All square as nothing can separate the two Steel sides

THE game of the day in division three of the South Wales Association was the Briton Ferry Steel Seconds v Tata Steel Seconds clash in Briton Ferry, which finished in a rare tie.

Scott Evans (30), Ryan Griffiths (31), Morgan Hynes (41no) and Oscar Raisbeck (38) helped the hosts to 203-9. Tata used eight bowlers, Jake Watts taking 3-45.

Opener Sarma Volety (34) and No. 3 Matthew Saker (67) put Tata in the driving seat, but a couple of middle-order ducks put the game in the balance, and in the end skipper Damien Williams’s unbeaten 19 was just enough to secure a tie at 203-7.

Llanwrda and Dyffryn are the only unbeaten sides in division three after Pontardawe (155-9; Craig Alliss 47no) lost heavily at home to Dyffryn (293-8; Paul Rowland 69, Paul Amphlett 80).

Llanwrda had an early finish at Bronwydd Seconds, skittling the home side out for 88, with 20 extras the top scorer as Berian Williams took 4-14, James Morgan 3-29 and Sion Nicholas 2-19.

Openers Adrian Davies (37no) and Morgan (34) had little trouble guiding the visitors to 89-1 in 14.1 overs.

Felinfoel got off the mark with a comfortable home win against Porthcawl.

Porthcawl opener Mark Dixon (77) got the visitors off to a good start, and 40 from Tim Richards helped them to 217-8. Craig Richards took 3-28 and Chris Bowen 2-25.

Skipper Richards then hit 47 and Bowen 50 as the Llanelli men eased to 220-4 in 46.1 overs.

Gowerton Seconds beat their previously undefeated counterparts from Dafen. The visitors were put in by captain Adam Bond and his 4-28 was instrumental in restricting them to 177. Luc Picton’s 2-45 and 14-year-old Tom Sanu with 2-19 were also key to limiting the visitors, who were indebted to Ioan Roberts (50) and Jonathan Wastell (38).

Bond (38) got the hosts off to a good start, but his dismissal saw the game in the balance at 74-3. However, an 89-run partnership between David Roberts (68) and 15-year-old Lewis Hopkins (18) took them within sight of the winning post, and they eased over the line with five wickets and 13 overs in hand. Andrew Herbert took 2-23 for Dafen.

In division seven, Gowerton Thirds entertained Penlan at the Athletic Ground for the first league game to be played on their new artificial pitch.

Stephen Slade (39) top-scored in Penlan’s 164-7, with captain Rob Hopkins (3-29) the key to restricting their progress. In reply, Phil Griffiths (40no) was the only batsman to master Andrew Davis (5-31) and the hosts fell 27 runs short on 137 all out.

In division eight, Swansea Thirds proved too strong for Gowerton Fourths at Ashleigh Road.

Two wickets apiece from Abid Iqbal and Rob Jenkins had Swansea floundering at 99-8, but an undefeated 70 from No. 9 Justin Rees allowed them to reach 224-9.

In reply, Taran Bansi’s 3-26 saw Gowerton tumbled out for 120 with only Iqbal (35no) and Will Bevan (23) able to offer any serious resistance.