs, in which Lee Coupland's 37 was the only innings of merit.

Stuart Harvey (four for 33) was the pick of the Meggies' bowlers, with skipper Paul Hewstone effecting four dismissals behind the timbers.

Then Cleethorpes' top four all failed to make double figures.

Elliott Drinkell, with 32, helped spark a middle-order revival but the tail failed to wag sufficiently and the home side were dismissed for 112 in 39 overs.

With their different styles, Graham Priestley (three for seven) and Joe Dobson (three for 41) were the mainstays of the Cherry attack.

Second-placed Alford's game at Holton-le-Clay was abandoned due to rain, when the promotion-chasers were three wickets down for 103, opener Andrew White having made 58 and Danny Portus taken two wickets.

Third-from-bottom Hykeham moved a big step nearer safety after a 91-run home victory against mid-table Louth 2nds.

Hykeham's handy 234 for five featured 64 by Pete Bogg and 57 from Chris Hammond, as Owen Roberts took two for 31.

Opener Dave Clarke's 28 was the best effort for Louth, who were dismissed for 143, all-rounder Hammond grabbing six for 68 from 21.4 overs.