NCC WEST NORFOLK LEAGUE: The West Norfolk League is back up to a full complement of 10 teams in each of its four divisions after the introduction of four new sides. The league was left significantly depleted last year after the expansion of the Norfolk Cricket Alliance, so the formation of a quartet of new teams has come as a welcome boost.

The West Norfolk League is back up to a full complement of 10 teams in each of its four divisions after the introduction of four new sides.

The league was left significantly depleted last year after the expansion of the Norfolk Cricket Alliance, so the formation of a quartet of new teams has come as a welcome boost.

Hillington, Dersingham and Northwold have all started second XIs, while Downham have introduced a fourth team for the coming season. All of the newcomers will begin life in the bottom tier, Division Four, meaning a more complete summer of cricket for those sides who had to suffer blank weekends last summer because of the uneven number of teams.

League chairman Paul Hooton said: 'It's a very positive move and I understand all four sides will be heavily based on youth players. We have lost two sides, as Wisbech's third and fourth teams have joined a Cambridgeshire league because they were finding they were having to travel long distances to play in our league, but to have four new teams was a real boost.'

Hooton added: 'We also had Kieron Tuck and Kier Hounsome from the Norfolk Cricket Board attending our pre-season meeting and they told everyone about how the board works and how clubs can be helped with funding. That was well received and I understand that several clubs have subsequently been in touch with the board to ask advice.'