Barry Wanderers cricket club entered possibly the most important weekend of their 35-year history last weekend, with the first team needing a good result against already promoted Brynmawr to maintain division 3 status.

The seconds, however, needed just four points to ensure promotion to division 3 after last year's bitter disappointment of missing out by the smallest of margins.

Christchurch 2nd X1 V Barry Wanderers 2nd X1

The seconds' game took the Wanderers deep into the Rhondda Fach, to play Christchurch at Greenwood Park, Ferndale.

The previous week, Christchurch had beaten third-place Llanarth and this meant that Wanderers, to achieve promotion, had to get a minimum of four points from this match.

The Christchurch captain was happy to play on an extremely wet wicket, expecting conditions to improve during the day.

Wanderers won the toss and put Christchurch into bat.

Christchurch found themselves in trouble from the outset, due to some fine bowling from L Walters (12-4-23-2) and E Toozer (12-2-37-2).

After 14 overs, they had scored 27 runs for the loss of three wickets.

The indefatigable M Ashton (9-2-32-2) plundered the middle order with the help of B. Collins (7-0-40-2).

G Francis (35) and G Hurton (60) brought Christchurch back into the game with a bludgeoning stand of 61 runs.

Wanderers' four bowling points, and thus their promotion, were gained when E Toozer bowled the dangerous G Hurton.

Christchurch ended their innings 169 for 9 wickets.

Wanderers' innings started with a small hiccup, a mix-up in calling leading to a run out, which brought P George to the crease. D Smith (40) and P George (29) proceeded achieved a partnership of 79.

Debutante G Whiting scored a very useful 23 runs and, after D Smith departed, was joined by E Toozer (41 no) who, with the help of L Walters, took Wanderers past the finishing post to win by six wickets.

E Toozer was the Man of the Match for his excellent batting and bowling.

Barry Wanderers 1st X1

v Brynmawr

The first XI was skippered by returning captain Andy Fenton, who expectedly lost the toss and Brynmawr elected to bat.

The opening duo of Stuart Jones and James Hassett did well, with the former particularly tight off his shorter run-up.

The visitors found runs hard to come by, but were offered generous assistance by some sloppy fielding.

The skipper introduced himself into the attack at Hassett's expense and eventually got the dangerous Adlam lbw for 29 in his fifth over - the Wanderers' 21st - with the score on 82.

It wasn't until the 38th over that the hosts got further success, with the returning Hassett taking two wickets in an over, and Brynmawr moving along past the 200 mark. The score finished on a very gettable 238 for 5.

The Wanderers' reply began with Ferguson and Hardisty, but both were back in the pavilion with just five runs on the board.

Sherriff and Denning added 61 for the third wicket, scoring 40 and 45 respectively, but with Stuart Jones the only other notable run-getter, the Wanderers were staring relegation in the face.

However, with a crucial 23 runs being added by the last two wickets (Hassett 14no), that extra batting point by reaching 150 meant that the Wanderers survived and are able to crack division 3 once again in 2006.

The final score was Brynmawr running out winners by 87 runs.

Wanderers v Whitminster

On a gorgeous Sunday, the Wanderers made the trip over the bridge to the delightful setting of Whitminster, in Gloucestershire.

Skipper Fenton lost the toss again and was invited to field on a flat-as-a-pancake-style ground.

The opening pair of Ben Collins (5-1-6-0) and the evergreen Mike Ashton (6-2-6-2) bowled superbly, with the latter taking two early wickets.

Andy Fenton was keen to get everyone involved and change bowlers of Dan Peacey (5-2-9-1) and Ian Ford (4-0-20-1) did just that by taking a wicket apiece - the hosts were struggling on 12 for 4.

Tim Sanders and Mark Ellis had five overs each, with the latter offering great potential as an option for 2006.

The hosts' skipper was batting well and keeping their innings together, so Andy Fenton and Andrew Ferguson finished off the innings with five overs each and Ferguson the pick with 1 for 35.

The innings closing on 160 off their 40 overs. Brian Gist and run machine Dave Smith opened the innings and added 27, until Gist edged one behind for a solid 6.

Mark Ellis soon followed with 2 and Andrew Ferguson came in knowing he had to score runs.

Tim Sanders was unlucky to be adjudged lbw for the second day in succession, and when skipper Fenton (12) was given out lbw, the away side were struggling.

A late cameo innings of 11 by Ben Collins and solid resistance by Ferguson with 34 wasn't enough to save the Wanderers.

Mike Ashton survived a close lbw shout off the bowling of young Miss Helliwell - with the sixth bounce saving him! The Wanderers lost by 36 runs.