THETFORD earned their first victory of the season with a comfortable eight wicket win over local rivals Mundford inNorfolk Alliance Divison Three.Thetford kick-started their season by bowling and fielding superbly to bowl The Stags out for just 183 in the 44th over.

THETFORD earned their first victory of the season with a comfortable eight wicket win over local rivals Mundford inNorfolk Alliance Divison Three.

Thetford kick-started their season by bowling and fielding superbly to bowl The Stags out for just 183 in the 44th over.

Thetford made the breakthrough in the sixth over, Ryan Woods hooking David Anderson to deep backward square, but for the perfectly-placed Lingard to take a comfortable catch. The Thetford pace pair of Anderson (2-38) and Lingard (2-32) and the spinner, Liam Conroy, proved too strong for the hosts; Robin Yates nicking behind to fall for a duck.

However, Dan White offered a vital resistance to the Thetford bowlers, hitting the ball to all parts of the ground, for a powerfully made 70. The other Mundford batsmen offered support in longevity but failed to offer many runs. Home skipper Bailey (11), Webster (11) and Thetford old boy Smeed (0) all fell around him. White skied an Anderson delivery, which once the ball had come down was brilliantly caught by Liam Conroy. There was an attempted dart for runs at the end with Allsopp (30) and Keeler (14) holding the lower order together. D Phelps (3-54) cleared up the tail - the later falling to a superb leg side catch from young wicket-keeper Ryan Conroy, which subsequently closed the innings on 186 all out.

A tightened Thetford field also played a massive part in the restriction of the host's runs, with Mundford struggling to pick the gaps.

The Thetford reply began with a flourish of boundaries from the word go. Allsopp struggled to find his line and length to the Thetford opening duo of Peter Terry and Liam Conroy. Racing to 68 off just 14 overs, Conroy was given a lifeline after being dropped on just 18 to Yates fielding at gully. The first wicket eventually fell, Terry (19) flicking a delicate late cut to Bailey, who snaffled at first slip off of the bowling of another Thetford old boy Mark Leeder.

This did not deter Conroy who was joined by his younger brother at the crease. They both nonchalantly manoeuvred and placed the ball around to all parts of the ground. No matter where the fielders were they found a way round over or through the home fielders. The younger Conroy departed but the damage had all ready been done. Darren Newey, the Thetford captain who had an all-round good day tactically and in his performance helped finish the job with Conroy with a very well -worked 25 not out. Conroy finished a very good day for himself, a majestic 90 not out adding to his 2-10 with the ball.

This wrapped up the scoring with 13 overs to spare and only two wickets lost.