Acle entertained Alliance Premier Division newcomers Old Buckenham in a match sponsored by Acle legend Paul High.Acle secured a winning draw and 16 points, but probably deserved more after dominating most of the match.

Acle entertained Alliance Premier Division newcomers Old Buckenham in a match sponsored by Acle legend Paul High.

Acle secured a winning draw and 16 points, but probably deserved more after dominating most of the match.

With numerous injuries and people unavailable, all three Acle teams knew they would have to be at their best to get positive results.

Another tough home game follows tomorrow - against Norwich Wanderers.

Acle elected to bat in an attempt to pile pressure on the visitors. Skipper Dave Huggins was starting to regret the decision when he was lbw to Goldsmith for four. Rob Porter again started in impressive form, but with the score on 65 and Acle having already lost Huggins, Nel and Wilson, Porter smashed an aerial off drive through the covers and was caught by Mathewson for 47.

Geoff Handley and Paul Munford steadied the ship before Handley departed caught and bowled by King for 13. Ward also fell cheaply but in-form Munford batted sensibly before launching into the Buckenham attack ably assisted by Josh Rowe.

Munford and Rowe increased the run rate with a valuable partnership of 48. With the score on 174, Munford (68) was caught on the boundary going for another big hit but Rowe and Newman edged the score up to 194, which in context looked like a decent total.

Acle were keen to apply pressure onto the Buckenham batsmen early, and the returning Paul Newman along with overseas Hugo Nel did just that, with the latter bowling opener Mann for 10. Newman then dismissed Buckenham skipper Terry Perry (6) who was brilliantly snaffled at slip by Geoff Handley.

Fudge was then caught behind off the bowling of Ward, and Buckenham overseas star Mathewson rode his luck before being caught in the deep by Wilson off the bowling of spinner Shaun Roberts. With Rob Porter (1-16) operating from the other end, the two spinners tightened Acle's grip on the game and with the home side on top, Buckenham seemed to give up thoughts of a win even though there were 20 overs left!

Alexander went on to bat 102 balls for 27 and there was very little in the form of attacking strokes to follow.

Despite this, Acle were unable to bowl Buckenham out and they finished eight down for 138.

PN High Man of the Match - Paul Munford for his 68 runs, closely followed by Rob Porter for his 47 and 1-16 from 12 overs.