GIBBS DENLEY EAPL: Run machine Carl Rogers crowned a golden summer by passing the 1,000 runs for the season milestone in the East Anglian Premier League.

Needing 28 to achieve the feat, the prolific opener, whose 556 runs for Norfolk this season saw him join the elite trio with 10,000 Minor Counties Championship runs, weighed in with 56 in a game at Burwell most of his team-mates will want to forget.

Although the seven-wicket defeat at the hands of the Cambridgeshire outfit won't go down as the Witches' finest hour, the final day saw them hold on to second spot for their best-ever showing since joining the league in 2007.

Rogers, who was again EAPL top runscorer, and Norfolk colleague Sam Arthurton were the only double--figure contributors as James Spelman's side was dismissed for a disappointing 121 inside 36 overs at Mingay Park.

Adam Huckle (4-24) and Tanwar Afzal (5 for 37) did the damage as a Witches' collapse opened the door for third-placed Swardeston to reclaim runners-up position and bragging rights as the top team in the EAPL's Norfolk quintet.

But Swardeston's chances quickly evaporated in a crushing 159-run home defeat by a Norwich side playing only for pride following their relegation last week.

Victory proved elementary for the Watson brothers as Ashley hit a marvellous century and, with a hint of sibling rivalry, Aaron staked his own man of the match claim with 31 and six wickets.

Ashley dominated Norwich's innings with his 133-ball 105 in a 246 total which saw spinners Jaden Hatwell and George Walker share eight wickets.

Norfolk skipper Walker's haul saw him top the league wicket-takers with 59. Swardeston's reply was in trouble from the outset as their top order was tied up by Watson's seam bowling.

He returned figures of 6 for 57 from 12.5 overs as the hosts were skittled out for 87, captain Mark Thomas topscoring with a tailend unbeaten 24.

Vauxhall Mallards and Horsford ended honours even at the Manor Park scene of their Carter Cup final showdown last month.

Luke Caswell topscored with 46 as Horsford posted 195 after deciding to take first use of their pitch, with Adam Todd and Ali Shearer sharing six wickets.

Mallards, who came out on top in the cup final, had to settle for the draw as they ended on 161 with seven wickets in hand. Solid contributions came from Alastair Turner (37), Joe Larter (42), Simon Polger (43 not out).

There were centuries from Garth Davson (108) and Michael Comber (122) and six wickets for Ben France in Clacton's 93-win over Sudbury for whom Nathan Pole hit 68 and Darren Batch took five wickets.

• SCOREBOARD

• Burwell (25pts) beat Great Witchingham (1) by seven wickets at Mingay Park

Great Witchingham: JM Spelman c Bissett b Afzal 4, C Rogers c P Summerskill b Huckle 56, S Arthurton jnr c-b Bissett 30, T Collishaw b Huckle 6, J Hale c P Summerskill b Afzal 8, S Arthurton snr lbw Huckle 0, S Groves c P Summerskill b Huckle 0, H Debenham not out 6, M Foweatherlbw Afzal 0, T Groves b Afzal 5, Unsure b Afzal 0; extras 6. Total (35.4 overs) 121.

Bowling: T Afzal 11.4-2-37-5, F Bester 6-1-25-0, M Bissett 7-0-26-1, A Huckle 8-1-24-4, J Vowden 3-1-5-0.

Burwell: P Richer c Arthurton snr b Hale 38, C Summerskill b Arthurton jnr 12, F Bester st S Groves b Debenham 37, P Summerskill not out 27, G Goosen not out 4; extras 6. Total (3 wickets, 27.5 overs) 124. Bowling: JM Spelman 4-1-21-0, S Arthurton jnr 7-0-24-1, J Hale 8-1-40-1, T Collishaw 6.5-2-20-0, H Debenham 2-0-14-1.

• Horsford (8) drew with Vauxhall Mallards (9) at Manor Park

Horsford: M Spenceley c Goodenough b Todd 11, N Perry-Warnes lbw Bradshaw 5, R O'Connell lbw Bradshaw 0, D Clark c Goodenough b Todd 20, M Warnes b Shearer 29, C Spenceley c Turner b Todd 12, R Findlay c Larter b Shearer 5, L Caswell b Snyman 46, C Brown c Larter b Shearer 27, A Lincoln lbw Snyman 13, A Dismore not out 0; extras 27. Total (54 overs) 195. Bowling: A Todd 12-2-52-3, P Bradshaw 13-0-47-2, A Shearer 11-1-25-3, P Free 5-1-18-0, G Snyman 11-5-25-2, S Potger 2-0-8-0.

Vauxhall Mallards: D Turner b Lincoln 37, J Larter c Dismore b Brown 42, S Potger not out 43, G Snyman c Dismore b Brown 22, P Free not out 8; extras 9. Total (3 wickets, 49.2 overs) 161. Bowling: Luke Caswell 16.2-1-57-0, N Perry-Warnes 4-1-13-0, R Findlay 6-1-30-0, C Brown 18-4-35-2, A Lincoln 5-1-21-1.

• Norwich (30) beat Swardeston (5) by 159 runs at The Common

Norwich: O Higenbottam b Hatwell 33, E Laubscher b Hatwell 20, AM Watson c Herathge b Thelwell 105, C Borrett c Hatwell b Walker 6, B Wright c Lambert b Hatwell 13, M Greiller b Hatwell 7, L Sexton c Lambert b Walker 0, AA Watson b Walker 31, J Blake b Thelwell 12, T Booth c Hatwell b Walker 0, P Wiseman not out 0; extras 19. Total (55.3 overs) 246. Bowling: M Eccles 11-0-50-0, S Thelwell 6.3-0-35-2, J Hatwell 18-4-54-4, G Walker 17-4-65-4, P Lambert 3-0-24-0.

Swardeston: P Lambert b AA Watson 11, J Taylor lbw Wiseman 6, D Martin b AA Watson 0, J Hatwell b AA Watson 6, W Rist c Higenbottam b AA Watson 2, I Tufts c AM Watson b AA Watson 9, S Herathge lbw Booth 7, G Walker c Borrett b Booth 6, M Thomas not out 24, M Eccles b Booth 0, S Thelwell c Borrett b AA Watson 8; extras 8. Total (24.5 overs) 87. Bowling: AA Watson 12.5-0-57-6, P Wiseman 6-3-9-1, T Booth 6-1-16-3.

• Halstead (193, 55 overs, A Gupta 81, J Bishop 7 for 65) beat Bury St Edmunds (191, 43.2 overs, T Huggins 59, B Elsbury 7 for 25) by two runs at the Victory Ground - Halstead 30 pts, Bury St Edmunds 7.

• Clacton (308, 56.3 overs, M Comber 122, G Davson 108, D Batch 5 for 31) beat Sudbury (215, 53.3 overs, N Poole 68, B France 6 for 59) by 97 runs at Friars Street - Clacton 30 pts, Sudbury 8.

• Cambridge Granta CC failed to lift the ECB National 45 Over Competition in an exciting game at the County Ground, Derby. Granta lost out to an excellent Shrewsbury side. After Granta scored 220-8 from their 45 overs the Shropshire side got home with three balls to spare on 224-7.