7:28am Thursday 17th July 2008
SULLY Centurions 1st XI returned to winning ways when they visited Newport last Saturday and with second place St Fagans losing, Centurions remain top of the Premier League as they enter the second half of the season.
Sudbrook are now Sully's main threat and with a tricky game against in-form Croesyceiliog at Sully on Saturday things are really warming up.
Centurions arrived at Newport on Saturday to be greeted by a very wet wicket and skipper Ryan Sylvester had no hesitation in putting the home side in to bat upon winning a vital toss and it proved to be a very big factor in the result as St Fagans struggled against some fine spells of bowling by Andrew Davies and Terry Williams.
At 50-3 they were finding runs very hard to come by and the introduction of Lloyd Smith produced an early result as he trapped Hassan lbw for 0.
At 82 Sully bagged the vital wicket of Cleeve who had steadily built his innings of 31 before Davies bowled him. Centurions really turned the screw and only Andrew Harris with 31 looked at all comfortable at the wicket.
Tom Evison took 2 wickets with his cunning length, reducing the home side to 139-9 off their 50 overs.
Davis, 10 overs, 3-14 and Williams, 10 overs, 2-19 showed they can be as tight on the cricket field as at the bar.
Any thoughts of an easy Centurions victory were soon dismissed on a very poor wicket and at 21-2 both Ryan and Jamie Sylvester were back in the pavilion - Jamie having fallen to a dubious lbw decision.
The alarm bells were ringing but Lloyd Smith showed his class and with James Langworth playing the anchor role they added 38 invaluable runs before Langworth was bowled for 8.
Evison and Smith took the score to 84 but then came a blip as Smith's excellent innings came to an end when he was stumped for 32, worth a lot more when you take the conditions into consideration.
Evison followed 4 runs later, caught for 14 but Gareth Sullivan, who is certainly looking the part these days, and Andrew Davies, took the score to 113 before a mix-up ended in Sullivan being needlessly run out.
Davies was joined by the returning Eskin fresh from his customary mid-season break and they steered Centurions home to a comfortable and vital victory.
There was an amazing 34 extras in the Sully total.
Newport 139-9. T Cleeve 31, A Harris 31. A Davies 3-14, T Williams 2-19, T Evison 2-23.
Centurions 143-6. L Smith 32, A Davies 22 not out. M Claydon 2-31.
FRIENDLY
What a difference Sunday brought for a friendly at Sully - a rock hard pitch, a real Summer's afternoon and over 530 runs scored with Centurions running out comfortable winners by 6 wickets after an amazing innings of 195 by Gareth Sullivans, well supported by Hood 46 not out.
Miskin batted first and put bat to ball as Sully used six bowlers, Whitely striking the ball with extreme power, reaching 96 before he spooned one up to be caught off Edwards who was making his debut on the Sully ground.
Having only played away from home he looks an excellent addition to the 3rd/4th XI.
Harris certainly showed maturity even though only 16, as he played a very correct innings, reaching 93. Nick Jones was in a hurry as his interview at KFC beckoned, and he took 3 wickets as Miskin ended their 40 overs on 267-4.
Enter Gareth Sullivan who was so dominant that his opening partner Ben Horlock had only scored 6 out of 87 when he was bowled.
Mathew Thomas followed for a duck as the match sticks fell out of his eyes due to lack of sleep. Doel went for 2 then Hood and Sullivan, with the latter reaching parts of Sully not visited before, added 160 runs for the fourth wicket.
As Sullivan approached an incredible double century he was caught on the long-on boundary for a truly magnificent 195. Hood was 46 not out as Centurions cruised to victory with overs to spare.
Miskin 267-4. C Whitely 96, J Harris 93. N Jones 3-14.
Centurions 269-4. G Sullivan 195, S Hood 46 not out. M Jones 3-41.
HEAVY DEFEAT
Sully Seconds were up against title chasing Newport at Burnham Avenue last weekend and Newport put in a performance that shows just why they are towards the top of the table.
On an overcast and blustery day things started badly for Sully when skipper Thomas lost the toss and was asked to bat in bowler friendly conditions.
Hugh Smith and Steve Hood went in to face the new ball and put in an excellent performance to see off the opening attack of Newport and steadily make their way past the 50 mark.
Hood was first to go and Smith was joined at the crease by the returning Huw Williams. When Smith was next to fall for a well grafted 24 Sully were in an excellent position to post a formidable score against the title chasers at 91 for 2 from 24 overs. However, as in recent weeks the remaining batting was well below par.
Were it not for an excellent 57 from Huw Williams and a cameo 21 from skipper Thomas Sully may well have fallen for less than 100.
As it happened they managed to scrape their way to 149 all out after an excellent spell of spin bowling from Newport's Brown who ended with 5 for 16 from his 9 overs.
Sully are crying out for more runs from their batsmen or there may well be a few changes in the coming weeks if the likes of Christian Bruce and Sean Davies continue to score runs in the Third Eleven.
Newport's reply was immaculate. Their opening batsmen were by far the best Sully have come up against at this level. Gee opened the bowling swinging the ball a long way and although he beat the bat regularly the openers gave little opportunity of a wicket.
There was one dropped catch and one very good lbw shout from Gee and he ended his spell with 0 for 24 from 8 overs.
Another dropped catch came from the bowling of Huw Williams who bowled 4 overs for 16; Lloyd Bruce bowled 5 overs for 21 and had an excellent run out shout turned down.
Skipper Thomas mixed the bowling regularly to try and get the required breakthrough but the batsmen always seemed up to the challenge.
Gareth Fiddler bowled well after his regular meal of hot steam which has seen him shed a lot of weight and become a regular 2nd XI player with 23 runs coming from his 6 overs, and Ian Bennett bowled 4 overs for 27 with little luck.
There was an eventual breakthrough when Steve Hood was introduced into the attack, bowling Millichip for a superb 54. This was to be Sully's only wicket and the winning runs were hit in the 39th over by Hoskins who ended on 63 not out to maintain Newport's title ambitions.
Sully are far from safe in this division at present and unless more runs are posted for the bowling attack to defend they may well find themselves sucked into a relegation dog fight.
There are some tough games ahead for the Centurions and time will tell if these players have what it takes to keep this side in the Premier League where the club belongs.
Sully 149 all out (Williams 57, H Smith 24, Thomas 21, Brown 5 for 16).
Newport 152 for 1 (Hoskins 63 not out, Millichip 54. Hood 1 for 23).
THIRDS
On a dull, overcast afternoon the Thirds played host to Mountain Ash at Wenvoe. They say catches win matches and this old cliche was never more true than in this encounter.
Some difficult and some very easy catches were put down as the visitors rode their luck and piled on the runs.
The high spot of the fielding display was young Adam Gilliatt's performance behind the stumps. But even this could not prevent a Mountain Ash total of 222-4 at the end of their 45 overs.
After tea, Ben Horlock and Sean Davies started well and put on 50 for the first wicket, but this momentum could not be maintained and the wickets began to fall steadily.
Sean Davies's 36 was the highest individual score. The best that could be said about the overall performance was that 2 bonus points were earned for not being bowled out. Centurions finished 100 runs short of the target.
Sully 106-9.
Mountain Ash 222-4.
TEAMS
1st XI v Croesyceiliog, Sully 11.30am: R Sylvester, J Sylvester, J Langworth, L Smith, S Docherty, A Davies, G Sullivan, T Evison, D Eskins, S Hood, B Horlock.
2nd XI v Chepstow, away, leave 11.15am: M Thomas, J Gee, O Lovering,, P Holstrom, H Smith, L Bruce, H Williams, T Jones, G Fiddler, I Bennett, A Smith.
3rd XI v Crumlin, away, leave Sully Inn 12 midday: D W Sylvester, D P Sylvester, O Sullivan, S Davies, C Bruce, A Gilliatt, B Callow, G Patel, H Miller, E Fiddler, D Chalk, R Griffith.
4th XI v Crumlin, at Rhoose, 12.45pm, from: M Fisher, A Edwards, N Jones, P Harrison, P Barnett, G Stone, L Bennett, C Taylor, J Ord, J T Sylvester, B Spear, J L Griffiths, N Bruce.
Sunday, Sully v Cardiff Casuals, 1pm: D W Sylvester, G Sullivan, D Chalk, A Gilliatt, C Bruce, S Hood, B Horlock, B Callow, L Bruce, A Smith, R Griffith, G Patel, N Jones, N Bruce.
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