On Saturday, Dereham first XI start their Alliance Division Two campaign away to Hethersett and Tas Valley, the seconds are at home to Saxlingham A in the Alliance Division Six and the third team are away to Denver A.

Dereham lost by 15 runs to Mattishall in the Mid-Norfolk Sunday League

The side put in a spirited display but came up just short as they lost by 15 runs against their local rivals.

Mattishall batted first and posted an imposing score of 233-9 from their 40 overs. George Pledger was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-32.

Captain Jake Anema also picked up a couple of wickets and there was a wicket apiece for Lee Hoggett and James Harbour.

Dereham started brightly in reply with David Lake and debutant Jeff Larke putting on 45 for the first wicket. Larke was run out for eight which sparked a minor collapse as Lake (44) and Jack Perrin-West were also run out, whilst Neil Irons and Duncan Hewitt both fell cheaply.

Anema and Jon Crisp set about rebuilding the innings with a century stand to put the visitors back in contention.

Crisp was stumped just two runs shy of a half-century but Anema reached his 50 before he was bowled for 62 to effectively end Dereham's hopes of victory. They finished on 218-8.

A mixed Dereham side came through a stern pre-season test against Beetley on Saturday.

Dereham struggled at times with the bat against some accurate Beetley bowling and had to settle for a total of 147 all out.

Phil Milbourne top-scored with 37 but Lee Hoggett was the only other batsman to score more than 20.

In reply, Bradley Raper secured an early breakthrough for Dereham who produced a good display in the field. Max Cheetham took five wickets to wrap up the victory, whilst Milbourne and Tom Head were also amongst the wickets.

Mattishall: G Chetwood b Harbour 27, J Eastoe-Smith b Anema 19; N Lockwood b Pledger 62, J Cole caught b Anema 36, P Beaumont b Pledger 8, M Cross run out 0, M Balls not out 42, T Spalding caught b Pledger 0, O Hubbard b Hoggett 11, J Grant run out 6; extras 22. Total (9 wkts) 233.

Bowling: J Anema 10-2-57-2, L Hoggett 9-1-45-1, M Cheetham 10-0-56-0, J Harbour 5-1-26-1, G Pledger 6-0-32-3.

Dereham: D Lake run out 59, J Larke run out 8, N Irons b Chetwood 8, D Hewitt c Hubbard b Chetwood 3, J Perrin-West run out 0, J Crisp st Eastoe-Smith b Lockwood 48, J Anema b Cross 62, L Hoggett not out 25, M Cheetham b Lockwood 3, J Harbour not out 1; extras 2. Total (8 wkts) 218.

Bowling: M Fordham 6-1-13-0, O Hubbard 5-0-32-0, J Cole 6-0-11-0, G Chetwood 4-0-22-2, T Spalding 5-0-39-0, J Grant 3-0-18-0, N Lockwood 6-0-40-2, M Cross 5-0-41-1.