Hapgood bags four as Ponty continue fine start to season

PONTARDAWE and Llanwrda head division three of the South Wales Association after both won away from home on Saturday.

Pontardawe dismissed Bronwydd Seconds for 112 despite skipper Steven Phillips’s 32.

Jeff Hapgood took 4-25 and Kael Ace 2-48, and there were two run outs.

Ponty then eased to 114-2 thanks to Adrian Lock (41no), Huw Jenkins (25) and Chris Keen (30no).

Llanwrda won by five wickets at Felinfoel, who they dismissed for 159 despite Robert Bowen’s excellent 91 off 74 balls that featured 14 fours and a six. Steffan Roberts took 3-56. Opener James Morgan (42) and Joseff Morgan (56) then set Llanwrda up to reach 160-5 in 30.1 overs.

Briton Ferry Steel Seconds (89 all out; Colin Tucker 3-10, Jake Rees 3-24) lost at home to Dyffryn (157; Daryl Phillips 3-8, Tim Stephens 3-29) by 69 runs, and Porthcawl (98; Chris Hudson 4-15, Andrew Randell 3-15) lost at home to Dafen Seconds (170; Jac Morgan 52) by 72 runs.

Gowerton Seconds bounced back from their defeat on the first weekend to record a 43-run success at home to Tata Steel Seconds.

Batting first, Gowerton were given a great start with Rhodri Owens (96) and Rhys Hughes (32) compiling a century opening partnership.

Captain Adam Bond added 25 and the hosts closed on 255-9. Matthew Saker took 4-36.

In reply the visitors were well placed at 172-4 thanks to 56 from Raj Tilak.

However, Luc Picton (3-33) applied the brakes and, supported by Steve Cable and Luke Main who grabbed two wickets apiece, Gowerton bowled the visitors out for 212.

In division six, Dyffryn Seconds are the only side on a maximum 40 points after two matches after they defeated visitors Llandarcy Seconds by 135 runs.

Opener Giles Hayes (41) and skipper Rob Stanton (84no) guided the Bryncoch side to 210-4 and Llandarcy were then shot out for 75 in 30.5 overs. Scott Ireland took 5-18 and Phil Paisey 3-19. Ammanford Thirds fell to their first defeat of the season by 38 runs at Bryn, who made it two from two.

Bryn were 166 all out thanks to a captain’s knock from Robert Thomas (77), the only Bryn batsman to reach double figures.

For Ammanford, Dafydd Wyn Jones took 3-5 and Jacob Williams 2-38.

But despite a second-wicket partnership between David Lumb (21) and Josh Davies (28), Ammanford’s response fell 38 runs short as they were dismissed for 128.

Landore Seconds (74 all out; Jack Rees 5-3 off eight) lost at home to Pontarddulais Thirds (76-0; Liam Jones 22no, Jac Williams 40no) by 10 wickets, Clydach Thirds (159-6; Ken Hanney 37) won by four wickets at home to Porthcawl Seconds (157-9; Phil Barber 3-20), and Pontardawe Seconds (119 all out; Jonathan Howells 44no) beat GWR Seconds (46 all out; Kevin Thomas 4-16, Richard Felton 3-0) by 73 runs.

In division seven, the local derby between Gowerton Thirds and Waunarlwydd saw visitors Waun come out on top thanks to 4-23 from Ashley Richards and 30 not out from Dean Thomas-welch.

And in division eight, Penygroes proved too strong for Gowerton Fourths.

The hosts scored 184-8 despite debutant Ivor Parry’s 3-33 and 14-year-old Trystan Ovens’s 2-22.

Penygroes then tumbled the visitors out for 66 for a 118-run success.