OLI HELPS PUT BRONWYDD TOP
BRONWYDD are the early leaders of division one of the Peter Lynn & Partners Solicitors South Wales Cricket Association after a 109-run win at Maesteg Celtic on Saturday.
Skipper Oli Furneaux’s unbeaten 77 helped Bronwydd to a healthy 263-6, helped by Gareth John (42) and Jacob Jenkinson (40), plus 47 extras.
Despite opener Nick Poole’s 51, Celtic were then shot out for 154 in 43.2 overs. Meirion Davies took 4-27 and Geraint Jones 3-22.
Dafen are two points behind Bronwydd after they also made it two wins from two with a 45-run success at home to Maesteg.
Dafen recovered from 59-6 to post a competitive 195-9 thanks to 67 from No. 8 Jack Wooller, aided by 25 each from Jonathan Randell and Phil George. Callum Walters took 4-18.
But Maesteg themselves were soon in trouble and were dismissed for 150, George the destroyer-in-chief with 6-36.
The only other side in the top division with two wins from two are Aberdare, who chased down Llandysul’s 251-4 (Rhidian Harries 68, Ben Edkins 58, Gary Williams 52no) to reach 255-6 in 48.3 overs despite Iestyn Evans’s 3-30. Thomas Rees hit 57 for Aberdare and Haseem Hameed 61 not out.
Tata Steel got their first win when beating visitors Gowerton by eight wickets.
Asked to bat, Gowerton initially struggled and slumped to 42-5 as Joseph Crocker 3-17 and Michael Jones 2-28 used the conditions well.
Christopher Mason (31no) and Eddy Evans (21) enabled them to reach 116, with home captain Daniel Melindo 2-15 and Kelvin Bartle 2-20 maintaining the pressure.
That score didn’t look likely to test the hosts and Tata strolled to the target for the loss of two wickets with more than 18 overs to spare.
Martin Lewis (38no) and Jack Donovan (27) led the chase. Gowerton didn’t help their cause by bowling 28 wides.
In the other game in the first division, Llangennech won by 75 runs at Baglan.
Opener Rhys Culley (51) set Llan on their way, and 38 from skipper James Taube and 55 from Nathan Jones kept the momentum going. Taylor Rees took 4-33 and Lee Williams 3-40.
Baglan opener and skipper Jonathan Lewis then hit 90 but received little support as the hosts slipped to 182 all out in 48 overs.
Wakeel Shah took 4-35, Taube 2-28 and Matthew Jones 2-25.
In division two, Pontyberem enjoyed a 185-run win at Margam.
An opening stand of 224 by Rhodri Evans (86) and a 136-ball 130 from Jack Rogers that included 17 fours set
Pontyberem on the way, and No. 3 Craig Evans waded in with an unbeaten 52 off 41 deliveries to take the visitors to 310-3.
Margam were then in trouble from the off and subsided to 125 all out in 38.5 overs, Roneski White top-scoring with 24. Dafydd Davies took 5-27 and Rhodri Evans 3-24.
Swansea Civil Service lost at home to Drefach by four wickets.
Opener Shane Ryan top-scored for Service with 36 as John Cartwright took 5-24 and Rob Seymour 2-4 as they were all out for 147.
Drefach then lost a few wickets themselves but always looked like winning as they reached 148-6 in 38.5 overs. Finn Brownless hit 34.
Pontardawe and Llanwrda head division three of the South Wales Association after both won away from home on Saturday.
Pontardawe dismissed Bronwydd Seconds for 112 despite skipper Steven Phillips’s 32.
Jeff Hapgood took 4-25 and Kael Ace 2-48, and there were two run outs.
Ponty then eased to 114-2 thanks to Adrian Lock (41no), Huw Jenkins (25) and Chris Keen (30no).
Llanwrda won by five wickets at
Felinfoel, who they dismissed for 159 despite Robert Bowen’s excellent 91 off 74 balls that featured 14 fours and a six.
Steffan Roberts took 3-56. Opener James Morgan (42) and Joseff Morgan (56) then set Llanwrda up to reach 160-5 in 30.1 overs.
Porthcawl (98; Chris Hudson 4-15, Andrew Randell 3-15) lost at home to Dafen Seconds (170; Jac Morgan 52) by 72 runs.
Gowerton Seconds bounced back from their defeat on the first weekend to record a 43-run success at home to Tata Steel Seconds.
Batting first, Gowerton were given a great start with Rhodri Owens (96) and Rhys Hughes (32) compiling a century opening partnership.
Captain Adam Bond added 25 and the hosts closed on 255-9. Matthew Saker took 4-36.
In reply the visitors were well placed at 172-4 thanks to 56 from Raj Tilak.
However, Luc Picton (3-33) applied the brakes and, supported by Steve Cable and Luke Main who grabbed two wickets apiece, Gowerton bowled the visitors out for 212.
In division six, Ammanford Thirds fell to their first defeat of the season by 38 runs at Bryn, who made it two from two.
Bryn were 166 all out thanks to a captain’s knock from Robert Thomas (77), the only Bryn batsman to reach double figures.
For Ammanford, Dafydd Wyn Jones took 3-5 and Jacob Williams 2-38.
But despite a second-wicket partnership between David Lumb (21) and Josh Davies (28), Ammanford’s response fell 38 runs short as they were dismissed for 128.
Landore Seconds (74 all out; Jack Rees 5-3 off eight) lost at home to Pontarddulais Thirds (76-0; Liam Jones 22no, Jac Williams 40no) by 10 wickets.
In division seven, the local derby between Gowerton Thirds and Waunarlwydd saw visitors Waun come out on top thanks to 4-23 from Ashley Richards and 30 not out from Dean Thomas-welch.
And in division eight, Penygroes proved too strong for Gowerton Fourths.
The hosts scored 184-8 despite debutant Ivor Parry’s 3-33 and 14-year-old Trystan Ovens’s 2-22.
Penygroes then tumbled the visitors out for 66 for a 118-run success.