MESSINGHAM have clinched the Premier Division championship, with two games still to play.

They did so with Bank Holiday Monday's victory over their fellow title-chasers Caistor, while Barton Town, in second, were defeated at lowly Bracebridge Heath 2nds.

Messingham skipper Andy Langford led by example at Caistor, where his team won by 15 runs and took the full 20 points.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Cameron Fletcher's 71 was the highlight of Messingham's somewhat modest 148 for eight.

But Caistor were dismissed for 133, Sahan Wijerathne made 50 and Langford grabbed five for 38 in 22 overs.

Barton were short of runs when they visited Bracebridge, totalling only 133, which included 27 from Simon McInerney and 26 by Gareth Mellors, as Andy McDowall took five for 37 and Paul Fletcher three for 31.

Bracebridge inched home, despite Gary Bell's three for 25. That they did owed a great deal to a vital late stand between Carl Walton (30 not out) and Tom Cuthbert (26 not out).

An amazingly low-scoring top-flight tussle saw Haxey bowled out for 81 (Lee Brocklebank five for 17) only for Izzy Gunasena to grab six for 12 as the home team were shot out for just 40 in reply.

Haxey recovered from being 18 for six, Aaron Moody leading the way with 35 and skipper Mark Atkins hitting a valuable 15.

Dave Elliott's 17 was Alkborough's only double-figure innings after tea.

Scunthorpe Town moved closer to safety with a comfortable home win over Horncastle, Town making 199 for six (Ian Snowden 49) and dismissing the visitors to Heslam Park for 118 (Ramesh Chand five for 26).

Having slipped down the table, Cleethorpes 2nds were badly in need of a win at home to bottom-placed App-Frod 2nds…and got it!

Patrick Hughes led the way with 77 in Cleethorpes' all-out 183, as Jack Forrester bagged seven for 38.

The visitors were dismissed for 143, Ben Taylor finishing 80 not out and Owen King taking five for 27.

Cleethorpes 2nds' relegation concerns had intensified on Saturday when they lost at Bracebridge.

Scunthorpe Town enjoyed a comfortable four-wicket derby win over already doomed App-Frod 2nds.

The Steelmen were dismissed for 98 (John Taylor 36, Ben Brumby 3-26), which did not test Town unduly, Neil Patrick finishing 35 not out.

Having seen a once big lead pegged back somewhat, Messingham were defeated at Haxey.

The high-fliers' batsmen failed to rise to the challenge against good bowling from the Isle of Axholme villagers.

All looked good for Messingham when they began the day by bowling out Haxey for 184 off the penultimate ball of the innings.

But Messingham could muster only 152 – also from 49.5 overs.

Not a great day for batsmen – but Rob Young scored 59 and Ollie Tonks 46 in the Haxey side, with Cameron Fletcher replying with 62 for the visitors.

Messingham's top bowlers were Kieran Lindley (five for 57) and Andy Langford (three for 39). Tops for Haxey were Mark Atkins (four for 46) and John Stanser (three for 23).

Caistor won at South Kelsey, but did not achieve full points.

Kelsey made 159 for seven – a score overtaken by the visitors with only four wickets down.

Overseas players did well with the bat for their respective teams, Chandi Wathukarage making 65 for Kelsey and Sahan Wijerathne scoring 69 for Caistor.

Alkborough's batting line-up had another off day at Horncastle, being dismissed for 84 while chasing the home team's all-out 195.