BOWLERS SHINE IN LLAN VICTORY
LLANGENNECH gave themselves a massive boost in their fight to avoid relegation from division one of the South Wales Cricket Association with a six-wicket home win against Llanelli on Saturday.
In a match reduced to 33 overs a side after a delayed start due to the wet weather, Llangennech asked their near neighbours to bat. It was a decision vindicated by a fine bowling performance that succeeded in bowling Llanelli out for 129 in 33 overs.
Only Iwan Rees (40), skipper Marcus Leaf (40) and Robert Bowen (18) reached double figures as Matthew jones took 3-27, Michael Jones 2-26 and Simon Clement 2-16.
After the early loss of opener Scott Lloyd, Matthew Jones (24) and captain James Taube (55) then set Llangennech on their way to victory, with David Williams (20no) and Chris Hickey (15no) easing them home in 24 overs.
Gowerton look doomed to finish bottom of division one after a comprehensive home defeat by runaway leaders Cowbridge.
Prolific Cowbridge openers Tom Merilaht (77) and Ben Wright (184no) put on 188 for the first wicket as the visitors raced to 299-1 in their 35 overs. Former Glamorgan batsman Wright took just 108 balls for his 184 and blasted nine sixes and 17 fours.
Gowerton could make only 144-6 in their 35 overs.
Dafen’s game at Maesteg Celtic did get under way but just 9.1 overs into the contest the rain returned to the Llynfi Valley and the game was abandoned with Celtic on 20-1.
In division two, Drefach did move up a place to third despite losing by four wickets at Felinfoel.
Drefach were put in to bat and were grateful to skipper Dafydd Humphreys for his unbeaten 63, which was the mainstay of their innings. Billy McBryde (29) and Ciaran Llewelyn (31) added valuable runs as the Gwendraeth men made 181 in 48 overs.
Anthony Mathias took 3-22, Julian Griffiths 2-22 and Craig Richards 2-37.
Opener Richards then hit 11 fours in his 73 as he and No. 3 Rhys Jones added 106 for the second wicket as Foel timed their reply to perfection, reaching 183-6 in 47.1 overs. Leigh Davies took 2-32 and Roy Llewelyn 2-43.
The Briton Ferry Town v Pontyberem game in division three was another that started but had to be abandoned because of the weather.
Ferry Town were all out for 105 in 30.1 overs as Daniel Griffiths (2-9), Dafydd Davies (2-19) and Rhodri Evans (2-6) all got wickets.
But with Pontyberem struggling on 45-4 in their reply, more rain in the 19th over meant no further play was possible.
In the same division the Dafen Seconds v Tata Steel Seconds and Llanelli Seconds v Porthcawl games, as well as Neath Thirds v Bronwydd Seconds, were all called off without a ball being bowled.
Division four leaders Llanwrda suffered a rare defeat when they went down by 105 runs at Briton Ferry Steel Seconds in a rain-affected game.
Steel elected to bat first and chalked up 203-5 in their 40 overs, Gavin Pugh hitting 53 and Tim Stephens 81 not out. Garan Williams had the impressive figures of 2-17 off eight overs.
Skipper Adrian Davies then gave Llanwrda a good start with 33, but after a rain disruption the visitors were set a revised target of 137 from 27 overs, and despite David Cumming (28) and Owen Davies (23no) adding valuable runs they ended on 98-5.
Bottom club Llandeilo lost at home to second-placed Gowerton Seconds by seven wickets.
Opener Hugh Towns hit 55 as Lla
ndeilo made 131-8 in their 40 overs, and despite Chris Jenkins (3-13) taking wickets at the start of the Gowerton innings, Sam Martin (58no) and Adam Bond (50no) saw the visitors to 134-3 in 37.1 overs.
Llangennech Seconds’ game at fellow promotion hopefuls Pontardawe was rained off, and Kidwelly Town lost at home to Great Western Railway.
GWR’s Phil Cadogan hit 97 not out as the Southerndown-based team made 177-5. Kidwelly lost wickets regularly and were never in contention as they fell to 115 all out in 36.1 overs.
Skipper Dean Hollands, batting at No. 11, was their top scorer with 27 not out as he and No. 8 Zac Williams (20) did at least make a fight of it with a stand of 53 for the last wicket.