Cricket season off to a winner
MENAI Bridge and Bangor both began the new North Wales League Premier Division season in winning form last weekend.
Opener Jack Gower hit 80 to inspire Bridge to a 13-2 outcome at Brymbo.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Bridge set 210-7, former skipper Robbie Jones adding 53 for the islanders
ower and Jones shared a partnership of 102 for the third wicket after new captain Dion Holden and Arwel Thomas fell cheaply.
Matthew Turner was Brymbo’s leading bowler with 4-46.
Gerallt Roberts scooped 4-29 off 12 overs, Arwel Thomas 2-13 and Zachary Ringrose 2-53 as Brymbo were bowled out for 139 in 39.4 over.
Bangor coasted to a comfortable five-wicket win over newly-promoted Chirk.
Put into bat, the visitors were sent packing for just 66 in 19.2 overs after being inserted by Bangor.
Chirk were 16-4 before Andrew Swarbrick (27) and Gareth Partridge (20) brought a little - but not too much - respectability to the total.
David Winter and Andy Williams both snapped up 3-19 for the hosts, Tomos Davies collecting 3-20.
The Citizens’ reply looked a little shaky on 36-4, but they made it to 67-5 for a 12-3 success, skipper Robert Marshall top-scoring with 24.
This Saturday sees Menai Bridge entertain new boys St Asaph, who were overwhelming 15-0 winners in their opening game, while Bangor travel to Mochdre.
In the 1st XI First Division, Bethesda got off to a losing start at Llay Welfare.
Llay opted to bat first and were limited to 179-9 off their 50 overs, Tom Crewe their major contributor with 70.
Pesda’s Carwyn L Williams notched 3-14, Sean Buchanan 3-34 and Michael Jennings 2-44.
In response, Bethesda were bowled out for just 113, Gareth V Edwards heading the chart with 43, Welfare taking the spoils 13-2.
Menai Bridge enjoyed a 39-run victory over Brymbo in the 2nd XI League Premier Division.
Asked to bat first, the Anglesey side were all back in the pavilion for 183, Andy Skeoch doing best with 52 and skipper Callum Andrew adding 48, Ali Khalid taking 6-27 for the Steelmen.
Brymbo could muster 144-8 in reply, Ashley Wood grabbing 2-12 and Liam Bibby 2-31 - points 12-3 to the islanders.
Bangor’s third team were beaten by one run at Mold in a high-scoring Sunday 3rd XI Division tussle.
It was a highly entertaining affair which was decided off the final ball by a run out.
Bangor won the.loss and elected to field, Aidan Kelly snaring 3-28 as Mold set 203-6 off 40 overs, Gareth Davies dominating with 104 and Issac Allen ending 63 not out.
In response, Bangor’s opener Tomos Davies scored 77 which not quite enough to see his side to victory.
The visitors finished up on 202-7, Richard Deniz getting figures of 4-23 for the hosts, who pocketed an 11-4 verdict. Saturday, April 29 (12.30pm starts) Menai Bridge v St Asaph, Mochdre v Bangor. Bethesda v Northop. Bodedern v Castell Alun. Northop 2nds v Menai Bridge 2nds.