THOMAS, CARROLL
BRIDGEND Town suffered a first postponement of the season at Ynysygerwn last Saturday to fall further behind in the title race, writes Tony Poole.
The wet state of the Ynys ground led to the game being called off in midmorning with both sides awarded five points for the cancellation.
This means Town will now be desperate for points when they welcome Pontarddulais to Newbridge Fields this Saturday.
And while it seems as if the season has only just begun, a week on Saturday will mark the halfway point in the campaign.
On June 24, Bridgend take on Mumbles in Newbridge Fields while on July 1 reverse fixtures get underway and Bridgend head for The Gnoll to challenge Neath.
However, the remainder of the month is marked by a plethora of home matches, as through the vagaries of the Town fixture-list, they play their next four games in Newbridge Fields.
In commences on July 8 with the visit of Ammanford, and during the remainder of the month Penarth, Port Talbot Town and title-holders Newport will all head to Bridgend.
However, whether home advantage during July works in favour of Town, remains the burning question.
Returning to last Saturday, the big winners on the day were Newport, who gained the only victory on allegedly a sporting wicket at newly promoted Penarth.
They triumphed by three wickets to collect a sweet 16 points to oust Bridgend Town from second position in the table.
And this Saturday, all eyes will be on Spytty Park, as Newport take on former Western League colleagues Cardiff in a clash that will give the biggest indication yet of where the 2017 title is possibly heading.
At the Recreation Park in Penarth, the Seasiders were put in to bat by the champions, and were shot out for 115 in 47.5 overs.
Nicholas Morgan (33) was easily top scorer while man of the moment – Wales Minor Counties new boy Callum Taylor – delivered a matchwinning stint of 10-2-22-3 aided by Josh Aston with 8.5-2-20-4.
Though it was no walk in the park for the champions, 84-3 soon becoming 111-7, they limped home in the 36th over on 116-7.
It almost goes without saying, top scorer was new sensation Taylor, who contributed an undefeated 45.
And Cardiff did better than most against Port Talbot Town before rain engulfed the Diamond Ground in late afternoon.
Leaders Cardiff were invited to bat and Umar Malik, who hit an astonishing 268 last Saturday against Bridgend Town Seconds and followed it with 103 the next day in a Welsh Cup win over Abergavenny, was promoted to the first team.
He responded in making 52 alongside class act Alex Milton (67) while Alun Thomas contributed 40 in a 50-over total of 231-7.
Wales Minor Counties strike bowler Richie Edwards with 10-1-40-3 kept the Pirates on the radar, and they had sailed on to 10-0 off 4.2 overs when the match was abandoned due to rain.
However, Cardiff banked 10 points, and they now head the table after seven rounds of fixtures on 116 points from Newport 98, Bridgend Town 91, Port Talbot Town 86, Mumbles 80, Pontarddulais 80, Penarth 63, Neath 61, Ynysygerwn 57 and Ammanford 56. Driscoll was at his brutal best thrashing four sixes and two fours in a thrilling knock of 36 not out, including 14 runs off four balls to end the game with rain again threatening. The unbeaten third wicket partnership of 69 saw Porthcawl to victory with ten overs to spare, their fourth success of the campaign.
Alun Richards was the only Maesteg bowler to prosper, his figure 2-14 from six overs.