A HEAVILY-DEPLETED Dereham side fell to a six-wicket defeat at home to Garboldisham in Norfolk Alliance Division Two on Saturday.With five players attending a wedding and another falling ill on the morning of the game, Dereham fielded a makeshift side which was unable to post a competitive total.

A HEAVILY-DEPLETED Dereham side fell to a six-wicket defeat at home to Garboldisham in Norfolk Alliance Division Two on Saturday.

With five players attending a wedding and another falling ill on the morning of the game, Dereham fielded a makeshift side which was unable to post a competitive total. They were skittled out for 107, Max Cheetham top scoring with 33 and Jake Anema making 27.

The visitors had few problems reaching that small target, although Kristien Fletcher picked up three wickets while stand-in skipper Andy Lawrence collected one. Dereham will aim to get their promotion bid back on track when they visit struggling Horsford A this Saturday.

Dereham A also lost, to West Norfolk Division One leaders Hayley East Anglia, despite the heroic batting efforts of teenager David Lake. The 16-year-old hit his maiden century, making 120 not out as a youthful Dereham side - the oldest player was just 20 -responded bravely to the daunting total of 381-3 set by Hayley.

Newcomer Jonathan Crisp also made 64 as Dereham finished on a highly creditable 234-6.

The first team absentees meant that several players were given their first taste of senior cricket in the B team's 253-run defeat at home to Narborough A in Division Four. Narborough posted an impressive 314-6 from their 45 overs, with half-centuries for Williamson, Law and King. Tom Simpson was Dereham's best bowler, taking 2-55 from his 11 overs, while young James Harbour also picked up two wickets.

Simpson then top scored in the Dereham reply with 22, while Sam Widdows made 19 as Dereham were all out for 61.

Dereham's Sunday side were also beaten, losing by 85 runs to Hethersett and Tas Valley in the Mid Norfolk League.

Joe Marczewski took 5-51 as Hethersett totalled 231 for eight from their 40 overs. Max Cheetham was the mainstay of the Dereham reply, hitting 66, but he had little support as his side were dismissed for 146 in the 37th over.