Christmas Sports Update

Magpies steal a late win, Lynn draw, Hunstanton Ladies Indoor Bowls team top the league and local Rugby teams end year on a high.

Football

King's Lynn drew their local Boxing Day derby with Peterborough Sports, 2-2 in front of over 1,500 spectators.

In an entertaining match, Lynn took an early lead after a Morgan Williams free kick hit the post before Tom Dickens put in the rebound. Jack Lambert should have put the Linnets two up soon after but his lob fell agonisingly wide.

Sports then grew into the game as Lynn sat back. Luca Miller equalised before Mark Jones put the visitors 2-1 up. Ex Hull City manager, Phil Brown, certainly looked the happier of the two head coaches going in at the break.

In the second half, the home side took the game straight to their opponents as they tried to break down a stubborn Sports defence. The breakthough came on 57 minutes as man of the match, Williams, dispatched a superb free kick from the top drawer into the top left corner.

The game became scrappy and despite their dominance Lynn could not find a winner. Both teams remain in the bottom half of the table and face a big 2026 to retain their status at this level.

A quite remarkable game played out over at Fakenham who entertained local rivals Heacham in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division on Saturday. High flying and fancied Fakenham certainly imposed their status on bottom side Heacham early on, as the visitors had goalkeeper and Chairman, Mark Pishorn, to thank for keeping the scores level.

The deadlock was broken on the half hour when Tom Baird netted from the penalty spot. However, the Magpies are no rollovers since manager Mark Hunter took over the reigns, and they should have equalised but Tommy Hunt’s effort went wide.

Fakenham goalscorer, Jake Watts (gold) Photo credit: Ronnie Heyhoe

The feisty game, which included six yellow cards for the home side and one to the visitors, erupted on 60 minutes. After consulting with both assistants, she deemed a Marley Reynolds challenge as dangerous and issued a red card. Jake Watts was also sin-binned during the melee putting the hosts temporarily down to nine players. Heacham pushed but could not find the net. Watts returned to the fray and immediately found himself clear, rounding the stranded Pishorn to put the Ghosts two up.

However, Heacham kept pressing and produced one of the most sensational turnarounds in their 100 year history. First the excellent Jack Prentice scored for Heacham before Colby Wood levelled matters. In the dying moments, Prentice then managed to guide an incoming corner over line to win the match 3-2 and take Heacham off the bottom of the table.

Hunter has said he wanted to make Heacham hard to beat and that was evident today. He said, “the players are putting in the work and effort and we had to fight today against a good disciplined Fakenham side”. Town manager, Andy Cunningham, was unhappy with the dismissal that ultimately changed the dynamics of the game, saying, “it was a yellow all day long, there was no malice, he’s not that kind of guy”.

Based on this performance, Fakenham plainly posses the talent to make the play offs, whilst Heacham have proved they have the ability to avoid relegation.

In Division Two of the North West Norfolk League, Ingoldisthorpe Reserves welcomed Clenchwarton Reserves in a top of the table clash. It turned out to be a heated affair, as Ingoldisthorpe ended the game with just nine players as Aaron Keegan and Bradley Rix saw red. The visitors took advantage to win 3-1 and top the table going into the new year. Chelsey Mayes with the goal for the Thorpe who remain in 3rd, but can still go top with games in hand.

Indoor Bowls

After back to back maximum point wins against the top two, Hunstanton Ladies team finished off the year with another maximum points victory over Acle ‘B’ to top their Division going into the new year. Margaret Dark’s in-form team won all four rinks and the match 87-50.

Rugby

West Norfolk Men’s Rugby Union team had a walkover win the the Eastern Counties Division One, to end the year in 4th place. They are very much in contention to achieve back to back promotions, although will probably require an unbeaten run to the end of the season. They welcome 5th placed Newmarket on Saturday, 10th January.

The Women secured their first points of the campaign in December at Harpenden and will be looking to build on this as they strive to avoid relegation after promotion last season. They host Hitchin Ladies on Sunday, 11th January.

May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year and prosperous and healthy 2026. How time flies. Let’s hope all local sports teams and individuals achieve their dreams next year, England win the World Cup and the mighty POSH get promoted.