Menai’s shock defeat
BANGOR will hold a nine-point lead at the North Wales Cricket League Premier Division summit ahead of this Saturday’s home clash with bottom side Mochdre.
It is a promising situation for Robbie Marshall’s side, who bounced back from the previous weekend’s narrow two-run defeat to Menai Bridge by thrashing Chirk by a maximum points margin last Saturday.
Francois Mostert scored a half-century and then took 5-7 as Bangor triumphed by 197 runs at Holyhead Road.
The visitors won the toss and chose to bat, rattling up 240 all out off 48.4 overs with South African Mostert topscoring on 58.
Skipper Robbie Marshall added 55, extras totalled 31, and Andy Williams hit 22 down the order.
Chirk were then dismissed for just 43 in 26.1 overs, Mostert returning figures of 5-7 off seven overs, Gareth W Edwards claiming 2-6 from seven. The Citizens took the honours 15-0. This Saturday sees Bangor out for the double as they take on a Mochdre outfit they beat by 77 runs at Blackmarsh Fields at the start of the campaign.
Second-place Menai Bridge lost top spot after a surprise four-wicket home defeat at the hands of Brymbo.
Put into bat, Bridge were bowled out for 164 in the final over, Robbie Jones the highest contributor with 30, Dion Owen adding 29, Jack Gower 24 and Ashley Wood 22, Daniel Parry taking 3-43 for the visitors.
Captain Parry then led the reply with 48 not out as the Steelmen reached 165-6 in 42 overs for a glowing 12-3 victory.
Zachary Ringrose scooped 3-49 and Wood 3-50 for the islanders.
Menai Bridge will aim to bounce back when they visit St Asaph this weekend.
The Bridge were very comfortable eight-wicket victors over the Saints on the second weekend of the season, but Asaph have grown in stature since then and have been particularly strong at home this term.
Bethesda remain solid in the top five of the 1st XI First Division after a comfortable home win over Llay Welfare.
Pesda called the coin correctly and elected to bat, making 157 all out from 49.5 overs.
Opener Carwyn L Williams led the charge for the home side with 47, this score taking him beyond 4,000 runs for the club.
Michael Jennings (26), Ioan Roberts (25) and Jonathan Williams (20) also made decent scores for the hosts, while Tom Crewe collected an outstanding 7-29 for the away side.
Bethesda’s attack then produced a great combined effort to dismiss Llay for just 97 to seal a 13-2 points split.
Gareth V Edwards grabbed 3-21 off 12 overs, Sean Buchanan 3-23, Jennings 2-12 and Gareth Jones 2-17.
Pesda have now won their last six completed matches, but it promises to be much tougher this Saturday when they visit top side Northop.