Sports Update - W/E 6th & 7th September

A busy weekend for local football clubs, historic bowls tournament reaches conclusion, and Charity Cricket match raises £1,500

Bowls

The Torrey Cup has been taking place for over 100 years. Qualifiers have been running over the past few weeks with 16 teams of three looking to secure one of eight places in the final.

Yesterday, those eight teams competed against each other at Heacham Social Club looking to lift the coveted Torrey Cup. With prize money at stake, you could feel the tension.

After 28 ends, it was the team of Duane Gowen, Nick Blake and Michael Jackson who secured the title by a solitary point on the very last play.

Torrey Cup Runners Up - Tim Keogh, Colin Chilvers, Mark Morrison who donated their prize money to the 8:56 Foundation

Organiser, Sue Dainton, said, “thank you to all the players and spectators and, in particular, Luke Steadman of LPS Building & Groundworks for sponsoring the event. Also to Heacham Social Club and Gary “Elvis “ Lee for the music. I think the tournament is going to get bigger and better. I’m now off to Spain for a well earned rest”.

The Bridges 3 Wood League reached a conclusion on Saturday, as Shouldham Yellows defeated Bircham Railway in the final of the Pete Waddison Memorial Cup, a reverse of last year’s final result. The event was followed by a buffet and presentations. Organiser, Brian Stockdale, said, “thank you to all the players and spectators for making it a great season ending occasion and to King’s Lynn Bowls Club for hosting the event”.

Bridges 3 Wood Bowls League Organiser, Brian Stockdale, presenting Shouldham Yellows Captain, Keith Brand, the Pete Waddison Memorial Cup

A full round up of all the winners and losers on the local bowls scene will appear in the next edition of Town & Around magazine.

Football

King's Lynn Town slipped out of the play off places in the Conference League North after returning from lowly Alfreton Town with just a point.

Lynn looked to have secured all three points in Derbyshire as Reece Hall-Johnson scored late to put the Linnets ahead, only for them to concede an equaliser in the dying moments of injury time. King’s Lynn travel to Chesham United next weekend in the FA Cup.

In the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division, 2nd from bottom Heacham FC face a crucial relegation battle at home to bottom side Woodbridge Town next week. They lost 2-0 at Cornard on Saturday to remain winless.

In the Angian Combination League, Dersingham Rovers were beaten 2-0 by higher level, Premier Division side, Castle Acre Swifts, in the Norfolk Senior Cup.

In Division Three, Heacham Reserves were humbled by visitors North Walsham Reserves as they lost 5-2. Alfie Buhlemann with both goals. One thing is for sure, all Heacham’s games are proving to be entertaining affairs, that’s 17 goals in just three games so far this season.

In Division Four, unbeaten Dersingham Reserves returned from Castle Acre Swifts Reserves with maximum points in a 3-2 win. A Ben Welch brace and a goal from Kenzie Tyler doing the damage. Ingoldisthorpe FC continued their good run of form with a hard earned 1-1 draw against Wroxham Development. Aaron Herbert with the goal.

The North West Norfolk League began their campaign this weekend. In Division One, Dersingham Rovers ‘A’ opened their season with a 2-1 loss at home to Watlington Reserves. Nathan Mitchell with the goal.

In Division Two, FC St. Edmunds Hunstanton lost 2-0 at home to Woottons FC, whilst Ingoldisthorpe Reserves claimed a share of the points at Clenchwarton Reserves in a 1-1 draw, Kai Mayes notching. The big winners of the weekend, however, were the newly formed Dersingham Rovers U23’s who were 7-1 victors at Shouldham Youth FC. Braces from Charlie Barnes and Thomas Conliffe plus a goal apiece for Brandon King, Alexander Mendes and Harry Ballard meaning they top the table.

Heacham FC U18’s continued there good start to the season with a 3-1 win at Soham Town Rangers U18’s in their first ever excursion into the FA Youth Cup.

Cricket

Thornham CC held a charity match on Saturday to raise funds for their new Sports Pavilion. A buzzing BBQ & bar, along with Bill Wyett bringing 60s & 70s nostalgia back to the hall, added to the occasion.

The event also commemorated the famous “Singles v Married” Thornham Parish match of 1788, one of the earliest recorded fixtures in the village.

The village turned out in force and together raised £1,500 for the pavilion project. The season ending event proved to be the perfect way to celebrate 300+ years of cricket in Thornham, allowing everyone to gather for one last perfect Thornham Summer Evening and look ahead to the future. The new pavilion is expected to be completed in 2026.