3rd XI Page
A Missed Chance at Croesyceiliog
The 3rd XI visited Croesyceiliog and lost by 4 wickets in a game they should have won. Batting first, Centurions reached 120 on a difficult wicket with Christian Bruce (27) and Ricky Griffett (19) top scorers. R.Dunn, with 4 for 26, was the home side's main bowling success.
The home side were 36-6, with skipper John Wooden (3 for 36) and Lewis Doel (3 for 29) doing the damage, but then Dunn struck an amazing 50 to complete a great all round individual performance and see his team home by 4 wickets.
Croesyceiliog 121/6 Sully 120 all out.
Last Gasp Victory for 3rds
The 3rd XI beat Chepstow by the narrowest of margins in a game that could have been won easily.
Chepstow reached 166 all out, with B Starr 54, L Starr 30, and A Freeman (20) being the top scorers. Ben Spear with an imopressive 3 for 5, Ricky Griffett (3 for 47) and skipper John Wooden (2for 38) did the damage for Centurions.
A great partnership between Ben Spear (37) and Christian Bruce (67) set up the win, but a late collapse meant some nail biting moments before the victory was secured for the loss of nine wickets.
Sully 167/9 Chepstow 166 all out
Victory at Wenvoe
The 3rd XI entertained Mountain Ash 1st XI at Wenvoe and gained a resounding victory against a side who last season had destroyed Centurions 3rds and were this season's favourites for promotion.
Centurions batted first on a dry and slow wicket and progress was a little slow, but no wickets were lost, Nick Jones (enjoying his elevated position to opening batsman) and the tried and tested Herbie Miller taking the score along at a steady pace before Jones was caught and bowled by Wyatt for 20. Brucey went for 3 and then Herbie was joined by Dave Sylvester and this partnership put Centurions in a strong position before the Pieman, playing the "anchor role" (allegedly!) was caught for 9. Young Ben Spear, making his 3rd XI debut, joined Miller and with the fielding side beginning to wilt in the heat, he produced a superb 33 before he was run out.
Herbie was bowled for a fighting 58 as Centurions posted a more than useful total of 185 for 5 at the end of their overs on a wicket that needed huge concentration.
Mountain Ash started disastrously, John Wooden bowling Dixon for 0 and Setters for 1 in an excellent opening spell. Perhaps the captaincy has brought the best out of him as he returned figures of 2/27 from 10 overs. Lewis Doel bowled Wyatt for 13 as Centurions were right on top.
Jenkins was run out and the introduction of Ricky Griffett produced more success, with Shellard caught for 10 and Jones bowled for 3 before Walters and Williams gave Centurions early warning that the game was not won yet.
Gregg Tressider had Walters caught for 20 and when Nathan Cuddihy bowled Williams for 23 Mountain Ash were well beaten. Bruce chipped in, trapping Allen lbw and then Nathan Cuddihy, with a direct hit, ran out N Williams for 9. Centurions won by 51 runs.
Sully 184/5. Mountain Ash 133 all out.
Another Big Defeat for 3rd XI
The 3rds travelled to Monkswood and came awy licking their wounds, as they crashed to a 79 run defeat. The home side batted first and in spite of three wickets for captain John Wooden and two for Gregg Tressider, the home side amassed 239 for 7 at the end of the 45 overs.
After tea Sully made a decent start, with three out of the top 4 batsmen all getting decent scores (Herbie Miller - 33, Christian Bruce - 38 and Ian Bennett - 32). But the run rate was slow and there never seemed the remotest chance of achieving te target. The innings close on 160 for 6.
Monkswood 239/7 Sully 160/8
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Crushing Defeat for 3rd XI
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 ended on 40 and Sullivan reached 31 as Thomas claimed six wickets in Centurions feeble reply of just 90. A big improvement hopefully this Saturday.
Bridgend 242 for 1 Centurions 90 all out
First Blood To Wanderers
On the opening day of the league season the 3rds took a stroll down the road to neighbours Barry Wanderers for a historic first ever league meeting between the two clubs.
Batting first the home side were reduced to 110 for 7 by some fine bowling from Ben Callow, Don Sylvester and new skipper John Wooden. But some wayward deliveries from the back up bowlers let Wanderers off the hook and they ended on 177 for 9.
Don Sylvester and Herbie Miller put on 50 for the 1st wicket, but the time taken to reach this was the problem that Centurions couldn't overcome. (DPS's marathon innings of 13 off 20 overs wasn't very helpful in this respect!) Attempts to push the score along meant that some rash shots were played by the middle order and Centurions were soon out of the running. Some decent touches by Daniel Chaulk, Ben Callow, Adam Gilliatt and John Wooden, batting at the end, gave the final score of 120 all out some respectability.
Barry Wanderers 177/9 Sully 120 all out
2009 Fixtures - Welsh Club Cricket Conference Division 4
(Home Fixtures at Rhoose or Wenvoe as indicated)
May
2nd Barry Wanderers 177/9 Sully 120ao
9th Sully 90ao Bridgend 242/1
16th Whitchurch Heath (a) OFF
23rd Monkswood 239/7 Sully 160/6
30th Sully 185/5 Mountain Ash 133 all out
June
6th Lisvane (a) OFF
13th Sully 167/9 Chepstow 166 all out
20th Croesyceiliog 121/6 Sully 120 all out
27th Blaina (h) Rhoose OFF
July
4th Barry Wanderers (h) Rhoose
11th Bridgend (a)
18th Whitchurch Heath (h) Rhoose
25th Monkswood (h) Wenvoe
Aug
1st Mountain Ash (a)
8th Lisvane (h) Rhoose
15th Chepstow (a)
22nd Croesyceiliog (h) Rhoose
29th Blaina (a)
