Quest for Player of the Year crown ends in draw
FOOTBALL
THERE was a dead-heat this year at Llangynwyd Rangers Football Club for the coveted prize of Player of the Year, writes Tony Poole.
During the Annual Presentation Evening staged by the Highadmit South Wales Alliance Premier club, rousing Division led to Morgan Thomas and Lloyd Howells being declared joint winners.
During the business end of the season when Llan were battling to remain in the top flight, the pair came good.
Howells was at the heart of the team effort throughout a long and arduous season at the Llan Siro.
And Thomas peeled off some telling displays, getting vital goals in the home wins over Grange Albion and Ton & Gelli Boys Club that eventually steered the Llynfi Valley club into a more satisfying 10th-place finish.
During the season, Thomas scored 10 goals and the only player in front of him on the Llan Siro goal chart was the club’s regular net-buster.
Hungry hitman Lloyd Ham, who tucked away 16 goals last winter, got another golden boot to place in an expanding shoe box.
Most Promising Player went to young Dean South, who its hoped will go on to even better things next winter when Llan son and move up to fourth spot.
It was a magnificent performance by the much changed visitors who slipped to 55-5 at one stage chasing Cowbridge’s modest 40 over total of 150-5. Ross Parsons was the king-pin of the early order with a steadfast innings of 37 but, when Rob Warren and Blair Driscoll came together they faced an uphill struggle with half the side dismissed. embark on a third Premier League campaign.
And when it came down to the choice of the players for their accolade, the spotlight fell on Sion Lewis.
Some eye-catching displays earned him the award, and he garnished a sound campaign with five goals.
The Reserves also had two pieces of silverware to hand out and they went to Steffan Rees (Player of the Year) and Liam Davies (Players’ Player).
The tide was slowly turning in the visitor’s favour when the sixth wicket fell on 125, still 26 short of victory. It was nip and tuck from that point, but when both Warren and Driscoll were back in the pavilion for excellent contributions of 44 and 35, the game was on a knife-edge as Porthcawl slumped from 143-6 to 147-9.
It was left to the cool heads of tailenders Josh Aubrey and Steffan Flood to ease Paul Mason’s side over the winning line. Flood, whose outstanding fielding highlighted the Cowbridge innings, hit the winning runs. For the home side, Ian Evans took 3-21 from seven overs while Naveed Younas took 2-34, Sami Khan 2-36 and Mike Hordley 2-43.
Earlier, Cowbridge made a steady start with 61 on the board before the first wicket fell, former Porthcawl opener Alistair Lawson dismissed for 31, but the main runs came from keeper David Gascogne who posted a neatly compiled 60. Younas, 21, and Hordley, 17 not out, were the other run scorers. Driscoll’s match winning contribution included an excellent return of 2-25 while Aubrey finished with fine figures of 2-30, both from eight overs. James Rees, 1-8, was the other wickettaker.