Bank holiday weekend sport in North West Norfolk

Football, cricket and the Hunstanton Tennis Tournament news.

Football

Heacham beat previous winners Diss Town to progress in the FA Vase.

It was a good weekend for all senior local clubs this weekend. A relatively young Heacham FC team returned from 1994 winners, Diss Town, with a comfortable 2-1 win in the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Vase. Goals from Gordon Goult and captain Ben Dear enough to secure their place in the 2nd Qualifying Round at fellow Thurlow Nunn Premier League rivals, Harleston Town, who beat Wisbech Town on penalties. Manager, Paul Hunt's, prediction that the team will ‘turn the corner soon’ is proving right as that is now two wins on the bounce.

Dersingam Rovers had a great win at Bradenham & Mattishall in Division One of the Anglian Combination League. Goals by Joe Collison, Albie James-Howe and substitute Ahmed Rhaouti doing the damage in a 3-2 win.

In Division Three, Ingoldisthorpe FC notched their first points of the season in a convincing 5-1 win at home to Wells Town Reserves. In Division Four, Heacham Reserves and Dersingham Reserves both remain winless, losing at KLSC and Dussindale & Hellesdon respectively.

Cricket 

In the penultimate league games of the season, it was a case of which teams could beat the rain.

In Division One of the Norfolk Cricket League, Thornham’s efforts to keep the wicket dry reaped dividends as they beat fellow promotion rivals Feltwell in a reduced overs match by 67 runs. Nat Linsell’s half century and Alex Fry’s four wickets doing the damage.

With fellow teams failing to play, it means Thornham have now moved up to second place and face a key match at lowly Beeston on Saturday, with their promotion fate now lying in their own hands.
In Division Two of the 

Norfolk Cricket Alliance, Bircham’s match with second placed Horsford was cancelled, meaning they now travel to Mattishall on Saturday knowing a win will secure the title. However, they mustn’t rest on their laurels as they could drop to third with a loss.

In Division Three, Sandringham remain second after their match was also cancelled. They host leaders, Norwich CC 2nd XI on Saturday, requiring a win or bonus 6 points to secure second spot.

In Division Four, Snettisham’s game at leaders Ashmanhaugh & Barton Wanderers also fell foul of the weather, meaning they are resigned to a third place finish unless second placed Swaffham lose to bottom club Bradfield 2nd XI on Saturday.

Snettisham Ladies finished the season in style as they beat Sheringham Ladies by 8 wickets to secure a very creditable second place in the Shell UK Norfolk Ladies Cricket League.

Tennis

The legendary Hunstanton Tennis Tournament reached an exciting climax on Friday, with the finals being brought forward a day due to the weather. Wisbech based, Seth Briggs-Williams, won the Men’s Open, beating Boston based, William Cheer, in the Men’s Open Final, 6-0, 6-3. Whilst last year’s winner and top seed, Boston based Alice Gammon, defended her title, beating unseeded, Daisy Waddison, in the Ladies Open Final, 6-3, 6-3. Over 1,000 players participated throughout the week.