Great wins in North Wales Premier Division for St Asaph and Menai Bridge while Llay celebrate first victory

Menai Bridge’s Dion Holden bowls to Mochdre’s Stewart Williams with the Anglesey side’s wicket-keeper Jack Gower alert behind the stumps. Picture: RAY HIBBS

ICON SPORTS NORTH WALES CRICKET LEAGUE REPORTS – JUNE 12

PREMIER DIVISION

Northop (4) 226-8 St Asaph (11) 232-7

Leaders St Asaph maintained top spot after an heroic late bowling and fielding effort secured a narrow six-run win at Northop.

Saints won the toss and decided to bat, scoring 232-7 off their 50 overs.

Opener Mathew Ryan was the star batsman with 100, almost carrying his bat and passing 5,000 club runs in the process.

Ryan put on 86 for the first wicket with the returning from injury Duncan Midgley, who made 44, while Jason Foulkes added 30 down the order.

Andrew Oates returned the best home figures of 2-43.

Oates (52), Jordan Evans (51) and James Roberts (50) all made half-tons as Northop looked to be heading for victory, but Asaph refused to give in and ensured the hosts finished six runs short on 226-8.

Danny Ryan scooped 3-63 and Liam Moores 2-39 as the visitors celebrated an 11-4 points verdict.

Mochdre (4) 265-9 Menai Bridge (11) 284-6

Menai Bridge’s Patrick Glover bowling against Mochdre. Picture: RAY HIBBS

Another close, high-scoring battle took place at Swan Road, where second-place Menai Bridge emerged victorious.

The Anglesey side called the coin correctly and chose to bat, opener Jack Gower scoring 100 exactly in a challenging total of 284-6 off 50 overs.

Former skipper Robbie Jones powered an unbeaten 76 off 59 balls, cracking nine fours and two sixes.

Despite 85 from opener Stewart Williams and Shaun Kitchen’s 68, Mochdre ended up 265-9 at their innings end.

The pair put on 118 for the second wicket, while skipper Matty Humphreys added 33.

Gethin Roberts collected 2-44 and Dion Holden 2-48 for the Bridge.

Llay Welfare (12) 221-7 Pwllheli (3) 183-10

An opening stand of 70 put Llay on the way to their first win of the season at the expense of Pwllheli.

Electing to bat, Joe Howell (57) and David Phennah (32) got the hosts off to a fine start.

Captain Nathan Humphreys posted 45 in the middle order as the home side set a useful 221-7, Logan Rhys Morgan 3-30 for the visitors.

Pwllheli’s formidable early order didn’t quite catch fire, with Christopher Taylor and Morgan Murray-Williams dismissed for 36 and 28 respectively.

The Llyn side were bowled out for 183, opening batsman Howell and Phennah also producing the best analyses of 3-26 and 3-27, while Tom Crewe (2-23) and Jack Aplin (2-35) also did well.

Gresford (2) 123-10 Llandudno (13) 127-5

Former Tudno skipper Jack Rimmington set up his team for victory with a superb 4-25 off 12 overs at Clappers Lane.

Gresford’s decision to bat soon backfired, Rimmington taking four of the first five wickets and his wicket-keeper brother Sam executing a run out.

Oliver Hughes nabbed 3-2 for the visitors, while best batsman for the hosts was Matthew Thompson with 37, Gresford sent packing for 123.

Kevin James then typically top-scored with 38, Jamie Grimshaw adding 32 as Llandudno reached 127-5 in 29.4 overs for a 13-2 verdict.

Denbigh (1) 80-10 Bangor (14) 81-2

Gareth Edwards claimed a stunning 4-8 off 12 overs as Bangor breezed to victory at struggling Denbigh.

Winning the toss and opting to bat, the hosts were all out for just 80, Muhummad Ashfaq also picking up 4-23.

David Winter ended up 48 not out as Bangor eased to 81-2 in 22 overs for a 14-1 success.

Brymbo (13) 206-4 Clwb Criced Conwy (2) 201-9

Third-placed Brymbo triumphed by six wickets at home to Conwy.

The visitors batted first and made 201-9, Gareth Thomas scoring in the 90’s and hitting some lovely strokes.

With the ball, the Steelmen’s Connor Davies took four wickets, Dan Parry and Nathan Aldridge two apiece.

Brymbo’s winning effort of 206-4 included James Claybrook posting 63 and Davies scoring in the 40’s.