DIVISION 5:

MAESTEG CELTIC SECONDS ....................91 PORTHCAWL SECONDS. ..................................195-7

A BRILLIANT innings of 94 from veteran opener Nick Morgan laid the platform for Porthcawl’s first victory of the season as the Seasiders eased to a 104 run success at Garth Park.

Morgan was run out just six short of a well deserved century. His contribution, which proved to be a match winner, contained 19 boundaries.

It had been a shaky start for Paul Mason’s side as they slipped to 56-3 but former first team skipper and Wales over 50 international Steve Richmond gave Morgan valuable support with 17 and Paul Jones looked capable of a major onslaught until, on 14, all from boundaries, he was run out by a direct hit. Rob Warren was the major support, with a well constructed 20. He found the ropes three times. A late flourish from young Steffan Flood enabled the visitors to post a very competitive 195-7 from 40 overs. Eliot Colston was Celtic’s most successful bowler, finishing with 3-22 from his eight over allocation.

In reply, the hosts were never in the hunt against an impressive Porthcawl attack that maintained a stranglehold from the first ball. Only Matthew Colston and Lewis Morgan, both scoring 20, made any impression although the Garth side did recover slightly from 49-5 to finish 91 all out.

Richmond weaved his leg spin magic, taking 3-16 from four overs, while Mason was a model of pinpoint accuracy, his 2-8 coming from eight overs. Gareth Cullen’s welcome comeback continued with 2-9 while Josh Aubrey took 1-7 and promising debutant Tariq was impressive, his leg spinners yielding 1-17.

Porthcawl’s first team had a blank week but bagged maximum points as Merthyr failed to raise a side to travel to Locks Lane.

This is a very disturbing situation for the South Wales Cricket Association.