Llandysul’s long trip well worth the effort
TWO games did get the go-ahead in division one of the South Wales Cricket Association on a weekend dominated by wet weather.
Llandysul made the long journey to Skewen worthwhile with an 88-run win.
The Ceredigion team now top the table after making 183-4 in a reduced 40 overs and then shooting out the hosts for 95.
Opener Carwyn Morgan (46) gave the visitors a solid start, continued by Gary Williams (70no) and Rhidian Harris (22).
Skewen opener Dean Kriescher top-scored with 20 for the hosts as the Jones boys, Arfon (3-10) and Steffan (2-25), and Rhidian Harris (2-17) saw the Neath side dismissed for 95.
Llanelli managed to get their home clash with Maesteg Celtic on but were well beaten by 111 runs.
Llanelli opted to field, but the Llynfi Valley side reached 195-4 in a reduced 44 overs.
Llanelli were never in with a shout of overhauling that total and slumped to 84 all out in 26 overs.
Bronwydd v Tata Steel, Dafen v Gowerton and Maesteg v Llangennech fell by the wayside.
Only one fixture in division two beat the weather and that saw Baglan hit 202 and then bowl out Swansea Civil Service for 152.
Yakoob Ali (41), skipper Jonathan Lewis (47) and Rhodri Gaskins-davies (34), plus a whopping 42 extras that included 38 wides, led the home scoring despite the efforts of Bryn Goss (4-35), Dan Hardman (2-27) and Scott Barrow (2-41).
The Civil Service reply got off to a disastrous start as they slumped to 17-5. But Steve Porter made a terrific 73 as Dafydd John (34) and Barrow (16no) helped them reach a respectable 152 all out in 41.5 overs.
Philip Godwin (4-27), John O’leary (3-7) and Taylor Rees (2-33) did the damage.
Newly-promoted Gowerton Seconds have made an impressive start to their campaign in division three and top the table.
Porthcawl won the toss at Victoria Road and captain Nicholas Morgan had no hesitation in putting the hosts in.
Gowerton lost captain Adam Bond in the first over, but David Roberts (38) and Rhodri Owens (18) put on 52 for the second wicket. However, the dismissal of Roberts triggered the loss of four wickets for 22 runs and the hosts were struggling on 76-5 with captain Morgan (5-15) proving a challenge for all the batsmen.
The experienced Richard Harris (43) and Rhys Williams (13) set about re-establishing the innings and their partnership of 45 put the hosts back on top.
The dismissal of Williams saw the tail fall away, with Ethan Harris (14no) the only other batsman to reach double figures.
Gowerton’s last wicket fell in the final over with 152 on the board.
The visitors set about the chase positively, with Morgan (15) and Mark Lewis (50) putting on 37 for the first wicket.
However, the dismissal of Morgan saw two further wickets follow quickly before a 64-run partnership between Lewis and Stephen Richmond (20) left the visitors in a commanding position requiring 48 from the final 14 overs.
But the introduction of Tom Parkin (3-26) proved to be the turning point and his dismissal of Lewis to an excellent tumbling catch by 14-year-old Jack Hobbs led to a regular loss of wickets.
The visitors were unable to keep up with the run rate, with Hobbs (1-12) holding his nerve impressively and the Porthcawl innings closed eight runs short on 144-7.
Tata Steel Seconds crushed Dafen Seconds in Port Talbot.
Opener Phillip Taylor hit 47 and No. 9 Raj Tilak 33 not out as Tata were all out for 149, helped by 27 extras, in 36.5 overs. Andrew Randell took 4-21 and Jonathon Wastell, Chris Hudson and Henry Lloyd two wickets apiece.
But the Dafen reply was in trouble from the off. Skipper Chris Randell top-scored with six as the Llanelli side were skittled out for 30 in 14.1 overs. Damien Williams took 5-14 and Adam Jardine 5-11.
Also in division three, Pontyberem enjoyed a 143-run win at Neath village side Dyffryn.
Opener Rhodri Evans was left agonisingly on 97 not out (12 fours and three sixes) when the Pontyberem innings came to a close on 221-5 after 34 overs. Skipper Craig Evans gave valuable support with 42 as only Lewis Day (3-25) enjoyed success for the home side.
Opener Paul Amplett then hit 19 for Dyffryn, aided by Scott Thomas (22) and Darren Wood (16no), but their reply petered out to 78 all out in 24.2 overs.
Daniel Griffiths took 4-11 and Dafydd Davies cleaned up the tail with 5-20.
The only game that survived in division four saw Kidwelly (185-7) comfortably beat visitors Great Western Railway by 105 runs in a 30-over contest.
Alistair Chambers (31), Liam Lilly (68) and Joe Dean (42) shone with the bat for Kidwelly, whose bowlers then dominated the GWR batsmen, who limped to 80-3.
In division eight, Gowerton Thirds played their game with Tata Steel on on Sunday and romped to a 169-run victory.
Lee Cobley (54), Peter Griffiths (42) and Sam Martin (34) helped Gowerton to 207-6. Isaak Webbe (2-38) and Josef Forward (2-22) shone for Tata.
In reply, the visitors struggled, with only Gary Hockin (16) reaching double figures. The hosts’ bowlers were a handful, with Luc Picton (3-1), Tim Asprey (3-19), Joe Barrett (2-7) helping dismiss the visitors for 38.