Cricket

Aberystwyth clinch West Wales Conference title

Sterling Asset Management West Wales Conference

ABERYSTWYTH Firsts reclaimed the Sterling Asset Management West Wales Cricket Conference Championship title with a comfortable 120-run success away at Llandovery’s Castle Field.
An opening stand of 151 between Andi Price, (pictured left), and Anthony Burrell, 58, laid the platform for maximum batting points by Aberystwyth, who finished on 231-5. In reply, Dafydd Hughes notched up a useful 43 runs for the Drovers, but spinner Aled Lewis, 6-27, ripped through the innings as it folded on 111.
With both teams minus key players, the home side won the toss and they put Aberystwyth in to bat first. Openers Andy Price and Anthony Burrell soon had the scoreboard ticking over, however, and they put on an excellent partnership of 151 runs. Both batsmen scored freely and the 100 runs came up in 23 overs, and the 150 in 28 overs, as the acceleration was stepped up.
Burrell was the first to go, lbw to Josh Archer for 58, which included 8 boundaries and a six. That mode of dismissal proved popular as the next three wickets saw Sion Francis, 6, Adam Carvell, 4, and Andy Price, 90, dismissed lbw to Archer. Skipper Price’s innings was a model opener batsman’s knock. He has led from the front this season and this superb knock included some 11 boundaries and 3 sixes.
There was no respite for the home bowlers, with Aled Lewis and Simon Williams, putting on an unbroken partnership of 52, in an innings that had been shortened by three overs due to a heavy rain shower. Aled Lewis looked in excellent form, hitting 7 boundaries and a six, as he raced to 48 not out, with the total being 231 for 5.
After tea the rain had relented, though conditions were difficult for the bowlers. Jake Carvell continued his rapid progress with a good opening spell as Josh Archer, 18, and Elgan Lewis, 19, laid a good platform of 25 runs, before Archer holed out. Morgan then followed to make it 28 for 2.
Price turned to spin after 14 overs and Aled Lewis and Anthony Evans operated unchanged for the next 20 overs. Lewis picked up 6-27 and Evans claimed 2-28.
Llandovery lost wickets regularly, but 14-year-old Dafydd Hughes’ knock stood out. His defiant 43 runs were full of powerful shots, as he hit 6 fours and a six.Aber wicket-keeper Steffan Roberts was in good form, claiming four victims, and the innings closed in the 34th over at 111.
With Rhayader’s match against visitors UWA Commoners called off due to a waterlogged pitch, Aber claimed the title. Now the focus will be on the new 20/20 Cup which will begin on Saturday with Aberystwyth Firsts being the visitors to Vicarage Field to play UWA Commoners.

DOLGELLAU finished with a flourish in the last league match of the season on Sunday with a 214-run win against Tywyn.
Batting first, Dolgellau piled on the runs thanks to an opening partnership of 179 between Gethin Edwards, 103, including 13 fours, and David Edwards with 52.
Mark Edwards was also in good form, but he was unlucky when forced to retire on 51, including 4 fours and 3 sixes, with the rest of the runs coming from Greg Smithies, 12, Danny Harris, 29 not out, and Robert Humprheys, 28 not out.
Huw Davies bowled very well for Tywyn, recording his first five wicket haul for the club with 5-62 of his 12 overs, while the other wicket fell to Nick Williams.
In reply, Simon Jekins and P Bailey put on 52 for the first wicket, before the latter opener was bowled by Bryn Fogden for 4. Jenkins soon followed for 34 when he was caught by Phil Leeds off the bowling of Bryn Fogden for 34, with 6 fours, and Nick Williams was bowled by Tomos Slattery for nought to make the score 56 for 3. Huw Davies offered some resistance as he made 23 runs, including 4 fours, before being bowled out by Gethin Edwards, but no other batsman made an impact as Tywyn were all out for 94 in the 22nd over.
Youngster Harry Leeds mopped up the tail end with 4 for 7 off his 2 overs, while Bryn Fogden returned 2 for 6 off 4 overs, Tomos Slattery 2-27 off 5 overs, and Gethin Edwards 1 for 0 off one maiden over.
Elsewhere, wickets fell in quick succession at Tregaron where Aberaeron were skittled out for a mere 38 runs before suffering a nine-wicket defeat last weekend.
Richard Moore-Colyer, 5-13, did most of the damage for Tregaron, with a couple of wickets also going to Arthur Newton and one for Martin Jones. Dan Jenkinson, 10, was the only batsman in double figures.
The only wicket to fall for the visitors was claimed by Paul Hughes as Tregaron passed the post on 39-1. Llyr Hughes, 13, was the only victim, with Nigel Salmon, 16 not out, and Nathan Yates, 11 not out, at the crease when success was achieved.

TALYBONT proved too strong for Aberystwyth Seconds, who were dismissed for 88 runs in chase of 153. Jim Vaughan fired nine boundaries on his way to a fine 70, while Alun Davies did the rest with a haul of 5-16 for the visitors.