Aberaeron (282) beat Talybont (203 for 7) by 79 runs

Even though there was only one match down for decision in the Girasol Homes West Wales Conference last weekend, it proved to be an important one for Aberaeron as they inflicted the first defeat of the new season on visitors Talybont.

Batting first, Aberaeron had posted a useful total of 282 all out before the innings closed, thanks to solid contributions from Steffan Rees (80, including 6 fours and 5 sixes), Hywel Rees (67, 10 fours and a six), Chris Strange (58, 8 fours and a six), opener John Fice (29, with 4 fours), and Alex Pichford (13, 2 fours).

Dave Barrow tore through the lower order to return 5 wickets for 67 for Talybont, and others to take a couple of wickets were Iwan George (2 for 38, including a caught and bowled to dismiss Strange) and Simon Lloyd Williams (2 for 59).

Captain Phil Abraham had earlier held catches to dismiss both opening batsmen.

In reply, the Talybont batsmen gave it their best shot, with opener Vinod Matthew denied a well deserved half-century when caught on 49 by Neil Snowdon, from the bowling of Simon Mitchell.

That made it 104 for 3, after opener Anish Kuriakose had been caught by Hywel Rees from the bowling of Steff Rees for 12, with 2 fours, and Iwan George was caught and bowled by Hywel Rees for 10.

Simon Mitchell produced the best bowling figures for Aberaeron with 3 for 33 to also account for Dave Barrow (17) and Phil Abraham (11), but Huw Chambers then showed defiance with 20, with 4 fours, before he was run out by Strange.

Nijo John finished on 31 not out, including 5 fours, and Simon Lloyd-Williams was 18 not out, with 4 fours, before the overs ran out with the score on 203 for 7.

The 79 run victory keeps the defending champions firmly in a group of four teams challenging for the title, the others being front runners Tywyn and Talybont as well as Commoners.

It could all change this weekend however when Talybont entertain Commoners and Tywyn take the field against Aberystwyth on Sunday.