Roberts is the star as Gowerton battle back

GOWERTON Second XI opened their season with a 10-run defeat of Tata Steel Seconds in division three of the South Wales Cricket Association.

The visitors won the toss and sent Gowerton into bat. The hosts were soon in trouble at 37-3, with Adam Jardine (3-30) proving a handful.

Middle-order batsman David Roberts wrested the advantage back in favour of the hosts with a dashing 64 from 55 balls, an innings which included three sixes and seven fours.

Rhys Williams (23) provided valuable support, but the dismissal of both left the hosts on 150-7.

The tail helped them scramble to 171 all out, with Jack Donovan (3-19) key to bringing the innings to a close.

In reply, the visitors got off to a steady start, with Phillip Taylor and Paul Donovan sharing a partnership of 51 for the first wicket.

However, the introduction of Shane Nicholas (2-41) and Rhodri Phillips (4-39) turned the game back in favour of the hosts. Tata slipped initially to 53-3 and then, despite a quickfire 33 from 17 balls by Mark Donovan, to 106-6.

Gowerton now held the upper hand and Williams followed up his efforts with the bat by taking 2-17, which allowed the hosts to close the Tata Steel innings on 161.

Dafen Welfare Seconds enjoyed a comfortable sevenwicket win at home to Llanwrda.

Rhys Marchant was the chief destroyer for Dafen as he took 6-34 in his 10 overs. Chris Hudson chipped in with three wickets. Garan Williams made an unbeaten 42 for Llanwrda.

Dafen were rarely troubled in their reply as they coasted home, helped in no small part by the 41 extras conceded by the visitors. Simon Davies scored 37 and Ioan Roberts was unbeaten on 32.

There was also victory for Bronwydd Seconds, who saw off Porthcawl by 137 runs.

Gareth John scored a superb 105 for Bronwydd, his knock featuring 12 fours and six sixes. He found support from Mike Jones (47) as the visitors reached 269-6.

Mark Lewis top-scored with 34 in Porthcawl’s reply, but they were always struggling and were eventually all out for 132 in the 37th over. Jacob Jenkinson, Owen Thomas and Gethin Francis all took three wickets.

But Pontyberem’s season got off to a bad start as they went down by six wickets to Merthyr Tydfil.