SOUTH WALES ASSOCIATION

COWBRIDGE stepped up their challenge for the South Wales Association title when they beat the rain and Gowerton and took advantage of the inactivity of their rivals.

The Vale of Glamorgan side, put into bat after Gowerton won the toss, scored 174-4 with the consistent Tom Merilhat hitting an undefeated 97 and Tom Cropper scored a useful 40.

The rain came and Gowerton were set a revised target of 167 in 20 overs.

They battled bravely, but managed only 112 all out in 27.2 overs allowing Gowerton to win by 54 runs.

In the only game to survive in the second division, Llangennech beat Drefach by eight wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Batting first, Drefach scored 99-7 in 34 overs with Dafydd Humphreys knocking 27.

Then the rain came and Llangennech were set a revised target of 112 and they reached that target for the loss of only two wickets in 20.1 overs.

James Taube top scored with 44 and Scott Lloyd was unbeaten on 26.

Porthcawl, who have experienced a topsy-turvy season in Division Three, were thwarted in their attempts to climb the table as their match at Locks Lane against Margam was abandoned in the evening after a stop-start day.

Margam won the toss and put Porthcawl and the Seasiders scored 203 for six, with David Lewis the star, hitting an unbeaten 78 with nine fours and two sixes and Anthony Dixon blasting a quick-fire 29 which included four fours and a six.

Margam were 58 for one when the rain set in for good and the game was abandoned.

In the same division, Neath thirds overcame Pontyberem by five wickets. Batting first, Pontyberem were dismissed for 86 and Neath reached the target for the loss of five wickets.

In Division Four, Llangennech seconds beat Skewen by five wickets.

Batting first, Skewen totted up 110-8 in 32 overs and Llangennech got the runs with five wickets down.

Robert Lloyd was their hero with an unbeaten 51.