Here we go! North Wales Cricket League Premier sees day 1 wins for St Asaph. Mochdre, Denbigh, Bangor and Menai Bridge

NORTH WALES CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION REPORTS – MAY 4

St Asaph (11) 165-7 Brymbo (4) 144-10

Nathanael Scott top-scored with 51 as champions St Asaph began their season with a victory over visitors Brymbo.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Saints posted 165-7 off a reduced 35 overs in this rain-affected affair.

Wicket-keeper Scott put on 59 for the third wicket with captain William Ryan, who made 27, the same score as opener Duncan Midgley.

For the Steelmen, Connor Davies claimed 3-28 and Daniel Parry 2-25.

In response, Brymbo recovered from 9-2 to reach 68 without further loss, Christopher Taylor (38) and Mohamed Nilam Jayman (26) forming a half-century stand.

However, both departed quickly and the visitors finished up 144 all out, Joseph Norman ending unbeaten on 28, while for the title-holders Danny Ryan collected 2-13, Ryan Dunning 2-22 and William Norman 2-28.

Points: 11-4 St Asaph.

Denbigh (11) 123-8 Gresford (4) 121-10

Denbigh were indebted to an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 29 between Stuart Griffiths and Joe Lewis for ensuring they achieved a narrow home victory over Gresford.

Inserted by the hosts, the Wrexham-area visitors were bowled out for 121 in 49.2 overs, skipper Matthew Thompson best with 37, Robert Clark 25 and Joe Benson 24.

Sam Lewis scooped 4-10 off 4.2 and Joe Lewis 3-29 for the Ystrad Road men.

Denbigh slumped from 65-1 to a precarious 94-8 in reply, Harrison Jones hitting 33 at the top of the order before a wickets deluge ensued.

Griffiths (16 no) and Lewis (8 no) were able to steady the ship and guide the home team to 123-8 from 46.

Chris Ellwood gathered 3-31, Simon Perry an excellent 2-14 from 10 and Tom Crewe 2-26 as Gresford so nearly turned the tables.

Llandudno (2) 91-10 Bangor (13) 146-7

All-rounder Owen Reilly struck a decisive 42 as Bangor kicked off the season with a 55-run win at The Oval.

Invited to bat, the Citizens chalked up 146-7 off a reduced 35 overs.

Reilly, fresh from a winter stint in Australia, topped the batting chart, Tomos Davies adding 23 and Nadeem Rehman 20, Oliver Hughes taking 3-29 and Divya Pratab Singh 2-28 for Tudno.

The hosts could only muster 91 all out, opener Jamie Grimshaw standing out with 36, while for the away side slow bowler Smit Parekh pocketed an impressive 3-8 off seven and Reilly picked up 2-7 from five.

Menai Bridge (11) 189-7 Gwersyllt Park (4) 171-10

Promoted Gwersyllt Park put up a fine show in a narrow 18-run loss at Tyn-y-Caeau.

Menai Bridge won the toss and chose to bat, putting together 189-7 off 40 overs, skipper Jack Gower with a superb 90, sharing an opening stand of 108 with Dion Holden (32).

Arwel Jones finished 33 not out for the Anglesey side, Neil Pearson bagging 3-30 and Ryan Collier 3-31 for last year’s Division One champions.

Gwersyllt were 45-3 before a fourth-wicket partnership of 67 between Collier (47) and Jake James (40) gave them real hope ot victory.

Useful runs continued down the order, but the Premier new boys were dismissed for a gallant 171, Matthew Jones 4-34, Blade Crane 3-25 and Holden 2-25 for the islanders.

Northop (0) 139-10 Mochdre (15) 252-5

Adam Campion marked his return to Mochdre in style with 70 not out as last season’s runners-up Northop slumped to a heavy opening day defeat.

Calling the coin correctly and deciding on first knock, the visitors piled up 252-5 from their allotted 50 overs, Matty Humphreys adding 70 and opener Alex Davies 63.

Davies and Humphreys put on 82 for the second wicket, the latter adding 71 with Campion for the third.

Elliot Colclough bagged 2-34 for the home side.

New Australian all-rounder Marcus Mangiameli then snared an outstanding 5-25 from 10 as the Flintshire hosts were removed for a modest 139, Humphreys poaching 2-10 and Campion 2-45, Pete Pienaar striking a very spirited 72 for Northop before being run out.