North Runcton are the new Norfolk Alliance Premier League champions

North Runcton were crowned Norfolk Alliance Premier League champions with a decisive eight-wicket victory at Diss after morning leaders Fakenham lost at home to Stow by three wickets.

Runcton won the toss and put their hosts into bat.

Diss got off to a good start before Kirwin Christoffels removed both openers Brawn, bowled for 22 and Williamson, caught-behind for five.

He then took a third wicket, their overseas pro Jebb Swallow caught behind trying to play a bouncer for just four, to leave Diss in disarray at 33-3.

However, solid batting by the two Tooke brothers got the home team back on track before David was brilliantly-caught in the deep off Jack Major with the score on 99-4.

His brother Robert followed, bowled by Michael Annakin – both brothers making 33 each.

Annakin went on to clean-bowl one of the Taylor brothers, finishing with 2-36 and leaving the home team on 119-6.

Warren made a quick 22 before he was Major’s (2-38) second wicket.

Josh Ring also came in for two wickets (2-25) before Christoffels (4-12) returned to take a fourth wicket in one of his best spells of the season.

Diss were all out for 140 in the 45th over.

In reply, Christoffels and Major were severe on the Diss attack, taking 80 off the first 10 overs before Major was caught at deep-midwicket by Brawn off Hunt for 34 off 30 balls.

Christoffels and Mark Skipper took the score to 125 before the opener was caught by Warren at deep-long-on for 67 in 53 balls.

Nick Freeman and Mark Skipper took Runcton to victory with eight wickets to spare with the last ball of the 23rd over.

The Runcton team were back at the clubhouse in time to take messages and calls updating them on the Fakenham v Stow game.

They waited anxiously as Stow crept nearer and nearer to victory and erupted in celebration when Stow actually won the match.

Ring Associates MoM: Kirwin Christoffels.

There was even more success for the club on the Sunday.

In the Mid Norfolk Sunday League, the club’s Sunday 1st XI and 2nd XI became champions of the Boyle Division One league and the Kevin Grimmer Division Two league respectively.

With three out of four league wins this season, the club has had a hugely-successful season and would like to congratulate all the players for their contribution to becoming champions.

In the Premier Division game between Fakenham and Stow, the match sponsor was William Blyth Ltd roof tile manufacturers while the match ball sponsor was Pat and Ann Johnson.