Champagne is on ice as Norfolk edge closer to clinching promotion
Norfolk players Jason Lovett and Roz Bulmer. Picture: Mandy Gray - Credit: Archant
Promotion is in sight for Norfolk after a nail-biting victory over Wiltshire in their final home game in the Inter Counties Division Four match.
With Norfolk top of the table and Wiltshire second it was always going to be a crucial battle of the arrows at Attleborough Sports and Social Club, with both teams pressing for promotion to Division Three – and it didn't disappoint.
The Ladies B team fought well to get a 3-3 draw, with wins coming from Dawn Standley, Sandra Page (126 s/o) and lady of the match Amanda Moore with the highest average of 17.68.
Norfolk men also had a tough fight, drawing 6-6 after some very close games that could have gone either way.
The Norfolk wins came from Ady Siddle, Kevin Walpole, Aaron Baker, Shaun Futter (116 s/o), Donny Forder (144 s/o) and Man of the Match Brad Burnett, winning 3-1 with the highest average of 23.28.
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It meant that going into Sunday's games, the scores were tied at 9-9.
Norfolk took the initiative when the Ladies A team showed why they are top of the league with a crucial 4-2 win over second-placed Wiltshire.
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This gave the ladies the Division Four title with a game to go, thanks to wins from Amanda Gray, Steph Mudd, Nikki Goldsmith and Lady of the Match Roz Bulmer (24.22 highest average).
With Norfolk holding a slight lead, the Men's A team had to show the rest what they could do and with a very strong Wiltshire team the stage was set for some great games.
Trevor Pearce was up first and played out of his skin to beat Josh McCathy 4-2.
Wayne Wall also won, as did Darren Goldsmith, Chris Earll (110 s/o), Robbie Ellis and Man of the Match Jason Lovett (26.84 average).
Other games were so close, but the men shared the honours and that helped earn Norfolk a 19-17 victory, keeping them top with an away game to Breconshire to come at the end of the month.
Both Norfolk captains, Steph Mudd and Kevin Rudling, and chairperson Dianne Bartrum were overwhelmed with pride for the team – and with promotion in sight have the champagne on ice for the away trip.
