Sleaford’s final weekend of the season brought two very different stories: relegation for the Saturday 2nd XI and a spirited victory for the Sunday 1st XI.
Relegation Confirmed After Orton Park Defeat
Saturday’s trip to Orton Park ended in a heavy 155-run defeat. After choosing to field, Sleaford made a promising start and had the hosts 72 for three, but Tom Wilkin and Jack Calpin steadily took the game away from them. Wilkin carried his bat for an unbeaten 110, Calpin struck 65 and Orton Park closed on 269 for six.
Matthew Mills and Mackenzie Ross each took two wickets, but Sleaford faced a daunting chase and never threatened to get close. A collapse from 31 for one to 56 for seven decided the contest, with four batters dismissed without scoring. Captain Daniel Hutson top-scored with 17 as the innings ended on 114, Adam Boothman taking four for 17 and Adrian Van Der Westhuyzen three for 32.
The result confirmed relegation to Division One South next season. It has been a demanding campaign in a division dominated by 1st XI teams, and the gap in depth and quality has become particularly clear during the closing weeks. The final table cannot be argued with, but a new division may give the side the chance to regroup, rebuild and rediscover some confidence.
Hibberd and Ross Inspire a Winning Finish
Sunday offered a much brighter finish. Sleaford were in deep trouble at 93 for six against Revesby before Andy Hibberd and Mackenzie Ross produced the partnership of the weekend. Hibberd smashed 71 from 37 balls, including four sixes, while Ross finished unbeaten on 50 from 31. Their 108-run stand lifted Sleaford to 212 for seven from 35 overs.
The bowlers then made sure the recovery counted. Micah Young returned two for 14 from six economical overs, George Bulmer claimed three for 20 and Hibberd completed an excellent all-round afternoon with two for 22. Tyler Cook’s unbeaten 63 kept Revesby fighting, but they were eventually dismissed for 161, leaving Sleaford winners by 51 runs.
The win confirmed a third-place finish in the Lincoln & District Premier Division, only 10 points behind champions Nettleham. That narrow margin inevitably brings thoughts of what might have been, especially the away defeat at North Scarle when Sleaford had only nine players available. In a title race decided by so little, those lost points proved especially damaging.
It was therefore a weekend that captured both the disappointment and the promise of Sleaford’s season. The 2nd XI now face a fresh challenge in Division One South, while the Sunday 1st XI can reflect on a strong campaign, a place among the division’s leading sides and a finish that showed exactly what they are capable of.
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