Harling Yellow travelled to the home of Wymondham for their Norwich Cup Semi-Final tie fully aware of the massive strength of their hosts but determined to make a game of it. This revamped competition, with its new and unique rules, had already produced a couple of classic encounters this season but being drawn away to a team with such an impeccable home record presented Harling with a huge challenge. Wymondham began the 30 end game with a newly crowned World Champion Jack Pye at lead and County team stars Debbie Sparham and Chris Mann at two and skip respectively. To add further early pressure on the visitors Wymondham captain Jon Sparham had designated the first three ends as his “wild card” ends when any scores for his team would count as double. With Harling still trying to adjust to the difficult Wymondham mat Jack Pye drew in two perfect opening woods, and with further woods drawn in by Sparham & Mann, they completed the end holding five shots that were doubled to ten. Trailing by 10-0 after just one end was the very last thing the visitors needed but they clawed back two shots on the second end after two great woods by Jill Hayman and a good last wood by new National Under 18’s Champion Sid Burton. On the third end, Wymondham’s last “wild card” end, Chris Mann’s triple added another four shots to propel them into a 14-2 lead. After five ends Wymondham led 15-3 and sent on Jack Marshall at lead and their other newly crowned World Champion AJ Brown at number two leaving Chris Mann in place at skip. Their first end on the mat saw Chris Mann produce a super backhand take out shot to take five shots and move the scoreline on to 20-3. Harling captain John Davis played his first “wild card” on the eighth end and it was an inspired move as his team scored four shots which were doubled to eight and reduced the arrears to 21-11. Unfortunately, the next two ends, which were nominated as Harling’s other two wild card ends failed to replicate this success. Wymondham won both and moved to 24-11 ahead. Their lead was cut to 25-14 after Harling won three ends in a row and it was testament to Harling’s determination that after being ten shots down after just one end they were now only eleven shots down after thirteen ends. But that proved to be as good as it would get for the visitors as Wymondham produced a purple patch from the fifteenth end to the twenty-first end extending their lead to 40-14. Hayley Osbourne, Debbie Sparham & Jack Pye combined with great effect to score fours on both the seventeenth and nineteenth ends. The match was now well beyond Harling’s reach but they continued with great enthusiasm to complete the thirty end cup game which ended 50-18 in Wymondham’s favour. Wymondham of the Breckland League will now look forward to facing Bure League giants Halvergate in the final at a neutral venue still to be announced and this will be a game well worth watching. David Lamb’s Halvergate team are determined to complete a treble of Bure League, Bure Cup & Norwich Cup wins while Wymondham are equally determined to retain the Norwich Cup and underline their position as Norfolk’s best club side. It is a game that neither side will want to lose with so much pride at stake. Wymondham’s eight players who played against Harling were Hayley Osbourne, Jack Marshall, Steve Easter, Melvyn Barker, Jack Pye, AJ Brown, Debbie Sparham and Chris Mann. Harling’s full team were Sid Burton, Jill Hayman, Colin Hayman, Paul Rogers, Carl Sturgess, Val Easter, Glen Hume & George Hume.
Wymondham's Chris Mann and Harling's Sid Burton
End Three with Wymondham on their way to a 14-2 lead
Melvyn Barker & Steve Easter - a decision to make!