Local derby joy for Outcasts as youngsters take to the stage

Outcasts ensured they would be playing in Division Two as their nine wicket win took them up to fourth.

However, Haxey remain in the bottom two after the loss, as both sides gave junior players the opportunity to shine.

A mixture of youth and experience saw Gary Mann open along with junior batsman Harry Hunter for Haxey, but both were trapped LBW early on.

Scott Ewen played some technically impressive shots on his way to 30, with support from under 15 prospect Matt Harris.

Scott Barlow then strode to the middle but Harris quickly departed when guiding a catch straight to David Hobson at backward square.

Rick Wake and Scott Hunter were soon back in the pavilion as Matthew Teal entered the bowling attack , both being bowled by the accurate seamer but Barlow was offering some stout resistance at the other end and along with skipper Mark Parkin they moved the score along to 93 before the home skipper bowled his counterpart who had made a valuable 13.

Barlow then farmed the strike expertly as the overs ticked on and it took a quite incredible one handed diving catch by the athletic Graham Clark at deep mid off to finally bring his splendid innings to a close on 43 with the overall total on 117.

In response, Outcasts Opening pair Anthony Fitzgerald and James Glew knew that they needed to get off to a decent start, and they obluiged, putting on 70 for the first wicket before Fitzgerald played across a staright delivery and was plum LBW for 39 to Scott Hunter.

Under 15 prospect Tom Barker joined Glew at the crease but it wasn’t long before everyone was heading for the pavilion as the first of what was three rain interuptions threatened an abandonment.

To the credit of both umpires and indeed to Haxey as well who could quite easily have objected to the worsening conditions in the field, the game was concluded, with Glew scoring 42 not out and Barker 26, as Crowle ensured a comfortable finish to the campaign.

Haxey, meanwhile, are cut further adrift in the bottom two.

Haxey face third placed Keelby this weekend, whereas Crowle face Cherry Willingham.