THETFORD yet again failed to notch their first win of the season, but they are hoping to turn their fortunes around in the next half. Downham Town A this week provided the punishment with a demeaning 198-run win.

THETFORD yet again failed to notch their first win of the season, but they are hoping to turn their fortunes around in the next half.

Downham Town A this week provided the punishment with a demeaning 198-run win.

A far from adequate Thetford fielding performance allowed the visitors to pile on the runs in the first innings, though there were some highlights for the bottom club. J Lingard took 4-64 and P Terry, with some 'handy' glove-work, took two very good catches.

Downham's J Coe got a patient 100 not out, N Gromett supported him with a quickfire 61 and A Dunn 42.

The visitors perished in the conditions and left Thetford with a 273 run mountain to climb; an inevitable losing draw looked to be the answer.

This peak proved way to steep for the chasing Thetford batsmen, with only one making over 20, that old warhorse P Sparkes and five scores of zero were recorded. The pick of the Downham bowlers was S Brooking (4-6).

Subsequently, Thetford were yet again consigned to another defeat, their heaviest yet.

Thetford entertained Denver hoping to keep the form going from the previous week's derby win. Denver won the toss and elected to bat first and enjoyed a quick start as the opening bowling attack of Lingard and Peters failed to make the breakthrough.

So it was left to the ever-reliable Lewis Greyson to get one to nibble back and knock over the dangerous Vincent with his first ball.

This was the day for Thetford's back-up bowlers as everyone bowled decent areas and wickets fell regularly.

Greyson went on to claim 3-26 and paceman David Anderson gained 2-11. Youngsters Usmaan Iqbal and Nicky Shepherd also bowled great spells with both earning wickets as Denver slumped to 140 all out.

In reply, Thetford got off to a decent start knocking up 44 until both openers Thompson and Shepherd fell together.

However, this only left Andy Kerling (38no) and Liam Conroy (47no) to compile a match-winning unbroken partnership of 98 to seal an easy eight- wicket victory with 10 overs to spare.