All-rounder Will Dunger has delivered an ominous message to Fakenham's title rivals, writes Gavin Caney.

The Norfolk Alliance Premier Division leaders have a three-point gap over surprise package Brooke going into the ninth match, and halfway point, of the campaign. Cromer head to Highfield Lawn on Saturday and the 20-year-old is warning them, and the rest of the championship challengers, that Fakenham are yet to hit top gear in 2015.

'Chad's (Bowes) been fantastic over the first few games,' added Dunger.

'He scored plenty of runs for us, really stuck in there, and scored the runs we needed him to and expect him to now. He's set his own precedent, starting the season well, and hopefully he'll continue that.

'That's not to take anything away from the other players. The batters have scored runs, the bowlers have taken wickets and all we're missing at the minute, to be honest, is for both sides to come together in one match.

'It's maybe potentially one of the reasons we're not quite grinding out the results at the minute. But we're very close I'd say to bringing it all together.'

Fakenham picked up a winning draw at Old Buckenham last time out as they strive to turn their 2014 near-miss into a silverware-winning campaign.

It's tight at the top though with just nine points separating the clubs from first to fifth.

'Downham (holders, 34 points off pace) always seem to be up there year in, year out, and I'm sure they will be come the 18th game of the season,' he added.

'There's only one win between everyone. If the top four or five lose, and somebody a bit lower down wins a game, then they can shoot up three, four, or five places.

'At the minute it's certainly (about taking it) one game at a time and definitely not looking too far ahead.'

n To hear the full interview with Dunger, listen to West Norfolk Sports Podcast episode 64, online tomorrow evening, at www.edp24.co.uk/wnsp