THE Sheringham and District 20-Over League has reached its conclusion and Holt Railway have been confirmed as champions.They finished the season nine points ahead of their nearest challengers The Village Inn after winning seven of their eight matches and receiving walk-overs in four others.

THE Sheringham and District 20-Over League has reached its conclusion and Holt Railway have been confirmed as champions.

They finished the season nine points ahead of their nearest challengers The Village Inn after winning seven of their eight matches and receiving walk-overs in four others.

Ironically, the one match they lost was early in the season against Squashlands, who won only one other match and were forced to concede four others due to the unavailability of players.

There was nothing to choose between the next five teams, who all won between four and six matches, while Squashlands - with only two wins - were marooned at the bottom of the table.

In the last round of matches Holt Railway (99-4) ended their season on a high as they beat The Crown (98-6) by six wickets; The Village Inn (123) clinched second place by beating a nine-man Dunstable team (114) by nine runs while The Fishing Boat

(77-5) easily chased down Squashland's 76-8 to win by five wickets

At least two other teams struggled to raise teams at various times through the season and it could be that next season the league sees a reduction in the number of teams taking part.

If any new clubs feel they would like to enter a team in the league they should contact the league secretary, Bob Brewster on 823213.

Squashlands have already indicated that there is a strong possibility that they will have to call it a day and their veteran left-arm medium pace bowler Barry Starling said: 'It will be a real shame if we have to pack up, but all good things come to an end.

'We are all getting older and finding it hard work in the field. When we started out around 25 years ago we were all members of Cromer Squash Club who had in the past played a reasonable standard of cricket.

'As we all got older, players gradually dropped out and we supplemented the team with non-squash players and a few years ago joined forces with the team from The Southlands, hence the name.

'At that time we had a good nucleus of players and also played a number of friendly matches against various touring teams and clubs such as Aldborough, Gresham and Cromer A. In fact, I scored my one and only century in a friendly match on Gresham playing field against a touring team from London.

'This year we have really struggled to raise a team of eleven players and it is embarrassing when we have to call off so many fixtures.

'If we can find another half-a-dozen players between now and next May we may keep going, but at the moment it doesn't look too hopeful.

'At least if we do fold we can look back on a lot of happy memories both on and off the field.'

PWLRainFAAve

Holt Railway1211102221.83

Village Inn1265113111.08

Crown1255212121.00

Wellington1255212121.00

Fishing Boat1256111130.92

Dunstable124719150.75

Squashlands122915190.42