LAST week’s setbacks for both Brecon Cricket Club teams were quickly put in the past with a winning double over their Blackwood opponents on Saturday.

At home the 1st team really went to town on their Blackwood counterparts with a comfortable nine-wicket win in a game sponsored by Charles Crooks with George Tudor and De Winton.

Batting first Blackwood never came close to posting a challenging total as the Brecon bowlers went to work.

Sam Williams led the assault on the Blackwood batting taking 3-41 bowling with his usual skill to celebrate his birthday in style with the ball. Tom Jones bowled an excellent five overs spell taking 1 wicket for 9 runs and with Richard Lovering 3-15 and brothers Iain and James Mitchell sharing three wickets the Blackwood innings fell away to 104 all out.

Matt Williams led the Brecon reply with the bat putting up 35no and with Greg Webber (43no) saw Brecon home.

Also in the runs was Mike Gerrant (26) which ensured an early finish from where it was down to Sam’s for the birthday party with 19 points and a third place in the League in the bag.

At Blackwood the 2nd team had a more challenging encounter but came away with a victory. Blackwood batted well to fight their way to 193-9 against a Brecon seam attack which performed with credit.

For Brecon Rob Hudman bowled well to take 2-22 he received good support from Derek Osborne 2-43, Ryan Morgan 1-25 and Ben Kenchington 1-24 before captain John Cooke put in a destructive spell to clear out the lower order with 3-31. Fin Starkey also bowled well but without any luck.

The Brecon batting was once again built around Steve Kenchington’s powerfully batting with his 75 runs. He received excellent support from James Morgan (30) but then the loss of wickets including Kenchington’s left Brecon looking at 70 to win with the lower middle order at the wicket. Step forward Ryan Morgan who with a fine 38no aided by Rob Hudman, Derek Osborne, including an all run four, and finally Fin Starkey all combining to take Brecon over the line with two overs to spare.

Next Saturday it is Presidents Day at Brecon Cricket Club when the 1st team are home to Sudbrook and in addition on Thursday a Presidents Eleven will take on the 1st team commencing at 6pm at the BSA ground. 

The 2nd team will play at Ponthir on Saturday and the games for 1st and 2nd teams will mark the halfway point of the League season.  

JUNIOR CRICKET

Blackwood U11s welcomed Brecon U11s on a damp Friday night. Blackwood opened the batting scoring 271-5 wickets. 

There were some excellent spells of bowling with Bean Warry getting two wickets and Jac Kenchington three wickets for three runs.

Shauna Evans and Gwenni Kenchington opened the batting bringing the scoring up to 217 (U11s start on 200). They also lost one wicket which result in losing five runs. Bean Warry and Abbie Davies then added a further six runs to the total for one wicket. Rhys Jones and Jac Kenchington put on a total of 12 runs losingtwo wickets. Finally Leo Punter and Roly Warry brought the total up to 259-4 wickets. Jac Kenchington top scored with 16 not out. 

Brecon lost narrowly by 12 runs. Talybont 277-5 beat Ledbury 99 all outTALYBONT returned to winning ways with a resounding 178 run victory over mid table Ledbury 2nds. Asked to bat first Bont survived an early scare with Dan Bowen dropped at slip on 0. This was to turn out to be a crucial drop as Bowen and Colin Griffiths set the platform with an opening stand of 59 in 18 overs before Griffiths was caught for a well grafted 13. Dan was first to go as his mammoth innings ended on 142 as he was caught on the boundary in an innings which included 19 boundaries and five sixes. As Bont pushed for the 300 they lost Guy Wiliams for three and Richard James for one before Luke Bowen was bowled agonigsly close to his century for 91 which saw him strike six boundaries and seven sixes. Bowens dismissal in the last over saw Bont end on 277-5 off their 45 overs. In reply Ledbury made a patient start reaching 17 before bont captain Huw Griffiths struck the first blow with Phil Caffull lbw for 7. Griffiths then continued his good work as he caught and bowled Richard Orders for 0 and bowling Mark Hartness (3), Phil Jeynes (0) and Steve Ritchie (0) as he returned the excellent figures of 12 overs four maidens 5-25 to leave ledbury on 69-5. A superb piece of fielding by Dan Bowen then saw a run out as Ledbury ended on 99 all out and Bont picking up 25 points as they returned to second place in the league.