Snettisham Cricket Club the only senior side to win and annual Walking Football tournament a huge success
Cricket
In Division One of the Norfolk Cricket Alliance, Sandringham & Dersingham 1st XI were soundly beaten by 86 runs at Great Melton. Having restricted the home side to a mediocre 142 (Chris Smith 3-30), the visitors toiled at the crease, and were all out for just 56 runs, with Chris Smith’s 18 the highest score. They slip to 6th in the table.
Heartbreak for Bircham 1sts as they lost by just one run at Norwich 2nds. The home side posted a targetable 173 (Chris Banks 4-22) and Bircham looked in charge at 162-6. However, the loss of three quick wickets, meant they could not quite chase down their target (Tom King 60). They slip to 9th.
In Division Three, Snettisham continue to lead the way with a convincing 99 run win at home to Aylsham. Snettisham posted a respectable 191 (Jack Cotton 90) before restricting the visitors to 92 (Damien Twiddy, Kieran Herbert and Sachin Rathanayake all with two wickets apiece).
In Division Four, once again Thornham’s poor fielding came back to haunt them as Old Buckenham posted a challenging 217 (Adam Rose 3-29, Nath Linsell 3-26), Thornham looked to be on the way to chasing this down with Nath Linsell’s 83, but a middle order batting collapse saw them fall 12 runs short. Thornham are now down to 6th.
Walking Football
Norwich Soca Seniors captain, Matt Middleton
Seven teams converged in Hunstanton for the 3rd annual Sunny Hunny Walking Football Tournament on Saturday.
The popular annual event raises money for the 8:56 Foundation, which supports mental health. Local MP, James Wild, attended the tournament, as an advocate of mental health support. Attempts to cajole him into participation were scuppered as he didn’t quite meet the over 50 years of age criteria.
With teams travelling from Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, a competitive tournament was always anticipated and so it proved.
Heacham WFC's Andy Fletcher in action (left)
Heacham WFC's Colin Chilvers in action
Local side Heacham WFC performed admirably, going through the tournament unbeaten, but a lack of firepower proved their downfall as they just missed out on the play offs. Last year's winners, Norwich Soca Seniors, made it to the final after defeating Oundle and King's Lynn in a sudden death penalty shoot out with all three teams amazingly finishing the group stages with the same amount of points and goal difference.
James Wild, David Fine (Norwich Soca Seniors), Kevin Wakefield (8:56 Foundation), and Ian Jolly (Norwich Soca Seniors)
They came up against probably the best team on the day, a well drilled Stamford side in the final. However, Stamford could not find a way to unlock the tight Norwich defence, with the latter prevailing on penalties to secure the title for a third time.
All images Ian Burt