Norfolk Premier began their 2018/19 I.C.C campaign at Hingham with a superb 35-5 win against Kent Premier while Norfolk “A” beat old rivals Suffolk 21-19. A solid first session saw Norfolk Premier take a 6-2 points lead with Neil Davidson winning 15-8, Owen Cranston & Keith Cooke winning 15-7 and Nigel Willard & Simon Willies winning 22-6. Kent’s only win was earned by Tim Rycraft who beat Gary Best 13-11. This was followed by another 6-2 win in the second session as Jack Marshall, Debbie Sparham & Jon Sparham won 11-9, Lesley Crowe, Morgan Warnes & Simon Warnes won 15-11 and Karl Newby, Jason Woods, John Turner & David Lamb won 18-6. The only defeat of the session a narrow 7-5 loss incurred by Ryan Fox, Melly Woods, Rob Howlett & Jamie Forster. After the break the singles and pairs earned maximum points to really turn the screw of their visitors. Gary Best was 9-0 down and facing his second defeat of the day before a storming comeback earned him a 17-16 win while Neil Davidson won again, this time by 14-9. Nigel Willard & Simon Willies were also losing by 8-1 in the pairs but they too recovered to win their game 19-11, the other pair of Owen Cranston & Keith Cooke also won again by 17-12. With Kent Premier now on the ropes the triples & fours completed a great first match of the season taking seven out of the eight points on offer. Jon Sparham’s triple won 12-10 while Simon Warnes’ triple won by a huge 20-6 margin. Jamie Forster’s rink won by 14-12 while David Lamb’s rink drew their last game 11-11.
Norfolk “A” found their opponents hard to beat but emerged with a two point win after a very close match. Jean Woods, Ray Lamb & Terry Newby made the difference with two wins of 21-3 & 23-10 in the triples while the rink of Billie Barker, Steve Easter, David Sharpe & Steve Hall drew their first game 15-15 but with Mike Smail subbing for Barker lost their second game 16-11. The triple of Janet Pinchen, David Blundell & Melvyn Barker won their first game by 17-7 but lost their second. The rink of Elaine Willies, Steven Lamb, Mike Boswell & Bob Oatway won their opening game by 11-9. In the second half Jenny Walker subbed for Elaine Willies and added a second win of 14-8 which clinched victory for Norfolk "A". The pairs of Kerry Greenacre & Lewis Cranston, and Joan Costello & John Jarvis, won a game each but secured the bonus points due to the 21-9 win for Costello & Jarvis in their second game. The other triple of Janet Pinchen, David Blundell & Melvyn Barker won their first game by 17-7 but lost their second. Suffolk dominated the singles discipline denying Norfolk a point. Robbie Lamb lost his games by 13-9 & 20-13 while Robin Amos went down by 16-8 & 18-13.
Norfolk Squad Manager Simon Willies