Season Starts With Friendly Win

The 2016 season finally got underway for the Spa on Sunday with a friendly fixture at home to Skegness.

After Saturday’s proposed fixture at home to Gedling was called off due to the adverse weather, the players were desperate to get some game time ahead of the start of the league season.

Skegness won the toss and decided to bat first on a pitch that was dry and firm with a good covering of grass. Spa opened the bowling with Joe Irving and Connor Parsons and the pair both made life difficult for the visitors. Parsons made the breakthrough when Skegness’ young South African opening batsman couldn’t keep on top of a rising delivery and Ross Dixon took a fine catch at point. Irving soon joined in the action after a probing six over spell and he had opener Ainsworth well caught by wicket-keeper Jack Timby.

From that point on the Skegness innings never really got going. Spa debutant Jean-Pierre Prinsloo bowled two of the middle order and then executed a fine run-out during his first spell and also returned to take the final wicket; spinners Ross Dixon (one wicket) and Matthew Haslam (one wicket) bowled with control and Parsons (three) returned to take two more wickets as the temperature at Jubilee Park began to drop. Skegness were bowled out for 108.

In reply, Spa lost skipper Jack Luffman cheaply and a lively innings from Joe Irving (14) was also cut short when he was caught and bowled. However, a solid third wicket partnership between Timby (23) and the aggressive Chris Anderson (40) settled any nerves of a collapse. Anderson hit four fours and two sixes in his innings. Both were to lose their wickets but it was left to Henry Wilson (5 not out) and Ross Dixon (7 not out) to see the side home to a five-wicket victory.

On Saturday the 1stXI entertain Lindum in the opening Lincs ECB Premier League fixture while the 2ndXI travel to Stamford in the South Lincs and Border League.

On Sunday the Wanderers 1stXI travel to Boston in the Lincoln League Premier Division while the Wanderers 2ndXI host their Hartsholme counterparts in Division 2 of the same competition.