Bridgend’s title tilt back on track

Division 1: NEATH ..................... 187-7 BRIDGEND TOWN . 265-6

BRIDGEND Town got the show back on the road in getting much the better of a drawn game with Neath at The Gnoll, writes Tony Poole.

But with leaders Newport and second-placed Cardiff winning and securing similar points, there was no change at the top.

However, what last weekend proved was the title race is now a threeway battle between Newport, Cardiff and Bridgend.

And with eight remaining rounds of fixtures, the round-robin fixtures involving these title rivals will be key.

Tom Baker won the toss and elected to bat for all the right reasons but to bowl out Neath on a decent surface is very difficult.

They haven’t been dismissed this term – neither have Bridgend or Newport – but in the case of Adrian Shaw’s side, batting second is right up their street.

Once they lose a few wickets, the shutters go up but once more, this policy is likely to keep them in the top tier.

There’s nothing wrong with it - sides have to be bowled out to get maximum points - but it’s akin to watching paint dry.

Bridgend got off to a steady start with James Kettleborough, who is desperately trying to win another Glamorgan contract, a steady accumulator of runs along with Sam Wood.

The ex-Northants opening bat was first to a halfcentury and in the end, Wood was chopped down for 46 (three fours) with the score on 103 in the 24th over.

Sam Pearce then contributed 22 and Tom Cogbill 13, making it 163-3 off 36 overs.

Captain Baker then joined Kettleborough, who eventually holed out to Neath rugby centre Matt Pearce for 79 (four boundaries off 106 balls in 138 minutes).

Maesteg product Steff Roberts (4-0-23-1) then got the prize scalp of Town coach Darren Thomas for a second-ball duck.

With the score on 196-5, there was a danger of the Town innings caving in but that wasn’t the case.

Former Glamorgan paceman Alex Jones joined Baker out in the middle, and a 61-run stand took the game away from Neath.

Jones cracked a six and two fours in 34 while captain Baker was still there at closure – unbeaten on 48 (two sixes, one four off 44 balls in 52 minutes).

The most penetrative Neath bowler was newcomer Joshua Griffiths from Ystalyfera, a left-arm spinner, who got 10-0-333 while the remainder, barring Pearce (5-0-14-0), received tap.

With three players born in Bridgend County Borough – Roberts, Ashley Colston and wicketkeeper Chris Matthews – there was no lack of motivation in Neath ranks.

And that seemed the case when Roberts and Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (14) posted 36 for the first wicket.

Sam Pearce made the breakthrough, but it only served to bring ex-Cowbridge star Neil Brand to the wicket.

Roberts and Brand began to accelerate the scoring-rate and at 124-1, the Town alarm bells were heard around The Gnoll.

But once Brand trooped back for 48 (four boundaries off 56 balls in 59 minutes) in the 30th over with the score 124-2, it signalled the end of the run chase.

Roberts completed a neat half-century before being caught behind by Baker off Pearce for 58 (four boundaries off 95 balls in 104 minutes).

He was followed back to the pavilion by Greg Thomas (1), Maestegborn Colston (14) and exTondu star Matthews (8).

At 161-5 and 180-7 there were faint hopes of a Town win, but Neath’s barndoor game saw them close on 187-7.

Leggie Pearce with 101-37-3 bowled Bridgend back into the game while young pacemen Jack Davies (8-1-26-2) and Tomos Jones (6-1-19-1) also demanded respect.

Next up is Port Talbot Town in Newbridge Fields on Saturday with wickets pitched at 12.30pm.