THOMAS, CARROLL SOUTH WALES PREMIER LEAGUE

PENARTH SECONDS ................ 268-7 BRIDGEND TOWN SECONDS ................... 120

IN one of the few Premier League matches that escaped a belt of rain last Saturday, Bridgend Town Seconds went down by 148 runs against their Penarth counterparts at Redlands Heights, writes Tony Poole.

In another disappointing Town display, actingcaptain Rhys Clayton won the toss and opted to give the Seasiders first strike.

And a Bridgend attack that has been taken to the cleaners more than once this summer once more fired too many blanks.

Yet another opposition batsman tucked in to the bowling, and on this occasion the centurion was Jack Thomas, who struck a match-winning 102.

Next best was Jimmy Erasmus with 40, and other side shows came from Christopher Leader 31, John Tose 20 and Steffan Crimp with an undefeated 17.

The usual free supply of runs via wides this week amounted to a staggering 37 (over six extra overs) with the entire sundries column amounting to 43.

That moved the Seasiders on to a respectable score of 268-7 in a match reduced to just 88 overs.

Pick of the Town attack was undoubtedly pace man Harry Harries with 9-0-55-4 while fellow new ball man Varun Sharma sent down 9-048-2.

Evergreen campaigner Richard Cogbill again kept the runs down in 9-0-22-0, but the remainder came in for tap.

And when Town went out in search of 269, openers Gwilym Davies and captain Clayton both hit 15.

Richard Warren (43) attempted to hold the middle order together, but the remainder was all too familiar with a succession of men trooping back for single-figure scores.

Tailender Harries rounded off a decent day in clouting 21, but all the Bridgend innings amounted to was 120 off 36 overs.

The five Penarth men who turned their arms over all got two wickets – Andy Graveson 9-1-25-2, Morgan Humphreys 7-032-2, Tommy Pascoe 9-243-2, Willy Skone 9-2-15-2 and Jack Thomas 2-0-5-2.

Bridgend Town Seconds move on to Panteg this Saturday.

Latest positions after 12 rounds of fixtures: Newport 194, Tata Steel 183, Panteg 152, Penarth 150, Cardiff 149, Miskin Manor 137, Tondu 122, Bridgend Town 120, Newport Fugitives 119 and St Fagans 112.