HALVERGATE gave a solid performance to see off the challenge from bottom-placed Aldborough and move up to sixth place in the Norfolk Cricket Alliance Division Four.

HALVERGATE gave a solid performance to see off the challenge from bottom-placed Aldborough and move up to sixth place in the Norfolk Cricket Alliance Division Four.

Alborough batted first and honours were shared in the first 10 overs with the score reaching 44 for one. Good pace bowling from Simon Fox saw him dismiss one of the openers and some tight bowling from Tim Crane at the other end helped build the pressure.

Aldborough kept the scoreboard moving. Mark Shepstone and Kelvin London slowed the scoring slightly and after 21 overs the total had moved on to 76, for the loss of two more wickets. Two further wickets fell but a good fifth-wicket partnership between skipper T Allen (40) and A Barnard (31) put on almost 50 runs.

London bowled through his 12 overs to finish with three for 62 and the re-introduction of the opening bowlers resulted in five wickets falling in as many overs.

Fox took three for 22 and Crane two for 23 as the innings closed on 168 in the 41st over.

With 51 overs available, Halvergate openers Pat Hill and Luke Hannant brought up their 50 partnership in the 12th over. However, Hill was caught for 32 and Hannant fell shortly after for 10.

Steven Clarke and Tim Armstrong batted sensibly but positively and brought up the 100 in the 26th over.

The score had progressed to 129 in the 30th over when Armstrong was dismissed for 42. Despite a late clatter of wickets from the other end, Clarke batted on past his half-century and reached 60 not out as the Hares passed their target in the 39th over with four wickets still in hand.

Halvergate will look to take the confidence gained from this victory into their game at Old Buckenham.

Halvergate beat Aldborough by four wickets at Halvergate.

Aldborough: G Cooper c Armstrong b Shepstone 20, J Perry-Warnes c Utting b Fox 10, M Skinner c Clarke b London 16, T Allen c Armstrong b Crane 40, J Nichols b Howley 5, S Cannon c Clarke b London 0, A Barnard c Utting b Fox 31, M Saunders c Hill b Fox 31, A Worthington c Armstrong b Crane 2, N Taylor not out 1, N Dingle c Howley b Fox 0; extras 32. Total 168 all out. Bowling: S Fox 8.2-1-22-3, T Crane 8-2-23-2, M Shepstone 5-2-10-1, K London 12-0-62-3, S Howley 7-0-30-1.

Halvergate: P Hill b Alllen 32, L Hannant b Dingle 10, S Clarke not out 60, T Armstrong b Allen 42, K London b Allen 6, M Shepstone b Allen 0, S Cooke lbw b Allen 0, T Crane not out 2; extras 16. Total (6 wkts) 169. Bowling: J Perry-Warnes 8.4-1-37-0, T Allen 12-4-36-5, N Dingle 7-4-26-1, A Barnard 4-1-20-0, N Taylor 3-0-25-0, J Nichols 4-0-16-0.

HALVERGATE welcomed Redgrave and Bressingham in the Mid Norfolk Sunday League R J Bidewell Division Three.

Redgrave were only able to bring nine men but one of Halvergate's spectators offered to help them out in the field.

Skipper Tom Booth decided to bat first, opening with Luke Hannant and James Howley. Hannant continued his stunning form to score 152 runs before being caught off the bowling of R Kaley.

Danny Cook scored a quickfire 63, with six other batsmen supporting well, to see the young Hares finish on a season's best of 306 for six off

40 overs.

After a delicious tea supplied by Aaron Brooks, the Hares took to the field and with such a chase for Redgrave, skipper Tom Booth gave all of the youngsters some match experience at bowling. The pick was Steven Wright who took three for 15 off four overs, a catch each for James and Shaun Howley and a clean bowled.

The other wicket takers were Tom Booth one for 14 off five, Shaun Howley one for 23 off six, Tim Crane one for 30 off five and the innings was brought to a fitting end by a wicket for Luke Hannant from the third ball of his first over, a catch in the safe hands of James Howley.

Top scorers for Redgrave and Bressingham were W Dawson 77 and D Betts 64 but their valiant effort of 183 left them 123 runs short of target, leaving Halvergate to win by six wickets.

This weekend sees the club's annual six-a-side tournament, barbecue and bar. The next league game is on July 11, away to Bunwell.

HEMSBY were away at Sprowston who won the toss and chose to bat first.

Boylan again bowled good lines with little reward, bowling nine overs 1-49.

A great piece of fielding from B Colclough ran out Keene then Taylor picked up Squire for 46.

However, some good batting from Trevedi (58) and Rush (20) helped the scoreboard to keep ticking over before both were removed in a good spell from Colclough. K Palmer and W Hall then helped their team to a respectable 220.

Hemsby were 42 off four overs. Colclough fell for 36. Ater a very suspicious start Ryan and Hudson put on a good partnership. Ryan, for the second week in a row, threw his wicket away. Hudson was out with 18 runs needed for victory for a magnificent 114.

Boylan and Shepherd knocked the runs off, scoring six not out and eight not out respectively.

D&K Hoardings and Partitions MoM: George Hudson.

Sprowston: R Squire b Taylor 46, G Hampson b Boylan 29, T Keene run out (Colclough) 0, S Trivedi c Perry b Colclough 58, M Rush c Holmes b Colclough 20, K Palmer not out 24, W Hall not out 16; extras 27. Total 220. Bowling: L Boylan 9-0-49-1, G Hudson 4-0-12-0, R Taylor 11-4-35-1, P Tilbrook 1-0-10-0, J Tye 5-0-29-0, B Colclough 8-0-39-2, M Box

7-1-35-1.

Hemsby: G Hudson b Poole 114, B Colclough c Hall 36, D Ryan c Clarke 41, L Boylan not out 6, R Shepherd not out 8; extras 16. Total 221. Bowling: W Hall 9-0-46-1, T Keene 3-0-24-0, S Corcoran 7-0-64-0, R Clarke 5-0-37-1, J Poole 6-0-33-1.

Winterton A gifted Ashmanhaugh their first Norfolk League Division Four win of the season.

Put in to bat on a good pitch, Winterton started well with S Tooley (20) finding the boundary with some well-timed blows.

It was Tooley's dismissal which brought the collapse which in effect ended Winterton's hopes of a good score.

He played on to Trimmer who then claimed two more wickets in the over.

Lusty hitting from M Holsworth saved some blushes but this was a dreadful batting performance.

All out 97. A team cannot lose five wickets in four overs and expect to compete!

In reply the boys performed better. Fielding was excellent at times and a competitive spirit was shown.

A Spelman, 9-1-28-0, bowled with pace and aggression and with the odd slice of luck it could have been a very tight finish.

The home team won by four wickets.

There were many comments after the game about the poor batting, but nets are offered twice a week and there were pre-season nets and matches. Only five people attended Tuesday nets last week.

This friendly club is always looking for new players.

If interested in joining, come to the ground any Tuesday or Thursday evening. Young/new players welcome.

Rollesby A (6pts) lost at Loddon A (23) by 42 runs. but performed well with a weakened side.

Loddon were asked to bat on a lively wicket and struggled against some fine seam bowling from Roy Websdale and George Barnden in which only 34 runs were conceded off 15 overs.

Rollesby only had the bowling of part-time bowler Brian Price and two youngsters, Danny Websdale and Ryan Lewis. It was during this period that the Loddon batsmen were able to recover and pick off loose deliveries and increase the scoring rate. S Davey (52) and A Wells (69) being particularly harsh.

By the time that the two opening bowlers were able to return for the final few overs Loddon had got away to post a score of 203 for five.

Loddon declared their innings after 42.2 overs following one of many interruptions for rain to try to ensure that the game finished.

The Rollesby reply was brisk and effective with Alan Fakes hitting a quick fire 35 and Roy Websdale an equally efficient 36. All the Rollesby batsmen performed admirably, Johnny Payne (20), George Barnden (15) and Mark Hewitt (23no); but Kevin Jones bowled a miserly 12 overs for 32 runs and his support bowlers kept a tight rein on the batsmen. Rollesby ended up 42 runs short of the target.

Rollesby lost the match because of the lack of a third bowler who could keep the scoring rate in check.

Rollesby A has a policy of giving their young players every opportunity to gain experience in league cricket, but of also protecting them. On Saturday Rollesby had no choice but to bowl the youngsters in spite of the consequences.

Loddon A: K Johnstone lbw Price 31, K Jones c Fakes b Websdale 7, P Tirimana run out 9, S Davey not out 52, A Aldred b Price 6, A Wells b Websdale 69, T Jermy not out 5; extras 24. Total 203-5. Bowling: R Websdale 10.2-0-33-2, G Barnden 11-3-50-0, B Price 10-1-35-2, R Lewis 5-0-30-0, D Websdale6-0-50-0.

Rollesby A: A Fakes b Jones 35, J Payne c Wells b Aldred 20, R Wedsdale c Tirimana b Jermy 36, G Barnden b Wells 15, M Hewitt not out 23, M Barnden c Davey b Wells 5, M Pearce not out 8; extras 19. Total 161-5. Bowling: A Wells 12-2-42-2, K Jones 12-5-32-1, A Aldred 11-1-43-1, T Jermy 10-2-30-1.

Martham A achieved their first Norfolk Cricket League Division Eight victory of the season, against Hales Colts at home by 58 runs.

Put in to bat in poor weather conditions, Martham lost two early wickets with only 26 on the board. A partnership of 79 between opener Terry Blundell and Lee Woodhouse (21) then steadied the ship and a further stand of 24 from the former, who made 47, and Courtney Randell strengthened Martham's position.

Skipper Dave Etheridge (17 not out) then joined Randell (26) and the pair took the total to 170 with a partnership of 48 with just two overs remaining. Rob Silverwood (7) with a massive six helped the hosts finish on 179 for the loss of seven wickets - their highest score of the season.

The visitors started their innings in brighter conditions and in confident mood with opener Paul Bassingwaite going well. The score was on 93 before they lost their third wicket with 22 overs gone and were well up with the asking rate.

However, the next wicket to fall was the turning point of the innings. Etheridge, having only one stump to aim at, ran out Bassingwaite who had held the visitors' innings together with a stubborn 50.

With the overhead conditions deteriorating by the minute Woodhouse and Ad Sayer took control, dismissing the middle and late order. The former finished on 5-18 from his six overs with the latter taking 2-12 from the same number of balls. Within minutes of the game finishing the heavens opened up again.

Martham A (2pts) beat Hales Colts (6) by 58 runs.

Martham A: T.Blundell c Jones b Rolph 47, A Sayer c Dye b White 4, A Kemp b Rolph 8, L Woodhouse b Rolph 21, C Randell b Pitcher 26, J Tyrrell b Wright 2, D Etheridge not out 17, R Silverwood c Warnes b Jones 7, E Scally not out 0; extras 47. Total (7 wkts) 179. Bowling: I Rolph 12-2-24-3, L White 12-2-37-2, C Read 10-0-34-1, A Taylor 6-1-26-0, P Bassingwaite 1-0-2-0, J Pitcher 4-0-30-1.

Hales Colts: P.Bassingwaite run out 50, L Slaxton lbw Sayer 2, I Rolph b Kemp 5, L Jones lbw Woodhouse 22, C Read c-b Woodhouse 6, C Warnes not out 6, A Taylor b Woodhouse 4, P Dye c Tyrrell b Woodhouse 1, L White c Silverwood b Sayer (A) 0, J Pitcher c Randell b Woodhouse 0, J Rolph lbw Sayer (A) 3; extras 22. Total 121. Bowling: A Kemp 6-1-18-1, O Sayer 6-2-14-1, C Randell 4-0-18-0, J Tyrrell 4-0-23-0, A Sayer 6.3-0-12-2, L Woodhouse 6-1-18-5.

SOUTH Walsham enjoyed a 27-run victory against a plucky nine-man Southtown side.

Batting first, Walsham lost David Watkins in the third over for a duck, bowled by Nick Mobbs.

Neil Johnson, playing his first game of the season, soon got into his stride, adding 45 with Andy Scales before Scales fell for 18. Paul Woods came and went before Johnson fell for 53.

Richard Whiteside and Chris Woods then came together and put on 101 unbeaten for the fifth wicket, Whiteside 55 not out and Woods 44 not out. Walsham declared at tea on 202-4.

Opening bowler Garth Futter quickly dismissed Ellis who was well caught by Scales in the slips. Edmunds and I Eggleton went on the attack before Eggleton fell, caught behind off the impressive David Jones. Nick hit many fine shots and Southtown looked to be on course for victory at 112-2. Mobbs fell for 34, closely followed by Edmunds for 58, who was well caught in the deep by Futter. The tail was then exposed and, with Southtown being two men short, were bowled out for 175.

Upton White Horse MoM: Richard Whiteside, first 50 of the season.

South Walsham: D Watkins b N Mobbs 0, A Scales b J Mobbs 18, N Johnson c N Mobbs b Newman 53, P Woods c-b J Mobbs 2, C Woods not out 45, R Whiteside not out 55; extras 29. Total 202-4. Bowling: N Mobbs 10-1-51-1, N Southey 8-2-22-0, Newman 6-0-14-1, M Eggleton 5-0-42-0, J Mobbs 6-1-21-2, Miller 6-0-27-0.

Southtown: A Ellis c A Scales b Futter 2, R Edmunds c Futter b C Woods 58, I Eggleton c Whiteside b Jones 24, N Mobbs c-b Jones 34, N Southey b Gilbert 7, K Eggleton not out 16, J Mobbs c-b C Woods 6, O Miller b P Woods 1, J Newman run out 6; extras 21. Total 175. Bowling: D Scales 6-1-26-0, G Futter 6-1-19-1, D Jones 8-0-33-2, S Mallett 4-0-31-0, K Gilbert 7-0-27-1, C Woods 6-0-19-2, P Woods 2-0-6-1.