LLANWRDA ARE THE CHAMPIONS
LLANWRDA are champions of division three of the South Wales Assoication after they beat rivals Dafen Seconds in a close game in Llandovery.
Put in to bat, Dafen were all out for 214 after decent knocks by Jonathan Wastell (45), Jac Morgan (38), Ioan Roberts (36), Chris Randell (30) and Andrew Randell (21). Garan Williams took 3-27.
Llanwrda then lost wickets regularly but opener James Morgan (85no) stood firm, and with the help of skipper Sion Nicholas (58) at No. 7, the Tywi Valley side got home on 218-8 in 44.4 overs despite Andrew Herbert’s 4-44.
The other big game in the division saw Felinfoel move up to second after ending Pontardawe’s promotion hopes with a four-wicket success at the Swansea Valley club.
Pontardawe struggled to 137 all out, No. 10 batsman Jason Rourke (28) their top scorer for the second week in succession as Isaac Thorne took 4-37 and Craig Richards 3-29.
The Llanelli side themselves lost wickets regularly and at 65-5 the game was in the balance, but 33 not out by Rhys Harries and 22 from Chris Bowen got them to 138-6 in 46.5 overs. The win leaves Felinfoel second, nine points ahead of Dafen with one weekend of the season left.
The two sides meet again this Sunday in the final of the Association’s Intermediate Cup at Clydach CC (12 noon).
Tata Steel Seconds (64-4) beat Porthcawl (63 all out; Peter Doyle 3-9, Dan Melindo 3-7) by six wickets, and Bronwydd Seconds (202; Gethin Francis 59; Paul Amphlett 3-27) beat visitors Dyffryn (151-6; Paul Rowland 56; Steven Phillips 3-19) by 51 runs.
Gowerton Seconds travelled to play Briton Ferry Steel Seconds and their five-wicket win moved them out of the relegation zone.
The hosts elected to bat and were soon under pressure at 37-4. However, captain Steve Maddock’s 63 supported by 23 from Ellis Davies allowed them to recover to post 164-9. Sixteen-year-old Ben Croydon (215), Tom Parkin (2-20) and Rhys Williams
(2-33) all bowled well for the visitors.
Young Croydon (49) then set to work with the bat and in partnership with 15-year-old Lewis Hopkins (23) they compiled a second- wicket partnership of 91 to put them in a commanding position.
A mid-innings stumble saw them lose 4-24 with Rhys Phillips (3-42) causing most damage. However, a composed 32 not out from Rhys Williams saw the visitors over the line with nearly nine overs in hand.
Division four champions Maesteg Seconds won by 45 runs at Neath Thirds after scoring 141-5 and then bowling Neath out for 96 in 33 overs. Andrew Whelan took 4-13.
Aberdare Seconds are miles clear of the chasing pack in second place and had another big win on Saturday, bowling Llantwit Major Cavaliers out for 102 and then easing to 103-1.
Skewen Seconds are third after holding Llandeilo to 158-7 (Haydn Hatfield 45) and then getting to 162-3 (David Jenkins 40, Chris Cook 37, Scott Dunnett 44no) in reply.
Great Western (152) beat Kidwelly (92 all out) by six wickets, and Swansea Civil Service Seconds (72-5) beat visitors Llangennech Seconds (71 all out; Sean David 5-21) by five wickets.
Dunvant are the champions of division five after a seven-wicket win at third-placed Llandarcy. Llandarcy were bowled out for 110 (Chris Williams 41; Gareth John 3-16, John Welsh 3-24) and Dunvant then eased to 111-3 (Simon John 25no, Rob John 28no).
Morriston Seconds will finish second after they bowled Mumbles A out for 117 and then reached 118-3 (Aihsan Akhtar 58no, Matthew Dardecker 32no).
In division seven, Gowerton Thirds lost by 72 runs to Gorseinon despite Ieuan Phillips’s 3-43 and Peter Griffiths’s 60 not out, and in division eight a punishing 164 not out from Swansea Civil Service Thirds’ Yashas Girish that contained 15 fours and six sixes helped Civil Service to a 184run victory over Gowerton Fourths. Akash Gowda took 4-1 as Gowerton were all out for 79.