For the first time in their history Thorpe Marriott are City of Norwich League champions after winning 12-2 away to Sprowston in their last match of the season.
The result left Thorpe Marriott two points ahead of defending champions Horsford BC. With an inferior shots difference compared to Horsford BC the Thorpe Marriott players knew that they needed to pick up at least 11 points against Sprowston to be sure of the title and that any mistakes could see the title slip from their grasp.
Marjorie Hall, Trevor Pinchen and Tony Turner gave the visitors a dream start beating Margaret Harman's triple 20-3 and Jenny Walker, Mandy Marshall and John Jarvis completed a perfect first half for Thorpe Marriott beating David Dewing's triple. A second half win for team captain Janet Pinchen, playing with Bob McPherson and George Clarke, clinched a 12-2 points win and the long awaited title success. Thorpe Marriott had previously finished in second place five times in the City of Norwich League. Their only previous winter league success was in 1994 when they finished as champions in the now defunct Wensum League.
Halvergate are the new holders of the Bure Cup after a tremendous performance in the second leg of the final at Halvergate denied last year's winners East Tuddenham from achieving a league and cup double. The first leg at East Tuddenham saw the home side make a good start as they won the opening two matches but Halvergate hit back in the second session with a win and draw only for Tuddenham to repeat the same result in the third session to regain their four-point lead. A drawn fourth session was then followed again by a draw and win for Tuddenham to see them now hold a six point lead at 13-7.
But Halvergate rallied in the last session with a win and a draw leaving East Tuddenham with a narrow 14-10 lead to take into the second leg at Halvergate. Carter's Jean Woods, Gerald Potter and Chris Mann were unbeaten in the first leg with wins of 10-2 and 13-0 and a 5-5 draw against Kevin Watson, Nigel Willard and Jason Woods. The Halvergate triple, skipped by Jason Woods, also finished the first leg unbeaten. They had scored four shots on the last end of their opening game to win 6-5, followed that with a 9-2 win and came from behind to draw with Mann's triple.
The second leg at Halvergate saw East Tuddenham maintain their four-point lead after the first session was shared. Tuddenham's Elaine Willies, John Jeffery and Melvin Woods beat Roy Walker, Nigel Willard and Jason Woods but Halvergate replied with Ray Lamb, Jamie Forster and Robbie Lamb beating Jean Woods, Gerald Potter and Chris Mann. After that East Tuddenham were left frustrated as a series of close games all went against them with Halvergate winning eight straight games to seal an emotional victory in style. Steven Lamb, Simon Warnes and Morgan Warnes led the way winning all three of their matches while Mike Tate, Keith Cooke and David Lamb also won the two matches they played as did Ray Lamb, Jamie Forster and Robbie Lamb. The final session was left unplayed as East Tuddenham conceded.
Norfolk Over 60's, fielding a side comprising purely of their lady players, visited March IBC to play a challenge match against Cambs Ladies. Norfolk had a superb start racing to a 19-5 points lead by the half time stage. Cambs then staged a comeback pushing Norfolk all the way but the visitors held on to record a 26-22 away win. Norfolk's top triple on the day were Elaine Willies of East Tuddenham, Jean Woods of Bob Carter and Ann Potter of Hingham who won their first two games by 11-5 and 9-3 and took a single on the final end of their last game to snatch a 6-6 draw.
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