THOMAS, CARROLL SOUTH-EAST WALES LEAGUE

IT WAS a case of as you were at the top of Division Three last Saturday night after Vale suffered like most through light rain that at times hit South Wales, writes Tony Poole.

Vale were due to visit Monkswood, but the game at Little Mill was knocked on the head around lunchtime.

This Saturday they are hoping to resume action at home to Dinas Powys in clash that will decide who remains strong promotion candidates.

The Cardiff suburbanites are on the fringe of the battle to get out of Division Three, and will be no pushovers for Jonathan Davies and his merry men.

However, there was some action in Division Three last Saturday - and arguably it produced the shock result of the campaign.

Table-topping Sully Centurions were surprisingly downed by 51 runs in a derby clash with Barry Wanderers at Hayes Point.

Though Wanderers of late have begun to hit form, they weren’t expected to trouble the inaugural South Wales Premier League champions of 2010.

Sully even won the toss and followed the trend on the day in requesting the home side to take first strike.

And when Wanderers were shot out for 120 inside 37 overs, it seemed as if Sully were on the way to enhancing their lead at the top.

But their reply proved a disaster from the word go and they were removed for a paltry 69 off 27.5 overs.

Ironically, Sully only picked up five points – the same amount as the bulk of the division got for abandoned matches.

So, going into Saturday’s round of fixtures the situation in Division Three reads: Sully Centurions 104, Crumlin 99, Vale 79, Monkswood 69, Monmouth 67, Dinas Powys 67, Pontymister & Cross Keys 62, Barry Wanderers 52, Machen 51 and Creigiau 49.

But there was some action in Corntown last Saturday with Vale Seconds throwing down the gauntlet to their Monkswood counterparts.

Put in to bat, Vale posted 30 for the first wicket before a cautious Gareth Andrews departed the scene for six.

But the big surprise of the day then unfolded, as top bat Mark Francis pushed a dolly catch back to Mark Bleazard.

He trooped back to the pavilion for a duck, and it became 42-3 when tiptapping Paul Sheppard was dismissed for 27.

Gethin Merry failed to make merry, as did Mark Stephens, and at 88-5 it was left to Steve Hiles (37) and Gregory Andrews (39) to repair the damage.

They added 33 for the sixth wicket and Christopher Haskins (2) then got his head down in helping Gregory Andrews put on 26 for the eighth wicket.

All this amounted to 154-8 off 40 overs with Bleazard (8-1-26-2), Kevin Brooks (8-2-19-3) and Dave Weller (8-0-45-3) the most successful bowlers in a decent Monkswood attack.

But as the players were taking tea, rain began to fall in Corntown, and the game was abandoned without Monkswood getting out into the middle.

Next up for Vale Seconds is Ebbw Vale away this Saturday.

Positions in Division Three Second XI now read: Vale 91, Sully Centurions 75, Monkswood 75, Crumlin 72, Creigiau 71, Pontymister & Cross Keys 67, Machen 56, Monmouth 53, Ebbw Vale 33 and Barry Wanderers 21.

CRICKET

OLIVER Pike from Corntown is set to play for Cardiff MCC University at the “Home of Cricket” tomorrow (Thursday), writes Tony Poole.

The former Bridgend Town paceman, who switched to Penarth this season, is likely to open the bowling for Cardiff MCCU against their Loughborough counterparts in the MCC Challenge Cup Final at Lord’s.

Loughborough were last week crowned MCCU champions, and will start favourites against the boys from the Welsh capital.

Bridgend Town batsman Jeremy Lawlor, who is their Glamorgan attached player this summer, might also be in the Cardiff line-up.

During their final stipulated league fixture, rain led to the match between Durham and Cardiff at The Racecourse Ground ending in a draw.

Durham posted 303 - Pike delivering 21-4-792 – and at stumps on day one, Cardiff were 3-1.

But no play was possible on the second and final day after rain saturated the outfield.

Meanwhile, Wales Minor Counties – who included the Bridgend Town duo of Sam Pearce and Sam Wood along with Steffan Roberts from Maesteg – ended on the front foot during a Unicorns (Western Division) Championship match with Shropshire at Pontarddulais.

After Neath batsman Roberts struck a maiden Championship century on day one in a Wales total of 315-9 off 90 overs, Shropshire soon hit the rocks.

Callum Taylor of Newport, who was making a Wales Minor Counties debut, sent wickets tumbling during a superb spell of 12.3-7-16-7.

Leggie Sam Pearce also possessed fine figures of 10-3-18-1, as Shropshire went from 59-5 to 77 all out.

They were made to follow on and second time around, Taylor again had them in trouble on the back of 16-10-18-4.

CRICKET

SIX young cricketers from Bridgend County Borough have been included in Welsh Boys squads for 2017, writes Tony Poole.

Three have made it into the U17 squad – Tomos Jones (Bridgend Town), Chris Matthews (Neath) and Elliot Rees (Tondu).

At U13 level, Lewis Cogbill has won favour with the Welsh selectors together with Bridgend Town colleagues Aaron Davies and Joe Davies in the U12 squad.

Young paceman Jones linked with the Newbridge Fields club last summer from Bronwydd through a link with then club coach Darren Thomas.

He has gone on this season to cement a place in the first team, and now shares the new cherry with ex-Glamorgan quickie Alex Jones.

Wicketkeeper Matthews is a product of the Tondu club, and soon made it into the senior ranks at Bryn Road.

And last season he took over the gloves at Neath from ex-Glamorgan wicketkeeper Adrian Shaw, who departed the Gnoll club last month as coach.

Opening bowler Rees shipped out of Bridgend Town in the spring to get regular first-team cricket at Tondu, and is now a regular in Premier League Two with the Bryn Road club.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Carroll South Wales Premier League Player of the Month for May went to Gareth Thomas of Division Two club Carmarthen Wanderers.

During the month he scored 360 runs, including two centuries, and took 10 wickets.