Sport update - W/E 13th & 14th December

Heacham FC involved in Christmas Cracker, West Norfolk men and ladies rugby teams lose and draw whilst Hunstanton’s Ladies Indoor Bowls team on a roll.

Football

Heacham FC came up against Ely City on home soil on Saturday, bottom of the table against 3rd, an away banker you might think. Not on your Nellie. Heacham were right up for this and took the game straight to their opponents. New signing, King’s Lynn FC Academy player, Kian Yamada, particularly shining on his debut in the early dispatches. 

This was Mark Hunter’s third game in charge after two big losses. However, he now looks to have worked out a strategy and Ely were finding it hard to break down the lively Magpies.

They often say teams at the top tend to be more clinical and so it proved as Ely opened the scoring with a belter from the edge of the box from Aaron Hamer. But Heacham did not roll over and continued to press. Jake Poore deservedly managed to level matters with an excellently taken free kick. 

Again, Ely’s class up front shone through as they went 2-1 up with another clinical finish, this time from Alex Kerr. Hamer added a third for the visitors early in the second half.  

But Heacham rallied again.  On 75 minutes Ely were reduced to ten after last man Alfie Rogers brought George Patience down. Jack Prentice scored from the resulting free kick after a goalmouth scramble to make it 3-2 and set up an exciting finale in what was turning out to be a Christmas cracker of a match.

Heacham did everything to find an equaliser. A melee at the end saw Ely reduced to nine men as the impressive yet pedantic and rather unfriendly captain, Jack Friend, was sent off. Andy Willmott also saw red for the hosts in the same melee. Ely held out and will know they were lucky to bag all three points, but they say teams at the top get the luck and the visitors certainly did today. Sponsors, Heacham Manor, named Harvey Pightling (pictured) as their Man of the Match.

Nonetheless, Hunter and the team will take heart and confidence from this performance into another tough test at promotion hopefuls and local rivals Fakenham Town on Saturday, 27th December. If Heacham can put in performances like this each week there is no doubting they will move out of the relegation places. 

In Division Three of the Anglian Combination League, Heacham Reserves earned a creditable 2-2 draw at Feltwell. Noah Fox and Jack Rix with the goals. Heacham go into the new year in 6th in what is a tight division.

In Division Four, Dersingham Reserves had an excellent 2-1 win at high flying Wroxham Development. Goals from Sonny Devlin and Finn Howe securing all three points.

In Division One of the West Norfolk League, Dersingham Rovers ‘A’ did rivals Heacham Minors Development FC a favour by beating AFC Lynn Reserves 4-0. The result sent Lynn to the bottom of the table on goal difference at the expense of Heacham. Dom Howell, Lewis Kerr, Zack Kingshott and Nathan Mitchell all notching.

In Division Two, Dersingham U23’s returned from Wootton Reserves pointless on the back of a 4-0 defeat.

Heacham FC U18’s will be looking to see the year out on a positive as they travel to Wisbech U18’s on Thursday after away defeats at leaders St. Ives and March last week, 4-0 and 1-0 respectively.

In Division Three of the Norfolk Women & Girls’ League, Dersingham Women had a superb 5-1 win at Horsford Women, leapfrogging their opponents into 3rd place in the process. A brace from the in-form Emma Leech and a goal apiece for Anne-Marie Harris, Lillie Edenborough and Georgie Stephenson doing the damage. It has been an impressive campaign for Georgie Archer and her cohorts thus far in what is their debut season.

Rugby 

The Men’s West Norfolk Rugby team were promoted last year, and have big aspirations for back to back promotions under the guidance of head coach, Jamie Williamson. They were joint top and unbeaten at the end of October, however, a tight loss at Saffron Walden (32-28) dented their title bid before they beat Colchester ll’s (30-5) to re-ignite their challenge. 

On Saturday, they travelled to Bury St. Edmunds ll’s, their main rivals for the title. Unfortunately, they returned on the back of a 52-21 loss and slip to 4th. They welcome bottom side North Walsham ll’s on Saturday aiming to end the year on a high.

The Ladies were promoted to Division One of the Eastern Counties last year. However, they have found things tough going, winless and bottom going into Saturday’s relegation battle at Harpenden. A much improved performance, however, saw them take a share of the spoils in an entertaining 17-17 draw.

Indoor Bowls

Hunstanton’s Ladies Indoor Bowls team are on a roll. Having recently convincingly beaten 2nd placed Gallow B, they claimed another major scalp on Saturday by beating leaders Norfolk ‘B’. The local outfit won all four rinks to claim maximum points.

It is no mean feat for captain Margaret Dark’s protégées who are now up to 3rd in Division Two of the Norfolk County Indoor Bowls League. They face lowly County Arts ‘B’ on Saturday, knowing a win could put them top going into the new year.