Time to celebrate
IT was celebration time last Saturday night for two local cricket clubs who closed out promotion, writes Tony Poole.
Maesteg rounded off a grand campaign in triumphing by 140-runs over Merthyr Tydfil at Hills Plymouth to play next summer in the top flight of the Peter Lynn Solicitors South Wales Association.
And Vale, having just missed out on promotion in previous campaigns, sealed the deal with a 73-run success over Lisvane Seconds to in 2020 secure Thomas Carroll South East Wales League Division Two status.
However, as both clubs are only too aware, the job is only half done and they want to go up as champions.
With that in mind, a win for Maesteg on Saturday at home to Felinfoel will secure the title while Vale are looking to do likewise at Hopkinstown.
Maesteg will again play old pals Maesteg Celtic in Division One with the matches set to provide plenty of interest in the Llynfi Valley while Vale in all likelihood are set to play Tondu.
The Bryn Road side still hold an outside chance of returning to Division One and this Saturday host relegated Rogerstone, but results involving leaders Lisvane and Radyr would also have to go their way.
Maesteg went in first against Merthyr Tydfil, posting a massive 284-5 and Andrew King crowned a golden summer with 97 (four sixes, 11 fours).
He put on 149 runs for the second wicket with Ashley Colston whose 80 contained a six and nine boundaries.
And silky bowling from Martin Wilkshire with 7-1-19-3 and new ball man Christopher Hicks 10-2-31-3 then saw the home side dismissed for 144.
Vale also went in first against Lisvane Seconds, and were in a spot of bother when the score stood on both 18-2 and 53-3.
But Jonathan J Davies struck a magnificent unbeaten 107, and figured in a fifth-wicket stand of 114 with ex-Pencoed star James Snelson (61).
It resulted in the boys from leafy Corntown taking tea with a mammoth 258-5 off 45 overs on the scoreboard.
And after fiery pace man Darren Upham sent down 9-3-31-1, the victory baton was handed to all-rounder Davies who weighed in with a match-winning stint of 9-3-16-5. It left Lisvane tottering on 85-7 and 128-9 before an unbroken stand of 57 left them on 185-9 off 45 overs via Stuart Drury (56) and Owain Ash (7).