Swardeston were duly crowned EAPL champions for the eighth time with a comprehensive and straight-forward victory away at Copdock & Old Ipswichian.

Needing just one victory from their last two matches to secure the title by virtue of the highest number of wins over runners-up and defending champions Sawston & Babraham, Swardeston now need just one point in their final match which will clinch things mathematically.

They have been, by far, the most consistent team in the league this season and thoroughly deserve the title, their first since 2016.

Having lost narrowly at home to Copdock earlier in the season and still without Alfie Cooper and now pace bowler Adam Todd, the visitors took the field with some trepidation, having lost the toss with the home side making first use of the pitch on what is traditionally a high-scoring venue in baking conditions.

Callum Taylor made the first breakthrough with the valuable wicket of Sam Arthurton with Burle quickly following to leave the score 29-2. Nico Boje became the first of Harry Barker’s three stumpings, but Alex Oxley (31) and Jack Beaumont (35) added 57 for the fourth wicket before each fell in quick succession and wickets then fell at regular intervals with the home side a disappointing 189 all out in the 43rd over.

Lawry Williams, 16, returned his championship best of 3-20 from 4.3 overs and the ever-reliable Saranga Rajaguru finished with 3-34 from 10 overs, with two wickets for Callum Taylor and one each for Matthew Taylor and Alex Levinson. Collectively, the bowlers will have been disappointed to concede over 50 extras.

Swardeston's reply got off to a solid start, with Lewis Denmark and Jordan Taylor adding 30 for the first wicket, but any concerns they may have had were quickly extinguished with assured batting from Barker (37) and Callum Taylor, who hit a blistering 42 from just 21 balls, with Peter Lambert (11 not out) hitting the winning four in the 33rd over. The imperious Jordan Taylor finished a magnificent 90 not out from 101 balls, including eight four and one six to see his team to a memorable victory.

At Manor Park, in the final Norfolk derby of the season, Horsford all but secured safety with an emphatic win over Great Witchingham. They are now 21 points ahead of bottom placed Wisbech Town with one game to go. Wisbech were beaten by Saffron Walden and Horsford will need just four points against Saffron next week to retain their place in the league.

Batting first, Great Witchingham were never at the races on a wicket that was offering assistance to the slow bowlers. Evergreen Chris Brown, skipper Neil Hornbuckle and Ryan Findlay took full advantage of some poor batting by the visitors as they were bowled out for a paltry 105 in the 34th over. Only Will Means, who hit three sixes in his 26, showed any real attacking intent as the trio of slow bowlers dominated. Findlay ended with 4-31, Brown 2-15 and Hornbuckle 2-20.

When openers Ethan Metcalf (34) and Jason Reynolds (40) put on 52 for the first wicket, victory was never in doubt. Slow left-armer James Hale helped himself to three wickets as Horsford reached their target in 27 overs for the loss of three wickets.