Bowling duo grab plaudits as Bronwydd bag second win

BRONWYDD chalked up their second win of the season in division one of the South Wales Cricket Association with a 38-run success at Maesteg Celtic.

Bronwydd skipper Oli Furneaux won the toss and elected to bat, a decision he might have regretted when they were all out for 160, with Philip Howell (41) and Jacob Jenkinson (40no) the only batsmen to get going.

But Celtic were soon in trouble, slumping to 6-2 and never really recovering. Opener Nick Poole (43) held the innings together but Matthew Vaughan (5-29) and Tom Gleeson (3-2) ripped through the rest to dismiss the Llynfi Valley side for 122.

Llanelli tasted defeat in division one for the first time since their relegation from the South Wales Premier League last August, going down heavily at top-of-the-table Cowbridge.

Tom Merilaht (93) and Ben Wright (128) put on 217 for the first wicket as Cowbridge raced to 271-3 in their 50 overs. Iwan Rees took 2-61.

Opener Ioan Phillips gave Llanelli hope with a determined 43 not out but wickets fell all around him as the visitors were shot out for 101 in the 34th over, Brad Evans taking 4-40.

There was better news for Dafen, who eased to a seven-wicket win at home to Tata Steel in the same division.

The Port Talbot visitors posted a respectable 215 all out thanks in the main to Rhys Owen’s 72. David Dunfee took 4-46 and Matthew Evans 3-29.

Dafen openers Evans and Nicky Davies then set up a comfortable win with a first-wicket stand of 153, skipper Evans hitting 76 and Davies 102 not out.

In division three, Dafen Seconds beat Bronwydd Seconds by 46 runs. Matthew Bagshaw took 5-15 as Dafen were all out for 120.

But Andrew Randell claimed 5-16 for Dafen as Bronwydd were dismissed for 74. Owen Thomas was the only batsman to reach double figures with 44.