Norfolk Seniors completed their East Anglian Senior League season with a battling 8-7 victory over champions Lincolnshire.

The win at Sheringham Golf Club helped ease pain from the corresponding fixture last year when Norfolk ended up on the wrong end of a 1-14 score-line.

In the latest encounter, it was the hosts that set the pace in the morning foursomes.

Chris Lamb and Simon Tilbrook teamed up to claim a narrow win before Scottish duo Iain Yule and Iain Reid also recorded a victory.

Steve Lloyd and David Coates delivered a half-point as did Blair Ainslie and John Shapland to help give Norfolk a 3-2 lunchtime lead.

Shapland led out the home side for the afternoon singles and duly delivered with a 3&2 win.

Lamb and Reid both built on their respective morning successes by notching up further victories in the head-to-heads.

Jon Batten also delivered a full point as Norfolk edged ever closer to the winning post.

Just as important to the overall outcome were the halves provided by Paul Hendrick and – in the last match – Coates.

Coates’ key contribution served to inflict on Lincolnshire their first East Anglian Senior League loss since Norfolk beat them in 2021.

And the finale success ensured Norfolk finished third in the final league standings.

Norfolk’s non-playing captain Gary Brayshaw said: “It was a well-earned victory in which everyone played their part, contributing to the overall points tally.

“It’s a tremendous way to cap off our season. There have been a lot of highs, along with the odd setback, but the commitment and determination from the players has been first class throughout.

“We’ve had three or four new faces join the squad this season – and one or two players have returned to us.

“It all bodes well for next year and I think we’re capable of achieving even more than we have done in what has been an enjoyable 2025 campaign.”

Norfolk: Blair Ainslie, Jon Batten, David Coates, Paul Hendrick, Chris Lamb, Steve Lloyd, Iain Reid, John Shapland, Simon Tilbrook, Iain Yule  

Norfolk Seniors 8 Lincolnshire 7 (Played at Sheringham Golf Club)

Foursomes (Norfolk players named first)

Steve Lloyd and David Coates A/S v Kevin Blows and Darren Fuller

Blair Ainslie and John Shapland A/S v Richard Latham and Ken Spencer

Chris Lamb and Simon Tilbrook won 1-up v Adrian Allen and Colin Trestrail

Jon Batten and Paul Hendrick lost 2-down by Mark Cooke and Mike Cardy

Iain Yule and Iain Reid won 2-up v Graham Lee and Andrew Watson

Singles

Shapland won 3&2 v Trestrail

Lloyd lost 6&5 v Allen

Reid won 2&1 v Latham

Hendrick A/S v Spencer

Lamb won 2&1 v Fuller

Yule lost 3&1 v Blows

Batten won 4&2 v Cooke

Tilbrook lost 1-down v Cardy

Ainslie lost 7&5 to Watson

Coates A/S v Lee

The full league results and final table can be viewed here – 2025 Senior League