MUNDFORD entertained Acle in their opening encounter of the Norfolk Alliance League season and got off to a winning start. Following last season's relegation from Division Two, hopes were high of a quick return to the third tier of Norfolk cricket.

MUNDFORD entertained Acle in their opening encounter of the Norfolk Alliance League season and got off to a winning start.

Following last season's relegation from Division Two, hopes were high of a quick return to the third tier of Norfolk cricket.

With new signings Pete Brassett from Stow and Matt Webster from Watton missing on football duties and the experience Nobby Clark away with work the side had a slightly weak look about it.

But over the winter none of the fighting spirit and team-work had been lost as they looked for a positive result in this opener.

Captain Bailey was given first use of Fir Close's normally batting paradise, but with the damp about this was to be a good day for bowlers.

Mundford's openers Woods and Goodrham needed to be careful during the opening exchanges but when Woods went to a thin edge, things looked bleak. Yates joined experienced Goodrham, the following half hours play belonged totally to the visiting Acle side at 10 overs they had scored only 12 for the loss of Woods.

But this was to be the final time that Acle were to be on top. Mundford's number two and three knew they had to accelerate and for the 20 overs that came next Yates and Goodrham punished anything loose.

Goodrham fell for a hard-fought 24. In a partnership of 82 pushed the momentum in the home side's direction. White joined Yates to play a mature innings, measuring just 19 but continuing the acceleration.

Yates looked superb after giving just the one chance which the fielder failed to cling onto. White went with the score on 127 with just 20 overs remaining.

The innings could go either way and when skipper Bailey joined Yates it could determine the whole match. Bailey carrying on his fine form from the end of last term. Yates and Bailey traded blows for the final few overs. Bailey smashed a quick unbeaten 33 but the mainstay of the innings was man-of-the-match Robin Yates' superb knock of 98 as he laid the foundations for Mundford's total of 187 - a great effort in the conditions.

Smeed and Allsop were looking to continue their fine form from the pre-season. Smeed was struggling to find his line, being unable to cope with the prodigious swing from the new ball. When he did hit his line it was too much for the Acle openers. At the other end Allsop was happy to bowl an accurate line and length to curb the visiting batsmen.

Their top order played and missed several times in an opening burst of eight overs. Towards the end of his spell he was to get his reward, Ovel catching superbly from a slower ball.

Bailey bowled Acle's number four with an arm ball. From here it would be a question of whether Mallet from Acle could hang around enough to see his side home, from 40-4 Mundford knew the game was still alive and had to battle hard.

Mark Leader bowled with flight and guile to tie his end up, allowing Bailey the chance to grab two more wickets as Acle shut up shop and settle for a losing draw.

Allsop returned at the death to pick up his second, but with the track now dry nothing would dislodge the lower middle order of Acle as they finished on 129-7.

Mundford got 16 points to Acle's four.