THOMAS, CARROLL SOUTH-EAST WALES LEAGUE
VALE ........................ 330-4 MACHEN ...................... 47
WICKET-KEEPER Alex Davidson stole the show, as Vale inflicted a heavy 283-run defeat on bottom-of-the-table Machen in Corntown, writes Tony Poole.
A superb innings of 144 from stand-in wicketkeeper Davidson, containing three sixes and nine boundaries, was up there with the best in club history.
Vale were invited to bat with Davidson – who has made a big impression in a first season in leafy Corntown – and fellow opener John P Davies figuring in a productive stand worth 130.
Captain Davies hit a six and three boundaries in 62 while former Wick star Matthew Williams chipped in with 45 and Jo Hodges made 43.
Machen were powerless in stopping the flow of runs and during the closing overs, master blaster James Snelson got 14 and Alex Upham 11 to pile on the misery.
It all added up to a staggering 330-4 which represented the highest league total since Vale was formed in 2004, following an amalgamation of the Southerndown and Ewenny & Corntown clubs.
Simon Lee with 9-0-431 was the pick of an attack that came in for tap but if Machen thought they had problems, they quickly multiplied as a procession of batsmen trooped back.
Dazzling Darren Upham got a first-ball victim in 8-3-15-3, but the executioner-in-chief was Sean Rowland with 8-4-10-6.
Mike Fussell top scored on eight with the bat while a sundries total of 27 got them up to 47 off just 18.4 overs.
On this form, Machen look certainties for the drop while Vale toasted the only victory of the day on the Division Three circuit.
The matches at Barry Wanderers, Dinas Powys and Monkswood were all cancelled while secondplaced Sully Centurions got 106-5 at Monmouth before this game was also ditched.
This resounding victory will leave the Corntown boys in great heart for Saturday’s clash with former South Wales Premier League champions Sully Centurions at Burnham Avenue.
If they could card a win at Sully then a late promotion push would be back on for John Davies and his merry men.
Latest Division Three positions read: Crumlin 201 points, Sully Centurions 199, Monmouth 163, Vale 156, Dinas Powys 144,
Pontymister & Cross Keys 133, Creigiau 99, Monkswood 98, Barry Wanderers 97 and Machen 80.
But for a second successive weekend, Vale Seconds failed to take the field with last Saturday’s intended fixture at Machen called off due to the wet state of the square.
However, Vale Seconds remain fourth and could yet push leaders Monkswood for the title.