Thetford Town A made a winning start to 2012 thanks to a brilliant unbeaten maiden league century from Ryan Conroy.

The wet weather that put paid to all cricket in Norfolk the previous week left the Mundford Road pitch damp and Beccles A put Thetford into bat on a wicket that made batting very difficult. After two wickets fell early, Conroy and Darren Newey (22) batted with great care to reach the halfway stage in the innings without further losses, but with less than 50 on the board. However, Conroy (109 not out) gradually turned watchfulness into well-judged attack and increased the scoring rate with support from Simon Lewis and Danny Phelps.

Thetford’s total of 187-5 was an excellent result on a slow and low pitch, but a poor start with the ball raised questions about whether their depleted bowling attack could defend it. However, Danny Phelps (4-41) and then Darren Newey (4-28) provided the necessary consistency and penetration and regular breakthroughs pegged Beccles back. Then, from 122-5, the last five wickets fell for just 14 runs and Thetford completed a 51-run victory.

Although the first team have yet to be able to play this year, this result shows the effect of new players acquired by the club in the close season and the knock-on benefits to the A XI. It is obviously still only early in the season, but prospects both on and off the field look good.