DESPITE early-morning showers in the region Winterton travelled to Hardingham in Norfolk League Division Two to find a relatively dry ground - and they took advantage with a seven-wicket win to stay on course for promotion.

DESPITE early-morning showers in the region Winterton travelled to Hardingham in Norfolk League Division Two to find a relatively dry ground - and they took advantage with a seven-wicket win to stay on course for promotion.

The slightly damp and green wicket prompted Winterton to bowl first, but Harris and Breame looked untroubled for the home side as they put on 142 for the opening wicket in good time.

Bream was caught on the mid-on boundary for 56 and Harris followed soon after for 69 which then prompted a fightback from the Winterton bowlers as they kept runs to a minimum while taking occasional wickets.

Hardingham ended their innings on a useful 209-5, Tom Whichelow and Ben Utting taking two wickets apiece.

Winterton suffered an early setback but Geoff Roper and Wes Noble-Parker built a good partnership ensuring that the runs continued to come.

When Roper was out for 35, Martin Witheridge came to the crease and he, with Noble-Parker, upped the run rate with shots

all round the wicket, finding the boundary with regularity.

Noble-Parker was bowled for a magnificent 82 but the game was all but Winterton as a late cameo from Liam Boylan saw the east coast side win for the loss of just three wickets with four overs to spare.

Witheridge was unbeaten on 41 with Boylan 13 not out.