ABERYSTWYTH took a step closer to winning the Rachels West Wales Conference title when they brushed aside Talybont by seven wickets last weekend.

Put into bat after losing the toss, Talybont were dismissed for 147, with Dave Barrow (40) and Vinod Mathew (33) the only batsmen to score any runs of note.

Aber passed the winning post with ease, thanks to an unbeaten 44 by Ted Trewella and a quick-fire 38 from Nat Burrell.

Their chances of reclaiming the title received a big boost as well when the match between nearest rivals Commoners and Dolgellau was abandoned on Sunday.

Invited to bat, Talybont soon lost Huw Chambers, bowled by Harri Edwards.

Nick Cooke (13) and John Glasby (17) made progress, until Cooke was caught when mis-hitting a Jamie Holder delivery.

Skipper Mathew joined Glasby but progress was interrupted by a downpour, so that one hour was lost from the game, with each innings reduced to 30 overs.

On resumption, Glasby was immediately run out, but Dave Barrow, was into his stride and helped Mathew to compile the most telling partnership of the innings.

Stand-in Aberystwyth skipper Edwards opted to use his slow bowlers at this stage and, initially, Dunbabin and Nat Burrell slowed the Talybont progress, until Barrow struck 18 from a Dunbabin over.

Barrow’s dismissal for 40, when lbw to Lloyd, presaged a collapse as wickets were sacrificed in the quest for quick runs.

The final wicket fell on the final ball of the 30th over, with the total on 147.

Andi Price and Anthony Burrell started the Aberystwyth reply positively, seeking every opportunity to score, but openers Sojan Varghese and Nick Cooke bowled well, denying the batsmen easy runs.

Price was soon well held by Simon Lloyd Williams, but Nat and Anthony Burrell, batting sensibly, maintained the rate of 5 an over until the elder Burrell was caught by wicket keeper Chambers for 23.

There followed the defining partnership of the match between Nat Burrell and Ted Trewella as Sojan Varghese tired and the change bowlers were less effective.

Burrell was caught in the covers for 38, Lloyd Williams the successful bowler, but Zaid Khan immediately struck two sixes and a four to complete the win for Aberystwyth in the 25th over, with Ted Trewella 44 not out, having struck two 4s and three 6s in his innings. Sojan (2-49) was Talybont’s most successful bowler.

• Meanwhile there was disappointment for Aberystwyth Seconds, who had Llanwrda on 105 for 9 when play had to be stopped due to the wet weather conditions, and the match was abandoned.