The big hitters of club cricket celebrated a season to remember when the Norfolk Cricket Alliance handed out its 2015 awards.

Honours were spread right across the county, with Fakenham taking pride of place during the awards night at Wensum Valley Hotel and Country Club.

Their exciting young team, which was led by Australian Keegan Monahan-Fairlie, won the Premier Division crown for the first time since 2011.

Fakenham's subsequent frustration at missing out on promotion to the East Anglian Premier League, when they lost in the play-off semi-finals, was softened when they were named as the league's Club of the Year.

Among the individuals honoured was Vauxhall Mallards veteran Carl Amos, who at 42 continued to show the quality that has made him a legend of Norfolk cricket by finishing as the league's leading run scorer with a total of 1074.

The bowling honours were shared by Norwich's Simon Key, whose 38 wickets helped his team to the Division Two title, and Marcus Bishop of Lowestoft, while Andy Dale, inset, took the wicket-keeping award with 30 dismissals for Swaffham.

Alliance chairman Peter Thomas, who helped present the trophies with Matthew Conway, Emma Conway and Neil McDonald, said: 'There's no doubt that the input of (sponsors) Dipple & Conway has made a big difference to the competition over the past two years with the introduction of the player of the month awards further adding to the level of interest.'

He added: 'We also pride ourselves on our youth section, which is getting youngsters involved in cricket, gaining confidence and even playing in adult teams, which is good for the future of the sport.'

On the Club of the Year award to Fakenham, he added: 'They were good both off and on the field.

'It was just disappointing that they couldn't go on to get the reward they really deserved by getting in the EAPL.

'But they are a young team and I think with another year of experience they can only get better.'

The award evening was compered by Anglia Television presenter and keen cricketer Jonathan Wills.

Neil McDonald, group practice manager for league sponsors Dipple & Conway, said the second year of sponsorship had been another fulfilling one, adding: 'It has been exciting to be involved in a competition which reflects all the positive things about sport in Norfolk.

'The quality of the cricket has been exceptional and the spirit even more so, often with different generations of the same families playing side by side.'

Roll of honour

Premier Division: Winners Fakenham, runners-up Sprowston

Division One: Garboldisham, North Runcton

Division Two: Norwich A, Thetford

Division Three: Vauxhall Mallards A, Brooke A

Division Four: Winterton, Mundford

Division Five: Martham, Hethersett & Tas Valley A

Division Six: Bircham, Bradenham A

Under-9s: Brooke, Horsford

Under-11s: Vauxhall Mallards, Southwold

Under-13s: Acle, Cromer

Under-15s: Swardeston CEYMS, Acle

Leading run scorer: Carl Amos (Vauxhall Mallards)

Leading wicket-takers: Marcus Bishop (Lowestoft) and Simon Key (Norwich).

Leading wicket-keeper: Andy Dale (Swaffham)

Dipple & Conway Players of the Month

May: Jasper Payne (Swaffham),

June: Robin Yates (Mundford),

July: Harrison Futter (Fakenham),

August: Ben Coote (North Runcton).

Club of the Year: Fakenham