ABERAERON came close to losing their unbeaten record in the West Wales Conference as they settled for a tied outcome in their match at Tywyn on Sunday.

The visitors had fancied their chances of scoring a few runs when winning the toss and batting first on the artificial strip, but wickets fell at regular intervals, to restrict the visitors to a modest total of 132 for 8.

The runs proved to be equally difficult to come by for Tywyn, who nearly clinched the win, but ultimately ended up all square in the scorebook for a tied match with 132 for 7 after their 40 overs.

Tywyn captain Dave Jenkins had won the toss and after electing to field first in testing conditions for the batsmen, opening bowlers Richard Rees (2 for 17) and James Bradbury Willis (3 for 26) started well by dismissing the top five batsman.

Only Dave Grinszpan (16) and Alex Pitchford (11) reached double figures, but that then brought Sam Jenkinson to the crease, and he led the recovery by scoring 37 not out, ably supported by Mark Gleason (14) and Neil Snowdown (12).

Tywyn however continued to bowl well, with captain Dave Jenkins picking up a further three wickets for 21 runs, thus earning the bowling point for the home side. Aberaeron eventually ended on 132 for 8 after their allotted 40 overs.

In reply, Aberaeron started well, with Dave Lloyd catching opener Niki Williams for 1, off the bowling of Steff Rees. That brought James Bradbury-Willis (23) to the crease whom, with opener Richard Rees (19) played watchfully and began to get the scoreboard ticking over.

Drinks however brought quick wickets as first change bowler Paul Hughes dismissed Bradbury-Willis, caught by Alex Pitchford, and Jack Morris (9), who was caught by Neil Snowdon, soon after.

Rees was the next wicket to fall, caught behind off the bowling of Grinszpan.

The home team looked as if they were going to fall short at 70 for 4, however Jack Williamson (33) and Dave Jenkins (15) fought back hard and brought the scores to 123 for 6 as Williamson was stumped off the bowling of Snowdon and Dave Jenkins was out bowled by Steff Rees, leaving 9 to win off 2 balls.

Ted Hughes then dismissed Rees through the covers with a glorious cover drive for 4, and 4 more byes followed which meant the game ended in a draw.

Steff Rees finished with 2 for 26 from 8 overs and Paul Hughes took 2 for 12 off 9.

• ABERYSTWYTH Firsts came out on top in their West Wales Conference match against the Seconds at the Geufron as half centuries from Zaid Khan and Ceri John steered them to 145 for 5 in 28 overs.

After winning the toss and electing to field, the Firsts removed openers Carwyn Jenkins and Tom Constantine cheaply, but Dafydd Jones (36) and Owen Keyworth (34) put good runs on the board, with late flurries by Gwern Penri (20 not out) and Ioan Morris (18) pushing the score to 144 all out in the 39th over.

None did better with the ball for Aber than Rowan Dunbabbin (5 for 23 from 9 overs) while Zaid Khan took 2 for 7 from 5.2 overs, Gareth Lewis claimed 2 for 21 from 8 and Ceri John took 1 for 18 off 3.

The Firsts’ top order batsmen of Johnny Cordy, Tom Williams and Ifan Thomas lost their wickets early in the reply, but an unbeaten 63 by Zaid Khan and Ceri John (50) were enough to secure victory.

Tom Constantine (2 for 23 from 6 overs) finished with the best bowling figures for the Seconds, with Emlyn Mainwaring (1 for 29), Gwern Penry (1 for 16) and Alwyn Davies (1 for 1) also taking wickets.