Caernarfon clinch title glory at Halkyn
CAERNARFON clinched the Division Four title of the North Wales Cricket League win a thumping nine-wicket win at Halkyn seconds.
Needing a victory to be certain of winning the league, Caernarfon won the toss and put their hosts in to bat.
Captain Ian Morgan was the star of the show with the ball as he took 6-18 with Halkyn being bowled out for 40 in 19.3 overs.
Llyr Erddyn Davies took 2-1 and Barry Roberts 1-12 as the Cofi attack, not for the first time this season, dominated their opponents.
Shaun Gibson top scored for Halkyn with 14 but no other batsman got into double figures.
Despite losing opener Jason Parry to a catch by Daniel Williams off the bowling of Anthony Green early on, Caernarfon knocked off the runs needed in just over 17 overs with Huw Erddyn Davies finishing on 24 not out and sparking the celebrations.
“It feels very good to win the league,” said Morgan.
“A lot of hard work has gone in as we’re only a small club but we’ve got a strong foundation and we’ve been building towards this for a number of years now.
“This is our fourth year and we’ve improved year on year and it’s been a real team effort.
“We’ve got four really good bowlers who have taken wickets and the batsmen have been able to score the runs we’ve needed.”
The strength of the bowling attack is highlighted by the fact that Caernarfon have three of the top five wicket takers in the division with Morgan (a haul of 33 wickets), Llyr Erddyn Davies (29) and Roberts (22) all outstanding with the ball.
Another bowler Monis Altaf is in ninth with 19 wickets.
Caernarfon won 13 matches in the league, losing only three and finished four points ahead of nearest challengers Conwy seconds.
Last week, the Cofis set themselves up to win the league with another outstanding display as they beat Dolgellau seconds, which opened up an eight-point cushion over Conwy with one game of the season remaining.
Yet another exceptional bowling display saw them bowl the visitors out for just 57 from 27 overs of play, with Llyr Erddyn Davies producing a five-wicket haul for the loss of 15 runs.
Morgan took 3-8, and Roberts and Altaf also got in on the act with one wicket apiece.
An unbeaten 22 from wicketkeeper-opener Grant Peisley clinched victory which meant they could complete their title win last weekend.
In the Premier Division, Pwllheli’s season came to an end with a defeat as Menai Bridge clinched second place as they won by five wickets.
Bridge’s overseas star Sean O’Callaghan was the star with the ball as he took 4-40 as Pwllheli were bowled out for 124 with captain Morgan Murray-Williams hitting 42 for the visitors.
Bridge captain Dion Holden also impressed as he took 3-25.
The home side wobbled slightly as they were 64-3 but Holden hit an unbeaten 40 to see his side home as Logan Rhys Morgan took 2-12 for Pwllheli.
Pwllheli finished the season in ninth position.