KEITH PEEL Carl Rogers and Stephan Le Roux have set a new scoring standard for the Lovewell Blake Norfolk Alliance.

KEITH PEEL

Carl Rogers and Stephan Le Roux have set a new scoring standard for the Lovewell Blake Norfolk Alliance.

They shattered the 202-run third-wicket partnership record with a stand of 305 as Premier Division pacemakers Great Witchingham beat Topcroft.

The prolific Rogers already features twice in the records - for a 306-run first-wicket stand with Nick Foster when playing for Ingham and for the highest aggregate score in a season.

Rogers scored 159 and South African teenager Le Roux 135 on Saturday as Witchingham amassed 320 for two.

They then bowled out Topcroft for 200, with Rogers taking two for 17, to stay on course for the title and another crack at the play-offs for promotion to the EAPL.

Second-placed North Runcton reinforced their claims to be Witchingham's main title rivals with an eight-wicket win over third-placed Norwich & Coltishall Wanderers.

Nigel Young contributed 59 to Wanderers' 208-run total. Peter Coote (88) and Paul Harwood (82) spearheaded the reply with an unbroken 174-run stand.

Old Buckenham and Downham are level on points in fourth place in the table after respectively beating Vauxhall Mallards by four wickets at Brundall and losing by 33 runs at Cromer.

Khaqan Arsal hit a half century and took three wickets for Old Buckenham, while Paul Durrant was Mallards' top scorer with 41.

Former Norwich City football favourite Rob Newman, now Cambridge United's manager, shone with bat and ball in Swardeston's winning draw at Beccles.

First he contributed 112 to Swardeston's 253 for six total, cracking 10 fours and five sixes.

Then he claimed two wickets as Beccles responded with 180 for seven, of which Luke Caswell scored 54 not out and Gavin Ewing 45.

Sprowston continue to head Division One after a seven-wicket win at Saxlingham, where Greig Nicholl (96 not) and Danny Palmer (70) featured in a 169-run second-wicket stand.

Brooke are still second after a a seven-wicket defeat of Dersingham, while Acle move up to third place after going on a 337 for one spree in beating Kirkley.

Stow won by four wickets at Diss, who were bowled out for 165, with Hamish Barton hitting top score of 80 and spinner Jim Pipkin taking five for 21. Tim Burnett scored 68 in the reply, while Robert Tooke claimed five for 32.

Bradfield's winning draw against Garboldisham kept them top of Division Two from Mattishall, who had a winning draw against North Runcton A.

Tony Bailey scored 81 and Kevin Cooper 58 not out for Swardeston A in their victory over Norwich & Coltishall Wanderers A. Ben Shearing was Swardeston's outstanding bowler with four wickets.

Division Three leaders Sheringham had a losing draw at third-placed Dereham and are now only 17 points ahead of Horsford, who beat Downham A by 19 runs.