The much delayed second leg of the Norwich Cup Final for the year 2019/20 finally took place at Halvergate who entertained Wymondham. Because of Covid-19 the season had been brought to an abrupt halt just after Wymondham had defeated Halvergate 14-2 in the first leg so Wymondham needed just three points to clinch the cup. Halvergate have a great record at home and would have been keen to get off to a good start to put pressure on the visitors. The first session saw the triples take to the mats and Halvergate’s Mike Harvey, Ray Lamb & Robbie Lamb swept into an early lead against Jack Marshall, Jon Sparham & Simon Warnes. This game certainly looked in the early stages that it would produce an easy win for Lamb’s triple but a late surge by the Wymondham trio turned the game on its head as they won 9-7. In the other opening game Wymondham lead Billie Barker found line and length with her very first bowl and turned in a sterling performance to torment the opposition of Mike Tate, Keith Baker & Robin Amos. In the early stages only Billie Barker was playing consistently well and with Steve Easter at number two and Mel Barker at skip Wymondham gradually pulled ahead. Going into the last end the visiting triple led by 6-4 and controlled the head but an accurate attacking shot by Halvergate skip Robin Amos with his first bowl took the jack over to the right- hand side of the mat and he held two shots. With his last bowl he had the opportunity to draw in a third wood to win the game but was just short leaving the game tied at 6-6. This of course left Wymondham with the three points they needed to clinch victory. Norfolk Over 60’s Organiser and Membership Secretary Teresa Goldsmith then presented the trophies. The teams then decided to play out the whole match which Wymondham went on to win 12-4 on the night with the aggregate score Wymondham 26 Halvergate 6. For Wymondham Simon Warnes’ triple won both their games with scores of 9-7 & 6-4 and Melvyn Barker’s triple drew both their games. In the pairs Wymondham’s Owen Cranston & Chris Mann beat Donna & David Lamb 11-7 in their first game and then beat Kerry Greenacre & Keith Cooke 9-4 in the second half. Debbie Sparham & Jack Pye suffered the only Wymondham loss on the night losing 14-3 to Kerry Greenacre & Keith Cooke in the first half but finished with a 12-5 win against Donna & David Lamb.
This was the 31st year of the Norwich Cup which once attracted 32 teams when the sport was spreading fast across the county. In recent years the number of clubs entering has fallen to an all-time low and with some Norfolk Leagues playing a reduced schedule due to Covid-19 the Norwich Cup will not be played for in the 2021-22 season. Bob Carter have won the Norwich Cup more times than any other side during its long history followed by Hevingham. Two other sides with successful records in the knock-out cup competition, Coltishall & Kirby Bedon, have both become defunct in recent years as teams have struggled with falling membership numbers.
Norwich Cup winners Wymondham
Norwich Cup runners-up Halvergate