Cricketers from North Runcton are one win away from writing a new chapter in their history.
Tomorrow, the West Norfolk side face Ramsey in the East Anglian Premier League play-off final, with a coveted spot in the region’s top flight awaiting the winners.
For captain Ben Coote, the clash is the culmination of a remarkable season which has already seen Runcton crowned Norfolk Alliance Premier Division champions.
Whatever happens in the final, he insists 2025 will go down as one of the club’s greatest campaigns.
Coote said: “It’s been a fantastic year for the club as a whole and to win the league has really topped it off.
“I’ve been very happy with the consistency and skill delivered by the whole team this year.”
That consistency was established early.
The skipper points to the second game of the season, away at Bradfield, as a huge turning point.
Chasing 220, Runcton slumped to 76-7 before Jasper Payne produced a match-winning 108 not out to guide his side to a stunning one-wicket victory.
“It was one of the best innings I’ve witnessed,” Coote reflected.
“That gave us huge confidence moving forward.”
Confidence that was further fuelled by the exploits of South African all-rounder Kirwin Christoffels, who finished the campaign as the league’s top run scorer and second in the wicket-taking charts.
Runcton showed their steel again in last weekend’s semi-final against Halstead, recovering from 44-7 to post a defendable score thanks to a crucial 62-run stand between Coote and Lucas Triffitt.
Christoffels and Coote then tore through the opposition with the new ball to secure a memorable victory (see page 53 for more).
“It was a crazy game,” admitted Coote.
“But everyone has contributed this year, and that’s what makes us confident going into Saturday.”
Standing in their way are Ramsey, who arrive in Norfolk chasing their own Premier League dream.
The Cambs Division One champions have a pedigree at this stage, reaching a second successive play-off final, having been beaten by Downham Stow at the same stage last season.
Their progress was sealed after Great Witchingham, despite boasting former England spinner Monty Panesar, were brushed aside in last weekend’s semi-final.
That result underlined the Rams’ strength with bat and ball, and Coote knows his side must be ready for a battle.
“Ramsey are obviously a very good team to get this far,” he said.
“We don’t know too much about them, which I don’t mind. It helps us to focus on our own plan.”
With an unsettled weather forecast, conditions may again favour the bowlers, something Coote is keenly aware of.
“We need to get through any tough periods and have the awareness to play aggressively at the right times,” he added.
