DOLGELLAU were victorious by 80 runs against Llay Welfare in their first home game of the new season.

In Dolgellau’s 273 for 7 there were four half-centuries, but the top score of the day was on the losing side, opener John Lloyd carrying his bat for 78 in Llay’s 193.

For the hosts, Gareth Lanagain top scored with 62, Eric Herbert 56, Sion Francis 51 and Phil Leeds stuck 50.

Dolgellau, opting to bat first, had an excellent opening partnership of 105 in 21 overs between Lanagan and Francis. Francis hit 6 fours in his 51, before being the first wicket to go down, when bowled by David Phennah, the Dolgellau batsman advancing towards the bowler.

Lanagan continued in tandem with Herbert putting on 30 runs for the second wicket, but at 135 Lanagan was bowled by Mike Wright, the ball keeping low, after making the visitors top score of 62 off 98 deliveries with 11 boundaries.

Lanagan’s fifty took 80 balls while Francis reached his half century in 53 balls.

Herbert and skipper Leeds had an alliance of 70 for the 3rd wicket, taking it to 205 in the 39th over of the 50 due to be bowled. Following on from his century last week at Gwersyllt, this time Herbert was dismissed for 56 from the 40 balls faced, with 3 sixes and 3 fours.

Leeds continued to accumulate runs while three more wickets went down at the other end for 13 runs.

Bowler Tom Parry was given two lbw decisions in his favour, Geraint Jones and Greg Smithies, who may have been somewhat unlucky, the ball seeming to hit the bat before the pad.

Sam Williams was next to go, when bowled by Jack Billington, to make it 229 for 6, at which Rob Humphreys joined Leeds to advance the total by 25 runs, to take it to the penultimate over.

Leeds had time to complete his second successive half century, making 50 from 63 deliveries with one four, being caught by Wright off Tom Parry.

Not out were Humphreys and Sion Hughes who put on 19 runs at the end, Humphreys closing on 21 not out with a four and a five!

In Dolgellau’s 273 for 7, Tom Parry claimed 3 wickets for 61 from 8 overs and Mike Wright 2 for 66 from 12 overs. Billington 1 for 39 and Phennah 1 for 44 were the other wicket takers.

When Llay replied they lost the wicket of Phennah in the 8th over, when caught by Sion Hughes from the bowling of Sam Williams.

The hosts, however, had to wait another 21 overs before the fall of the second wicket, opener John Lloyd and Wright having a partnership of 87 for the second wicket, with three dropped catches not helping matters, all off Herbert’s bowling.

First change bowler Jason Weaver got in on the action by having Wright caught by Humphreys for 30, which included 5 fours, and 3 balls later bowling Tom Parry.

It was 128 for 4 when Jack Parry was run out by a Rob Humphreys direct hit

The Llay captain Tom Crewe joined Lloyd in the middle and added 45 runs for the 5th wicket, Crewe eventually departing for 23, bowled by Herbert, who took two more wickets, having Huw Jones caught by keeper Geraint Jones and bowling Lewis Williams.

In the meantime Lloyd moved on to a very good 50, finishing on 78 not out and being on the pitch throughout, a total of 95.5 overs, as keeper for 50 of them. He hit 10 fours and faced 129 balls.

Ethan Griffiths was run out by Leeds, and Francis got 2 wickets at the end, bowling both Billington and last man Jack Birch, as Llay were all out for 193 giving Dolgellau an 80 run victory.

Herbert had 3 for 30 off 12 overs, despite the dropped catches,. while Weaver took 2 for 30 from 7, Francis 2 for 45 from 8.5 and Sam Williams 1 for 32 from 10.

Jack Williamson and Sion Hughes were the other bowlers used, with Leeds being unable to bowl after being injured while fielding.

On Saturday, Dolgellau’s first team will be playing at home to Abergele and the seconds visit Abergele Seconds. On Sunday it’s Connah’s Quay versus Dolgellau in the Welsh Cup.