SWAFFHAM won derby bragging rights after beating Thetford in their Alliance Division Three clash on Saturday.Swaffham have continued to improve in recent weeks and their reward is to be fourth in the table at the halfway stage of the season.

SWAFFHAM won derby bragging rights after beating Thetford in their Alliance Division Three clash on Saturday.

Swaffham have continued to improve in recent weeks and their reward is to be fourth in the table at the halfway stage of the season.

They next visit Kirkley & Lowestoft Railway who are currently propping up the table.

After losing the toss Swaffham were forced to field on a sweltering afternoon in Thetford.

Thetford's opening pair of Kerling and Liam Conroy began brightly but a mistake by Conroy, resulting in a caught and bowled for Mike Annakin, led to a mini-collapse.

Annakin quickly claimed another wicket, bowling Terry, before Matt Smith joined in having both captain Newey and Ryan Conroy well caught behind by Andy Dale, leaving the hosts reeling at 42-4.

Despite bowling well Swaffham's opening bowlers were struggling in the heat and were replaced by the 'spin' duo of Colin Yates and Maurice Dye.

This worked in Thetford's favour as Kerling and S Conroy were able to steadily rebuild the innings in a partnership of 77 in 21 overs.

Dye dismissed both towards the end of his spell, however the pair had laid a platform to let the lower-order attack.

Smith and Annakin returned and both picked up a further two wickets each but some attacking stroke play, particularly by Lewis Greyson (22) helped Thetford reach a respectable 179.

In reply, Swaffham had a nervy start and had soon lost Wayne Hardy to Anderson for eight.

Yates joined Eagle, and they were beginning to look good until Eagle was superbly caught by S Conroy at mid-wicket, leaving Swaffham at a nervy 36-2.

Those nerves were soon displaced for the time being as Yates and Reeve smashed the attack in a quick-fire partnership of 76.

However, just when it was looking plain sailing for Swaffham, Yates got caught off Terry for 32.

From here on in, Swaffham regularly lost wickets as several batsmen got themselves a start before getting out - and the dismissal of Reeve for 68 off 45 balls had switched the momentum to Thetford.

After the dismissal of Dale left Swaffham on 154-6 and still needing 26, it was left to Smith (20) to lead the team home with assistance from youngsters Alec Payne and Josh Joachim as the 180 needed was reached with 14 overs to spare.

Thetford: L Conroy c-b Annakin 19, A Kerling c Reeve b Dye 44, M Terry b Annakin 0, D Newey c Dale b Smith 1, R Conroy c Dale b Smith 4, S Conroy st Dale b Dye 38, D Phelps lbw Annakin 9, C Newey b Smith 12, C Tyms c Reeve b Smith 5, L Greyson c Reeve b Annakin 22, D Anderson not out 0; extras 25. Total (44.2 overs) 179. Bowling: M Annakin 10.2-1-48-4, M Smith 11-1-42-4, C Yates 12-2-43-0, M Dye 11-0-41-2.

Swaffham: W Hardy c Conroy b Anderson 8, M Eagle c Conroy b Conroy 10, C Yates c Tyms b Terry 32, A Reeve b Phelps 68, C Titmarsh b Phelps 8, A Payne c-b Terry 11, A Dale lbw Terry 10, M Smith not out 20, J Joachim not out 0; extras 1. Total (32.4 overs) 180-7. Bowling: D Anderson 5-1-29-1, C Newey 4-1-15-0, L Greyson 4-0-32-0, L Conroy 4-0-36-1, M Terry 7.4-0-34-3, D Phelps 8-0-35-2.