HARRIES RUNS EARN SUCCESS

South Wales Cricket Association

Division 1

Llandysul tasted success for the very first time this season when they defeated Briton Ferry Steel and the men from Parc Tir Y Dref will be hoping that this win will spark off a run of positive results.

Batsman Rhydian Harries was the star of the show for the visitors as his excellent knock of 71 which included 10 fours provided the back bone to this victory but Llewellyn Hughes with 65 and skipper Andrew Edwards with 33 also provided very useful runs.

Briton Ferry were put in to bat and made a cracking start with Jason Hughes and Luke O Connor putting on 94 for the opening stand before Hughes was caught by Edwards off the bowling of Cardigan Town footballer Iestyn Evans. Lloyd Clement was next to go three runs later when he was cleaned bowled by Mike Turner and O’ Connor was dismissed soon after caught plumb in front of the sticks by Evans and at 127-3 the hosts looked wobbly.

However the Ferry managed to rally and thanks to an excellent knock from Gareth Davies who made 31 and two big hitting innings from Craig Evans with 35 which included three sixes and a brisk 39 from Andrew Collins who hit two sixes saw Briton Ferry through for a total of 240-8.

Ian Marsh picked up three wickets for Llandysul and there were two apiece for Rhydian Harries and Iestyn Evans.

Openers Ieuan Paske and Edwards gave their side a solid foundation with an opening stand of 44 before Paske departed on 22 but skipper Edwards and number three bat Ben Edkins took the score along to 81-2 before Edkins was caught and bowled by all rounder Luke O’Connor. However a superb partnership of 106 between Llewellyn Hughes and Rhydian Harris kept the run rate on course for victory and Harries carried his bat for a match winning innings of 71 and he and Iestyn Evans saw the team through for the win in the 48^th over.

This weekend Llandysul entertain Dafen who are also in the relegation zone and skipper Andrew Edwards will need his team to back this first win with another positive result.

Division 6

There was also a very welcome win for Llandysul 2nds to make it a memorable double for the Ceredigion club after they comfortably disposed of Llandelio 2nds by six wickets.

Put in to bat the hosts struggled for runs with number three batsman Craig Johnson forced to prop up an end as he ran out of partners and he carried his bat for 30 runs. Opener Hugh Towns was the only other batsman to make any impression and he hit 21.

Experienced campaigner Aled Jones was the pick of the Llandysul bowlers and he bagged a couple of wickets and there were two also for Gareth Chapple as Llandeilo stuttered to a total of 110-8.

In reply openers Meurig Jones (16) and Dafydd Jones (15) made a steady start but it was the batting of Gareth Chapple who made 26 not out and Luke Swift who also made 26 who did the damage and they steered their team to a comfortable win with ten overs to spare at 113-4.