ABERAERON recorded the first decisive victory of the season in the West Wales Conference when beating defending champions Aberystwyth by 120 runs.

The visitors reached 242 for 9 at the Geufron, and the reply never really got going as Aberaeron notched their third straight win this season.

An opening stand of 149 in 24 overs by John Fice and David Grinzpan effectively took the game away from the hosts, whose bowlersagain struggled for consistency in the face of fine stroke play.

Grinzpan set the pace with a succession of boundaries, but John Fice, after a slower start, moved on to the attack, causing the run rate to increase dramatically.

Eventually, Mark Evans struck, with the help of a quick stumping by Rob Rudge to dismiss Fice for 73 (including 11 fours). Grinzpan followed almost immediately for 64 (9 fours), when bowled by young spin bowler Titus Mathew (2 for 52).

Hywel Rees was caught next ball, and Dave Floyd soon followed, before Chris Strange (31, 3 fours and 2 sixes) and Jacob Jenkinson (21, 3 fours) hurried the score along. Strange fell at 199, but with the score on 217, four further wickets fell, with Mark Evans (3 for 46) the chief beneficiary.

The other wicket-takers were Ted Trewella (2 for 38) and Zaid Khan (2 for 40), but it was thus left to Sam Jenkinson (7 not out) and Paul Hughes (10 not out) to produce a highly entertaining unbroken last-wicket stand to frustrate the hosts, who had made an excellent comeback.

Facing a target of 243, hopes were high that Mark Evans would repeat his work of the previous week. This was not to be, however, as Neil Snowdon deceived him for 13, and followed with a first ball dismissal of Joel Dixon with the score on 18.

There followed an excellent stand between Johnny Cordy and Zaid Khan.

They took the score to 75 before an injudicious shot cost Cordy (24) his wicket to Paul Hughes’ bowling. Soon afterwards, Zaid Khan started to suffer with cramp and eventually had to retire hurt for 36.

Further wickets fell, mainly to Paul Hughes, before last man Titus Mathew joined skipper Rob Rudge. Together they resisted until the return to the attack of opening bowler Simon Mitchell proved too much for Mathew and the innings finished on 122 all out, Rudge 20 not out.

Paul Hughes capped a fine display with 4 for 28 in 9 overs, and Neil Snowdon took 2 for 33 in 5 overs, with Simon Mitchell and Hywel Rees also taking wickets.For all the local cricket reports see this week's Aberystwyth and South editions of the Cambrian News.