THE St Margarets inter-village competition began with St Margaret SE v St Cross.St Margaret SE made 89 but St Cross soon overhauled that with two overs to spare.

THE St Margarets inter-village competition began with St Margaret SE v St Cross.

St Margaret SE made 89 but St Cross soon overhauled that with two overs to spare.

St James then played Ilketshall St Margaret.

St James batted first with Craig Hunting hitting 40 not out. St James finished with123.

This was too much for Ilketshall St Margaret, who failed by just nine runs.

St Margaret SE then played Ilketshall St Margaret in a 10-over game which Ilketshall St Margaret won.

The final was played over 15 overs and was won by St Cross, who were presented with the Pat Gibson Shield, despite a display of batting from St James captain David Baker.

The Chris Blaxland Cup for batting was won by Robin Hayward, and the new Austin and Jean Debenham Bowling Shield was won by Clive Page.

Monday evening's game between Durrants and Gaze's was short-lived, lasting only a few overs, abandoned because of the weather.

The match between NFU and Waveney Harriers was slightly delayed by drizzle.

Waveney Harriers opened the batting and managed 80 runs despite the effervescent Jeffery Bowles who was fielding for the NFU.

The NFU passed the score with Miles Jackson hitting four sixes and a four off the last over.

Saturday afternoon saw the revival of the St Margaret SE v Rumburgh fixture as bad weather had resulted in this fixture being cancelled for the last two years.

St Margaret SE batted first making 67 runs on the board, but this was not enough, as Rumburgh overhauled this total without losing a wicket, largely due to 32 not out by Richard Tomkins.

Sunday was the final day of the competition, and started with Durrants playing Harleston Young Farmers.

Durrants batted first making 127 off their 20 overs. The Young Farmers' reply fell nine runs short of the total.

Durrants then played NFU, batting first they amassed 136, the NFU could only manage 93 in reply. Although in their next match against Harleston Young Farmers they made 147 to which the Young Farmers replied with 92.

A game superbly umpired by Roger Smith and Nigel Hindle.

Now the Norfolk Horn sheep are back on the pitch, until next year.

Thanks went to Mrs C Blaxland for allowing this festival to take place.