Sports Update - W/E 26th & 27th July

After England’s Lionesses monumental Euros win against Spain on penalties yesterday, it capped off a very busy week and weekend locally of football, cricket, sailing, bowls, golf and tennis.

Cricket

In Division Two of the Norfolk Cricket Alliance, Bircham had their promotion aspirations dented at the weekend. Bircham were beaten at home by Garboldisjan 2nds by 60 runs as they were skittled out for a paltry 98 chasing 158. Liam Crompton’s hat-trick of wickets the only positive.

In the same Division, Sandringham & Dersingham's match was abandoned, meaning both sides now need to win all five of their remaining fixtures to have any realistic chance of staking a claim for promotion.

In Division Four, Snettisham had a convincing 214 run win against bottom side Bungay with Jon Forder’s 89 runs the pick of the stats. 4th placed Snettisham are now well positioned to challenge for the top three places.

In Division Five, Barney Gilder’s 101 not out and captain Ben Harris’s four wickets set Thornham on the way to a 66 run win at bottom side Denver. Their destiny is now very much in their own hands as the win has moved them up to 2nd.

The 8:56 Foundation is a charity that raises awareness of and supports men with mental health issues. Throughout the Summer their cricket team play over 20 charity matches across Norfolk. Last week, as part of the Sandringham Flower Show, they took on a Sandringham & Dersingham XI, winning the match by 24 runs. They play against Snettisham on Friday, 15th August.

8:56 Foundation played a Sandringham & Dersingham XI

Football

A relatively young Heacham FC earned a creditable point at Hadleigh United on Saturday, drawing 0-0 in their opening fixture in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division. Four yellow cards for the home side meant Heacham did well to weather a physical Hadleigh side in what proved to be a fast paced competitive encounter.

Heacham welcome local rivals, Fakenham Town, tomorrow (Tuesday) evening (7.45pm Kick off), who won their opening fixture 7-2 at home to Stowmarket Town, despite being behind 2-0.

This coming Saturday, Heacham hold their first ever home FA Cup tie, as they host higher level Isthmian League side Newmarket Town (3pm Kick off) in a mouthwatering preliminary round tie.

Bowls

Searles Bowls Club have reached the final of the Albert Victor League Cup, beating Shouldham BC. They will face Rougham BC in August. This caps off a fine season for the local outfit, as they are performing well in their debut season in Division One of the Albert Victor League and lead the way in the Countryside League.

In the North West Norfolk Bowls League Ridley Cup Semi Finals, Anmer will play Burnham Coronation whilst South Creak will play Ingoldisthorpe.

Sailing

Smithdon High School students and siblings, Faith and Toby Turner, returned from a successful week of sailing at the Topper World Sailing Championships at Medemblik in the Netherlands last week.

Toby Turner

At one stage, Toby actually led but took an impressive bronze medal in the end, also winning the Junior Sailor Trophy, whilst Faith came 17th overall and came 2nd in the Junior girl category.

Faith Turner

Delighted and proud mother, Hayley, said, “absolutely over the moon and beyond proud, both sailed their very best campaigns ever and on the big Worlds stage too”.

The pair are now back in training for the Topper Nationals next week in Largs, Scotland, where they hope to match their performances of last week.

Golf

On Sunday, Searles Golf Club made the long trip to Caldecott Hall Golf Club near Great Yarmouth in the Quarter Finals of the Cullington Cup - a 36 hole hole knock out competition involving clubs from across Norfolk. However, they failed to build on recent wins over Hunstanton GC and Heacham Manor GC, losing 6-2, with only Colin Rust and local greenkeeper, Steve Matthews, managing to win their rubbers.

Heacham Manor golf professional, Warren Bates, is back in action this week in Tier One of the Clutch Pro Golf Tour, participating in the Motocaddy Championships at Redditch Golf Club.

Tennis

With the famous Hunstanton Tennis Tournament now just a matter of weeks away (Sunday, 17th August to Saturday, 23rd August), the LTA held their latest round of Summer County Cup matches across the country last week with Hunstanton hosting the men’s Division Six, which included Dorset, Wiltshire, Sussex, Oxfordshire, Northumberland and Somerset, with the latter two prevailing.

Northumberland and Somerset