Brecon v Chepstow

SOUTH EAST WALES CRICKET LEAGUE

Home advantage meant little for Brecon Cricket Club’s 1st team on Saturday when on losing the toss they were asked to bat by visitors Chepstow and were shot out for a meagre 69 runs all within 27 overs in a game sponsored by Calibre Connections.

Only Andy Macdonald (21), Sam Williams (15) and James Mitchell (18) made it to double figures as the Chepstow bowlers made the most of the new ball.

The total was never likely to be defendable but to their credit Brecon’s bowlers made it hard going for Chepstow and when Sam Williams made the desired early breakthrough considerable encouragement was on offer.

Iain Mitchell then produced a hostile spell to celebrate his birthday by taking three wickets, to go with the four wickets he took last week, but these efforts were never likely to be to enough and indeed the visitors reached the required target after 17 overs for the loss of five wickets. The other successful Brecon bowler was Richard Lovering.

This defeat means that Brecon now face a long battle against relegation unless fortunes change quickly after only two wins from nine games and with the halfway mark of the season approaching.

The 2nd team were rained off at Crumlin, the only game to suffer this fate in the Division, which means their lead at the top of the table is reduced to just one point, followings Blackwood’s win.

Cup success for under 13 team

Brecon U13s played away at Malpas, Newport on Tuesday fielding a very young team including four U11 players. Brecon batted first scoring 99. Some excellent batting performances from Jac Kenchington scoring 25 and Jack Ryan scoring 19 before both players retired.

In a very exciting second innings, Malpas needed three runs from the last ball in order to win. Brecon held their nerve only letting them score a single run. Their final score was 98. There were wickets for Will Luckhurst, Jack Ryan and Jac Kenchington.

Brecon are now through to the semi-finals in the U13 plate competition. It was an excellent team performance. Malpas were fantastic hosts and played the game with great sportsmanship.

Both teams were a credit to their clubs and a great advert for the sport.

Builth Wells v Ross-on-Wye

The return of Builths missing bowlers paid immediate dividends as both sides recorded comprehensive wins against their counterparts from Ross-on-Wye.

However it was Dylan McPhee, the batter, who starred with a 96 ball 123, including 15 boundaries and three sixes, as Builth 1sts got back on the winning trail. Together with skipper Sam Williams (83) they added 204 for the third wicket after Steve Anderson (35) had got the innings moving.

Struggling Ross did their utmost to stem the increasing tide with Chloe Tingle recording 2-30.

As for those bowlers, Mike Williams (3-49) set the tone with a first ball wicket. Jack Donovan (39) did his best to hold up the inevitable. Adam Davies (62) very nearly frustrated the Bulls as along with Chloe Tingle (4no) added a defiant 52 for the last wicket before the guile of Winston Williams (1-10) brought down the curtain 142 runs short of Builths imposing total.

Rob Wall (2-10) and Aled Powell (2-20) ensured Builth headed back up the Wye Valley with full points.

Relieved skipper Sam Williams commented: “It was great to have a few more options available, and it showed with bat and ball.”

Builth 2nds ensured a very happy Carnival day in Builth as they romped to a 10 wicket win over Ross 2nds.

The depleted visitors gave themselves first use of the Garth Road track but were always up against it as Martin Hurst (5-17) used all his expeerience to put the Ross top order under pressure. Ben Cripps (1-27) and Gareth Sterry (1-24) supported as Marcus Bailey (32), Phillip Davies (22no) and Theo Minnie (18) battled hard to give Ross a total to defend.

Builth openers wasted little time in setting about the Ross attack as first in form Ezra Tattersall (60no) then Ian Morgan (56no) racked up chance less half centuries to claim a welcome 25 points.

Stand in 2nds skipper Paul Rowe added: “The two lads batted superbly and any nerves went away very quickly.”

Builth 2nds will look to continue their good form as they welcome Presteigne for a Mid Wales derby while the 1sts will take a break from Div 1 action.

Dales v Crickhowell

Crickhowell finally managed to break their duck last Saturday and at last, with nearly half the season complete, they registered their first win by beating fellow strugglers Dales away on their Leominster ground.

Crickhowell welcomed back skipper Nick Francis as well as son Lloyd and brother Justin.

Again Crickhowell won the toss and invited their hosts to bat first. With the Bowker brothers opening the bowling and later the Francis family taking over, it turned out to be quite a family affair. Joseph Bowker took 2-25 runs in his spell, and Ben 1-42 in his. The rest of the wickets were then shared across the Francis family with Nick (2-17) at his miserly best and Lloyd (1-31) continuing his good development. But it was Justin Francis that had the best return of the day, finishing with 4-21 off his 6 overs.

In the field it was an improving performance with Ryland Wallace taking a good catch at the wicket off Ben Bowker and Lloyd Francis helping out ‘uncle’ Justin by taking a very good catch in the deep. Ben then also helped his brother out by taking a catch for Joseph’s second wicket.

The ‘extras’ count though again was ‘top scorer’ for the opposition on 38, with Nick Palmer (35) the next best effort for the hosts. Nonetheless, Dales were all out for 148 with nearly 10 overs unused, and certainly Crickhowell would have settled for that before the start of the game.

Crickhowell though have ‘been here before’, removing the opposition for a fairly modest total, but could their batting hold up and see them through?

Well the answer on this occasion was a resounding yes, with batsmen showing a little more application than of late.

Nick Kinman (11), Greg Tew (18) and Phil Christie (13) all had small but positive contributions at the top of the order but again it was Nick Francis (59 not out) who showed his all round worth to the team. Wallace (16) stayed with him for a while, to edge them closer to victory, and also managed to avert a third duck on the trot. Young Callum Tew remained not out at the end, with Crickhowell finishing on 150 for 6, to take the win, and a very welcome 24 points from the game. That was enough to lift them off the bottom of the table but with only 56 points from the season so far, Dales are still ahead of them on 58, and bottom side Brockhampton are only 4 points back on 52.

Next week Crickhowell are at home to title chasers Luctonians (on 151 points) and the following week they have another home game against newcomers Cleobury Mortimer currently fourth off the foot of the table on 73 points. Goodrich are currently still the league leaders on 171 points.

The last few seasons for Crickhowell have seen them hovering around the middle of the table, wondering what was required for them to break through into the top echelons of the league. With the struggles so far this season, and the top four teams a class apart from the rest of the league, it’s mid table mediocrity that they would happily settle for now, but on the showing so far, that too might still appear to be ‘a bridge too far’.

Glangrwyney 1sts v Canon Frome 1sts

The clash of the top two in division two was not a classic but a keenly fought encounter with the visitors prevailing and, in the process, ending the home team’s unbeaten record this season.

Canon Frome won the toss, batted first reaching 53-0 in good time and things were looking ominous for the visitors however the introduction of the in-form Jules Hardwick changed that. After a first ball wide then disappearing for a six, last week’s top wicket taker settled into a groove resulting in a five-wicket haul as he removed the top order, his impressive figures being 5-26 off ten overs with five maidens. The run rate slowed which enabled Nicki Jones 2-24 and Tim Jones 2-0 to chip in with Jimmy Herrick impressively bowling his quick leg breaks and taking the last wicket to limit the home team to a disappointing 132 all out.

In reply, the visitors lost captain Sharpe to the third ball and struggled against the probing line of Chris Boyson. Marc Evans resisted, knocking the ball around confidently until on 32 a mis-timed drive ended dropped into mid off’s hands. By this time Tim Jones was at the other end and continued his recent good form, three times sending the ball into the neighbouring orchard which required several replacement balls to be found. He was joined by Geoff Holmes who admirably and effectively held up the other end as Glangrwyney with seventy runs to get really needed a partnership of substance to push for victory. This was achieved through Holmes’ five runs scored in twenty overs as the home team ran out of ideas and Jones ended the match with another four finishing on 68 not out. Glangrwyney’s 134 for five meant they won by five wickets to go top of the league now and are 37 points ahead of third place approaching the half way mark of the season.

The seconds didn’t have a game due to the fixture list, neither do they have one next weekend so are hoping to organise a friendly match.

¦ Glangrwyney 1st XI home to Ross CC XI in GB Liners Marches Senior 20/20 KO Cup

Played yesterday, Glangrwyney were put into bat and made 165-1 with Nathan Byrne making 74no, Tim Jones 48no and Mike Devoy 31. In reply Ross were restricted to 150-6 with Devoy taking 2-31 so Glangrwyney won by 15 runs and progress to the quarter finals.