Clean sweep (From Barry And District News)

Clean sweep

SULLY Centurions had a magnificent day last Saturday with all three teams winning.

The 1st XI entertained the much fancied Ponthir who had in their ranks former Glamorgan player Phil North as their Captain.

Ponthir won the toss and on a green Sully wicket elected to bat but were soon regretting it as in only the second over Gage bowled Van Der Weyer for a duck.

A 36 run partnership between North and Burkitt developed before a smart bit of fielding by Gleeve ran out Burkitt for 8.

Centurions claimed their third wicket when the score reached 60, Simkiss lbw to Gage for 8. Then at 70 the prize wicket of North fell. Eskins, beginning to return after a few seasons in the wilderness with the ball, bowled him for 40.

James and Holcombe added 34 for the fifth wicket but Centurions were very much on top with Eskins claiming his second wicket, bowling James for 19, and three runs later Gareth Thomas got in on the act, bowling Holcombe for 12.

Ponthir were now in deep trouble at 107 for 6, and it was left to Dominy with a quick fire 22 and some considerable extras, no balls and wides contributing a massive 38 to the total, to take the visitors to respectability at 162 all out. Adam Davies claimed three wickets in quick succession.

Centurions reply got off to an excellent start with Jamie and Ryan Sylvester looking in fine form as they compiled an 88 run opening partnership, Ryan in particular dealing very severely with the visitors attack, hitting 11 fours and three sixes in a magnificent 79.

With the score on 88 Jamie was caught off North for 30 and then Langworth showed his class with a delightful 30 before Centurions lost both Ryan for 79 and Dave Eskins for nil, both on the same score of 115.

Gleeve and Langworth virtually saw Centurions home but then both got out to poor shots. Luke O'Connor and Morgan Hodges, both only 16 years old, then added the required runs for victory to see Centurions comfortably home by 5 wickets.

Ponthir: 162ao. P North 40, S Dominy 22; A Davies 3 for 42, D Eskins 2 for 25, G Thomas 2 for 26, N Gage 2 for 34.

Centurions: 166 for 5. R Sylvester 79, J Sylvester 30; P North 4 for 54. The 2nd XI travelled to Ebbw Vale looking to improve on last week's poor performance against Tondu and although there was some improvement and victory by 38 runs, there are some of the previous lessons still to be learned.

Occupation of the crease for 50 overs is a must as Centurions were bowled out for 170 in just 41.2 overs, giving Ebbw Vale a further 8 on top of their allocated 50 in which to get the runs.

Centurions, batting first, got off to the worst possible start when reliable Don Sylvester played a rank long hop on the second ball of the match right down square leg's throat to return to the pavilion for a duck.

Miller and Davies set about repairing the damage and aided by a generous contribution of wides, added an invaluable 61 for the second wicket before Miller somewhat dismayed, was adjudged lbw by the home umpire for 19.

Four runs later, Centurions lost the solid looking Davies for an excellent 33 on the very slow track and damp outfield.

Huw Williams put bat to ball in his brief time at the wicket and if he could only curb his impetuosity, he would go on to make big scores, but he was caught for 12 with the score on 93.

Meanwhile Hayes, looking even better than last week, put bat to ball and looked set for a big score. With Dave Sylvester very much playing the anchor role runs came steadily but within the space of just three runs Centurions lost two further wickets to leg spinner Hayward.

Hayes was caught for another excellent 42 (but he could have had more) and Thomas was stumped off the first ball he received, although the decision was somewhat disputed.

Skipper Thickpenny joined Sylvester and once again realising only 28 overs had gone, he had to play a subdued innings. A stand of 33 with Sylvester saw them occupy the crease for 13 important overs.

At 162 Thickpenny lost his concentration and was bowled for an invaluable 18.

Mike Lewis went first ball, stumped for 0, and just eight runs later Dave Sylvester's long and patient innings came to an end. He had batted for 17 overs and although only scoring 16, it was to prove - along with Thickpenny's effort - vital in the outcome of the match.

Smith was caught for 2 as Centurions totalled 170 all out, having used only 41.2 of their allocated overs, giving Ebbw Vale a total of 58 overs in which to get the required runs.

John Gee gave Centurions early hope when he bowled Powell for 0 in his first over. Thickpenny carried on the good work when he trapped Hayward for 4, and at 13 Gee had Slade lbw for 2.

At 13 for 3 the prospects of an early finish looked good, but Nancarrow and G Williams had other ideas as they dug in on the slow track and produced a 77 run partnership which certainly turned the tide Ebbw Vale's way.

Nancarrow reached a fine half century but then Hayes struck a vital blow, trapping him lbw for 55. D Williams was bowled by G Smith for 7 and the floodgates opened.

Slade was next to go, superbly caught by Gee off Hayes for 7. Denning was run out by a brilliant throw by Gee, who had a brilliant time in the field following his fine bowling spell.

Then at 121 the vigilant G Williams was bowled by skipper Thickpenny, and Hayes wrapped things up to see Centurions comfortably home by 38 runs.

Centurions: 170ao. M Hayes 42, S Davies 33, H Miller 19, I Thickpenny 18, D W Sylvester 16; B Slade 5 for 33.

Ebbw Vale: 132ao. D Nancarrow 55, G Williams 29; M Hayes 3 for 36, I Thickpenny 2 for 23, J Gee 2 for 25.

The 3rd XI opened their account in a friendly against Barry Wanderers 2nd XI, coming away with a fine two wicket victory.

The Wanderers, batting first, reached 144 for 8 at the end of their 40 over. Brian Gist with 38, was well supported by skipper Morgan 22 and Sanders 21, and they were the main contributors to the total.

David Goodway, aged 14, returned superb figures of 4 for 18 off 8 overs with Ray Galliford keeping a tight grip on the run rate, bowling 7 overs for just 9 runs.

Centurions innings got off to a steady start with Mark White and Dave Fiddler adding 39 for the first wicket before White was bowled by Beckett for 23.

Fisher went for 2, then the experience of Bruce and the master Dave Fiddler, kept the scoreboard ticking but at 97 Bruce was run out and 3 runs later Fiddler went for a fine 39.

Two more wickets fell at 112 but veteran Dave Salvidge and young Gareth Dodd took the score to 137 before another double blow as they were both out on the same score. The experience of Galliford and the youth of David Goodway saw Centurions home in an excellent game.

Barry Wanderers: 144 for 8. B Gist 38, R Morgan 22, T Sanders 21; D Goodway 4 for 18.

Centurions: 147 for 8. D Fiddler 39, M White 23, C Bruce 20, D Salvidge 17; D Morgan 2 for 12.

TEAMS

Saturday, 1st XI, away to Hoover, leave 12 noon: J Sylvester, R Sylvester, D Eskins, J Langworthy, N Gage, A Gleeve, A Davies, M Hodges, L O'Connor, T Williams, G Thomas.

Saturday, 2nd XI, Malpas, at Sully, 12 noon: From I Thickpenny, S Davies, D W Sylvester, J Gee, D P Sylvester, M Hayes, I Bennett, H Miller, H Williams, M Thomas, M Lewis, J Smith.

3rd XI v Croesyceiliog, at Rhoose: M Fisher, M White, D Goodway, C Bruce, D Fiddler, R Galliford, J T Sylvester, G Dodd, R Harries, M Wheatley, G Patel.

Sunday, Sully, 1pm: From D W Sylvester, D P Sylvester, R Sylvester, D Fiddler, H Miller, J Gee, G Sullivan, M Lewis, D Salvidge, P Riordon, S Davies, H Williams, J Caton, M White, R Galliford.