SULLY Centurions 1st IX entertained newcomers Blackwood at Sully on Saturday. The visitors won the toss and put Centurions into bat.

The home side made a disastrous start as Ryan Sylvester was caught for 0 off the third ball of the innings. Andrew Davies and the in-form Lloyd Smith then added 48 for the second wicket, when Davies was LBW to Ford for 26.

Centurions made steady progress with skipper Jamie Sylvester (24), before he was caught off Mathews. He added 56 with Smith who was looking in a dangerous mood.

Evison with 26 added a further 47 runs with Smith, then Sullivan playing the supporting role with Smith took the score past 200 before he was caught for 12 off Ford.

Richard Jones joined Smith who was now dispatching the ball to all parts of Sully as he reached a magnificent 138 when he was caught of Mathews with the score on 264, having come to the wicket with the score on 0.

This was his third century of the season. A late flurry by Jones, Eskins and Goodway enabled Centurions to post a big total of 293 for 7 at the end of their allocated 50 overs.

From the start of the Blackwood innings its was obvious they were not going to chase the Centurions big total despite an opening partnership of 64 between Birch and Evans. After 20 overs the score was 69 when Birch was bowled by evergreen David Eskins for 37. Davies and Evans took the score to 122 when Evison had Evans LBW for 43.

Coles was LBW on the same score again to Evison. Jones was run out for 0.

The stubborn Davies went for 29 caught off Andrew Davies. Jamie Sylvester had Willochs caught for 8, 155 for 6. Mathews and Baker batted the remaining ones out as Centurions recorded a massive 118 run winning draw.

Centurions: 293 for 7: L Smith 134, A Davies 26, T Evison 26, J Sylvester 24, R Mathews 2 for 93.

Blackwood 175 for 6: M Evans 43, R Birch 37, S Davies 29, T Evison 2 for 27.

THE 3rd XI played their first home game at Rhoose on Saturday and were confronted by a difficult problem – the visitors arrived to find no-one from the council had turned up to open the dressing rooms, forcing the players to change on the grass.

Thanks to Lawrence from the Vale they were finally opened at 2.30pm, with the visitors Bridgend complaining bitterly.

The strong visiting side batted first reaching a daunting total of 242 for 1 off their allocated 45 overs with Ian Bennett the only wicket taker for Centurions.

John Wooden bowled an excellent 10 overs for just 26 runs but other than Bennett 7 overs for 28 the rest of the Centurions attack was wayward.

After all the problems of the changing rooms and a long afternoon in the field Centurions batting, other than Herbie Miller and Owain Sullivan, fell apart.

Miller 40 Sullivan 31 as Thomas claimed six wickets in Centurions feeble reply of just 90. A big improvement hopefully this Saturday.

Bridgend 242 for 1: I Henry 75, R Claton 73no.

Centurions: H Miller 40, O Sullivan 31, J Thomas 6 for 21.

SUNDAY at Sully a hastily rearranged friendly against Strollers ended in a comfortable seven wicket victory for Centurions.

Strollers batted first with Rhett Jones 29 and the never ageing Dave Fiddler with 53 being the main contributors for Strollers in a total of 180 for 7.

Lewis Doel with two wickets was the most successful Centurion bowler but the highlight of the afternoon was to follow as Shay Ellis scored his maiden century, with Zimbo also getting his highest score since arriving from Zimbabwe (32).

Centurions coasted to victory by 7 wickets in an enjoyable friendly.

Strollers 180 for 7: D Fiddler 53, R Jones 29, L Doel 2 for 28.

Centurions 181 for 3: S Ellis 100no, I Nicholson 32.

Once again Suzie Sylvester, now in her 40th year as tea lady, provided the fine refreshments.

SULLY 2nd XI dug deep to record a 17 point winning draw away at league newcomers Blackwood on Saturday.

Having elected to bat first on an uncovered green track, going proved tricky against the new ball for the Sully top order. After a promising opening stand of 22, Sully quickly slipped to 53 for 4 as the top order looked to be too positive in the testing conditions.

However, the evergreen Roger Clitheroe continued to resist the temptation to the big shot and began to prosper as he was joined at the crease by Rhett Jones.

Rhett, showing great maturity, played circumspectly as he got used to the trying conditions. Despite taking two blows to the fingers, he continued to refrain from playing big shots too early in his innings.

A partnership of 86 began to lead Sully into a strong position before Clitheroe tried a booming drive and was caught behind for a superbly crafted 55.

Matthew Thomas then quickly dispatched the ball out of the ground twice in succession but failed to clear the cover fielder and was caught for a quick fire 16.

This was the cue for Rhett to open his shoulders and dispatch the bowling to most parts of the small, home ground. A smeared, flat six off the last ball of the innings took the Sully score past the 200 mark as Rhett finished on a superb 78 not out.

After the interval with conditions unchanged, Sully would always have a strong chance with a total of 203 to defend and so it proved.

Huw Williams bowled a miserly opening spell and with him, man of the match Jones tied down the other end, conceding just 23 from his 10 overs.

The required run rate soon escalated and with the ball threatening to misbehave off a length Sully continued to press home the advantage.

Some steady batting from the experienced middle order stalwart from Blackwood kept the visiting attack at bay and kept the home team in with a shout until Matthew Thomas (4 for 37) was reintroduced for his second spell and a devastating over saw him take three wickets, in amongst the wides, and firmly closed the door on any hopes the home side had of winning.

With the 36 required off the last five overs and those overs to be bowled by Williams (10 overs for 22) and Steve Hood (2 for 36 from 10) the result was never in doubt as Blackwood limped to a final total of 190 for 8.

A very decent all round performance by Sully this week showed what they can do in this league, the next step now is to return this type of performance on a regular basis.

THE 4th XI eventually got the 2009 season underway with a visit to a strong Christchurch 2nd XI.

Batting first on a damp track, Centurions lost openers Lewis Cuddihy and Tom Davies within the first ten overs. Ricky Griffett, batting at number 3, showed some good touches in his knock of 20.

Paul O'Shea and Terry Sylvester put on 21 for the fourth wicket before Ben Spear joined O'Shea and hit an entertaining 11 before being bowled.

It was slow going on the wet surface, but Centurions stuck to the task and, after losing Paul O'Shea for 19, Paul Harrison (19 not out) and Alex Gray saw the 45 overs out to finish on 122 for 8.

After tea Sully took to the field, with Lewis Cuddihy and Ben Spear bowling well for no reward, but still keeping a brake on the opposition score.

The first wicket came in the 13th over when Edwards was caught by Griffett off the bowling of Alex Gray. Young Lee Jones bowled a tidy spell for just ten runs and is clearly going to be one to watch for the future.

Paul O'Shea was rewarded for some tight spin bowling with a wicket, when Williams gloved a delivery over the head of wicketkeeper Paul Harrison, who could only get a fingertip to the ball and it looped into the air to be caught eventually by skipper Mick Fisher in the slips.

A third wicket fell to the bowling of Ricky Griffett in the 24th over, when Francis was out for 7, caught by Gethin Stone (who had a great game in the field) with the score on 76. But this was the last wicket to fall.

The impressive Hurton hit 39 not out as the home side reached the target in the 30th over.

Christchurch 123/3.

Sully 122/8.

TEAMS

1st XI v Abergavenny, away: J Sylvester, R Sylvester, A Davies, L Smith, O Lovering, T Evison, G Sullivan, I Nicholson, D Goodway, D Eskins, R Jones.

2nd XI v Abergavenny, Sully: S Hood, B Horlock, M Thomas, H Williams, R Clitheroe, S Ellis, L Bruce, T Williams, S Davies, O Sullivan, R Jones.

3rd XI, leave Sully Inn 12 noon: J Wooden, A Gilliatt, L Doel, D P Sylvester, C Bruce, H Miller, N Jones, B Callow, G Tressider, D W Sylvester.

4th XI v Whitchurch, 12.30pm, Wenvoe: M Fisher, P Harrison, L Cuddihy, N Cuddihy, E Fiddler, T Davies, B Spear, A Edwards, J Edwards, J T Sylvester, P O'Shea, L Jones, N Bruce, I Bennett, L Bennett.