Promotion beckons (From Barry And District News)

Promotion beckons

SULLY Centurions had yet another successful weekend with three victories out of four, but it is now crunch time as Saturday sees second place Chepstow visit Sully, victory for the home side will guarantee promotion to the Premier League next season and will virtually ensure the title is in the bag, so why not come and see what will be a tremendous day?

The 2nd XI travel just down the road to local rivals Penarth who at present lead the table. Centurions are lying in fourth place and very much need to win. Sunday sees St Fagans visit Sully in a new League Cup competition whilst the 3rd XI are at home at Sully to another local side, Dinas Powys, all this and two weeks Sunday the Welsh Cup final against Gowerton at Sophia Gardens, what a hectic season!

Saturday, Centurions travelled to Bridgend and were surprised to find a wet wicket on probably the hottest day of the summer. The non-arrival of skipper Jamie Sylvester and James Langworth did not leave Centurions any choice than to bat after winning the toss, a decision they were soon to regret as the score slumped to 28 for 4 by which time Langworth and Sylvester had arrived, normal service was soon restored as both Langworth and Sylvester, using all their experience and still batted the next 36 overs in a magnificent 165 run partnership taking Centurions to 193 before Langworth was bowled for a superb 88 by Davies. Jamie Sylvester followed his century of last week finishing on 81 not out as Centurions posted a total of 197 for 6, a score which at Sully would surely have been worth 270.

Bridgend's reply never got off the ground as Adam Davies and Nathan Gage kept a tight rein on the run rate, only 40 runs coming from the first 21 overs and the loss of one wicket. Enter Eskins and Terry Williams into the attack and the home side were soon in total disarray the wicket was made for them and they certainly knew how to use it to the best advantage, Dave Eskins taking three wickets and Terry Williams, who is having a purple patch, five wickets taking his tally in the league this season to 20, Bridgend slumped to 103 all out.

Centurions: 197 for 6. J Langworth 88, J Sylvester 81no, A Dodd 3 for 27. Bridgend: 103ao. Griffiths 26, T Williams 5 for 27, D Eskins 3 for 25.

In the reverse fixture at Sully the visitors also won the toss but the difference was at Sully it was a rock hard wicket and they had no hesitation in batting but with Thickpenny and Gee bowling with great fervour, they soon had the visitors in trouble at 22 for 3, a 39 run partnership between Collier and Jones held Centurions up but at 61 Gee bowled the dangerous looking Jones for 16 then Thickpenny took an incredible diving catch off Bennett to remove Collier. Bennett was now in the mood and with Bridgend wanting to hit virtually every ball, he claimed five wickets for 29 with John Gee taking three and Thickpenny two, Bridgend were back in the pavilion all out for 130 off just 29 overs this meant Centurions had 71 overs in which to reach the target.

Centurions innings got off to a very bad start against the pace of Mabbs probably the quickest bowler seen in the 2nd XI for a number of years. Fiddler was caught off Bushell for nine, Davies caught off Mabbs for four and Don Sylvester caught off Mabbs for 10, 34 for 3, and the young and the old came together to repair the early damage.

Sixteen-year-old Nick Gill and 51-year-old Dave Sylvester took the sting out of the visitors attack, adding 29 invaluable runs for the fourth wicket before Gill was caught off Jones for 13, Sylvester went at 71 to an lbw decision, for a very hard fought 16.

Centurions lost Galliford at 83 and Bennett at 89, but skipper Thickpenny joined Miller and a 42 run partnership including a massive pull for six by Thickpenny saw Centurions home by three wickets.

Bridgend: 130ao. S Collier 25, I Bennett 5 for 29, J Gee 3 for 57, I Thickpenny 2 for 29. Centurions: 131 for 7. H Miller 26no, I Thickpenny 19no, D W Sylvester 16, D Mabbs 2 for 45, C Kelly 2 for 33.

The 3rd XI, very much weakened by holidays were beaten by seven wickets at Ponthir, Dave Goodway 17 and Mark White 13 top scored as Centurions were all out for 94. Ponthir got the runs for the loss of just three wickets with Gareth Dodd claiming two of them.

Sunday, a friendly against Maesteg Crusaders at Sully. Batting first, Centurions batsmen were in fine form, Morgan Hodges and Nathan Gage with 68 each Nick Gill 25, Dave Sylvester 23no in a Centurions score of 248 for 6. Crusaders with the top three batsmen Wallace 62, Herbert 41 and yes Jim (Centurion) Ord guesting 42, helped the Crusaders to 202 at the end of their allocated overs, Centurions running out comfortable winners. Centurions: 248 for 6. N Gage 68, M Hodges 68, N Gill 25, D W Sylvester 23no. Maesteg Crusaders: 202 for 6. S Wallace 62, J Ord 42, I Herbert 41, L O'Connor 2 for 22, N Gage 2 for 28.

Weekend Teams 1st XI v Chepstow (Saturday, home, 12 noon): J Sylvester, J Langworth, D Eskins, T Williams, L O'Connor, M Hodges, A Davies, N Gage, C Thomas, M Lewis. 2nd XI v Penarth (Saturday): I Thickpenny, S Davies, M Thomas, H Williams, I Bennett, D W Sylvester, D P Sylvester, G Thomas, J Gee, D Fiddler, J Ord. 3rd XI v Miskin (Rhoose, 1.15pm): M Fisher, G Patel, G Fiddler, M White, R Galliford, G Dodd, J Ord, D Goodway, G Sullivan, J Taylor, M Rees, D Salvidge, 12th man J Caton.

Anyone interested in going to the Welsh Cup Final on the bus contact either Dave Sylvester on 734762 daytime, or Jamie Sylvester on 029 2040 9398.