BANGOR missed the perfect opportunity to move into second in the North Wales Cricket League Premier Division, as they lost by 13 runs to bottom side Llanrwst at Ty Newydd.
With Mold losing away to Brymbo a win for Bangor would have moved them into the runner up spot. However things didn’t go to plan with a disappointing result against a side likely to be playing in Division One next term.
After winning the toss Bangor opted to bowl and though David Winter did well for the hosts with 3 for 45, Ryan Heywood (39) and Nathan Jones (39) helped Llanrwst to 179 for 8 in 58 overs.
In reply Bangor started well through Matthew Jackson (32) but despite decent scores from Nicholas Roberts (45) and the unbeaten Humayun Afridi (37), the hosts only managed 166 all out.
With fourth placed Connah’s Quay closing in, Bangor know that Saturday’s match at St Asaph and Bank Holiday Monday’s derby meeting at home to Menai Bridge are now both must-win matches.
For their part, Bridge head into the coming Bank Holiday weekend on the back of a seven wicket loss at Connah’s Quay.
Having won the toss, Bridge opted to bat and notched up a respectable total of 211 for 6 in 58 overs, with Gethin Roberts (53) and the unbeaten Tahawar Khan (48) particularly impressive.
However the hosts fought back to total 212 for 3 in 44 overs, and took the win. Bridge face Mochdre on Saturday before heading to Ty Newydd for the Monday derby.
THE Bank Holiday weekend is looking like a decisive one for Bethesda as they bid to avoid relegation for the second season running.
Having lost by 7 wickets at fellow strugglers Bersham, Pesda host top of the table Denbigh on Saturday before taking on second placed Pwllheli on Monday.
All the while they will know that Marchwiel and Wrexham sit just 11 points behind in the relegation zone, waiting for an opportunity to close the gap.
If they are to escape the drop, Bethesda will have to do better than they did at Bersham where they were all out for just 85 runs in 22.3 overs.
In reply the hosts eased past Pesda’s total with 86 for 3, with the only credit of the day for the visitors going to Anthony Shephard who took 3 for 30 and Ben Parker, who managed 40 runs. I
IN DIVISION Two Menai Bridge seconds earned a crucial win over Carmel and District to stay ahead of the pack. With four games left to play the Islanders are one of five sides all with a chance to win the title or to snatch the second promotion place.
Carmel, who lie third, are another of those sides but lost by 19 runs at Bridge, who totalled 153 for 7 in 45 overs thanks in part to opener Dyfrig Jones (42) and Nick Evans (27).
By way of reply Carmel were held to 134 all out, with Gerallt Jones the best of the Bridge bowlers, taking 3 for 30 and 2 maiden overs.
Their next two games will prove crucial to their title tilt, with a game at struggling Brymbo seconds on Saturday before a derby match at home to Anglesey Aluminium on the Bank Holiday.
Another of the five sides in with a shout of the title are Bangor seconds following a fine 74 run win at second placed Gwersyllt Park.
During a good innings batsman Gareth Edwards (64) set the visitors on the way to 186 for 6 before Edwards and Qasim Ijaz turned on the style to take 4 for 20 and 4 for 16 respectively to limit the hosts to 112 all out.
This Saturday Bangor host Corwen before visiting Abergele on Monday.
Meanwhile Anglesey Aluminium’s fixture at Corwen was cancelled and their next two games are at home to Northop seconds on Saturday, before Monday’s derby.
AS BETHESDA’S senior team struggles for Division One survival, the second team are also facing relegation from the fifth tier.
The reserve side suffered a comprehensive 8 wicket home loss to second-bottom Abergele seconds, scoring just 46 all out in less than 20 overs.
As a result the victors are just three points behind the Gwynedd side, who must take something from Saturday’s game at Mochdre seconds.
At the other end of Division Four Bodedern’s title challenge was dealt a blow with a home defeat at the hands of third placed Mochdre seconds, who ran out with a 1 wicket win.
Having been limited to 70 all out, the hosts made a fist of defending their total as bowler Gareth Thomas took 4 for 27 with 5 maidens.
However the visitors made 73 for 9 to take the win, leaving the Anglesey side 26 points adrift of league leaders Connah’s Quay and need to beat Conwy on Saturday to consolidate second place.
BODEDERN seconds earned a narrow 8 run victory at Shotton seconds to keep them second in Division Six.
Having won the toss, the visitors notched up 107 all out with opener Brian Hughes (37) and Brian Jones (34) offering the most resistance.
Bowler Leighton Williams then took 5 for 21 and 4 maidens as Bodedern stemmed the host’s comeback, leaving them on 99 all out.
Their next opponents will be Anglesey Aluminium seconds on Saturday, who lost at home to Ruthin seconds by 45 runs.
A total of 129 all out proved too high for the Holyhead side to best and they had to settle for 84 all out.