Ponty waste no time in making mark at higher level

FOUR teams got their division three campaigns off to a perfect start with maximum hauls of 20 points.

Pontardawe, promoted from division four last season, eased to an eight-wicket win at home to Briton Ferry Steel Seconds.

Neil Jones took 5-18, Jason Rourke 2-9 and skipper Mark Jones 2-21 as Steel were shot out for 80, and Huw Jenkins (21no) and Chris Keen (41no) then guided Ponty to 84-2 in just 8.4 overs.

Dafen Seconds won the division three Llanelli derby against Felinfoel by five wickets.

Iwan Richards (30), Isaac Thorne (69) and Sam Jones (33no) helped Felinfoel to 184-8, Cieran Latham taking 3-50.

Dafen opener Jac Morgan then hit 12 fours in his 81 as Dafen reached 185-5 in 46.2 overs. Felinfoel conceded 43 extras. Stuart Parmenter took 2-26.

Dyffryn (108-1; Darren Wood 34, Paul Rowland 50no) beat Porthcawl (106; Colin Tucker 5-17) by nine wickets. Tata Steel Seconds (156; Sarma Volety 67)) lost to Bronwydd Seconds (160-3; Steven Phillips 44, Fergal Walter 86no) by seven wickets.

Gowerton Seconds were well beaten by 10 wickets away to Llanwrda in Llandovery.

Batting first, Gowerton were well placed at 110-4, but after captain David Roberts was dismissed for 73 they fell away to be bowled out for 126. Louis Davies (15) was the only other batsman to reach double figures.

The hosts then raced to their target without losing a wicket thanks to skipper Adrian Davies (35no) and James Morgan (80no).

In the lower divisions, a few teams failed to raise sides and had to concede their matches.

In division six, Landore Seconds and Great Western Seconds conceded games at Ammanford Thirds and Bryn respectively, and in division eight Kidwelly Seconds, Pontyberem Seconds and Port Talbot Town Thirds conceded to Penllergaer, Swansea Civil Service Thirds and Swansea Thirds.

But Pontardawe’s second XI made it a good day for the club with a 39-run victory against Llandarcy Seconds in division six.

Chris Richards (35) and Andrew Quirolo (47) helped Ponty to 144-9 despite Ruan Holt’s 2-7 off eight. Andrew Maunder took 3-20 and James Moule 3-13.

Holt’s rapid 35 threatened to carry Llandarcy to victory, but after his dismissal the hosts fell to 105 all out.

Gareth Morgan, Phil Begley, Steve Jones and Richards took two wickets each.

Gowerton’s 3rd XI claimed a 166-run victory against Margam in division seven. Gowerton posted 228-3 and dismissed the hosts for 62. Rhys Williams produced a man-of-the-match performance, scoring 116 and then taking 4-1.