Second Best in Spite of a Good Show

The seconds travelled up the road to St Fagans with several regulars missing and once again with a number of 3rd XI regulars drafted in. In spite of putting up a creditable performance they came out on the wrong end of a losing draw.  The home side batted first and managed to get 205 for 7 in the allotted 50 overs.  A decent score, but still within reach if the Centurions' batsmen were on form.  For Sully, skipper Steve Hood and Ben Callow both had figures of 2 for 43 and Lewis Doel had 2 for 45, while Wallwork (86 not out) and Llewellyn (32) were the main run scorers for the home side.

In reply, David Goodway (67) and Rhett Jones (53) put on 120 for the first wicket, but once they had departed, the rest of the batsmen were unable to capitalise on this great start.  Eventually the innings petered out with the score on 184 for 6, some 21 runs short of the target.

So, another season ends and a very respectable 3rd place was the reward for the combined 2nd XI efforts this year.

St Fagans 205/7 Sully 184/6 For Scorecard Click Here

2nds Totter But Secure Win At Burnham Avenue

The 2nd XI, with changes enforced by unavailability and last minute 1st XI call ups, won this encounter with Usk at a windy, overcast Burnham Avenue.  The visitors batted first and were soon in trouble when Lewis Doel took the first of his two wickets with only 2 runs on the board. Then Stevens and Perrett put on 50 for the second wicket before Doel struck again to remove Perrett for 19.  Only Stevens had any staying power and he hung around for a dogged 47 before Steve Hood bowled him, with the score on 81.  The Usk wickets kept tumbling, with Hood (4 for 14) and Ben Callow (3 for 37) being the main tormentors.  The innings was wrapped up on 139 all out in the 41st over.

In reply Matt Thomas and David Goodway breezed along to 97, before Matt was caught on 43 going for a big hit.  Goodway continued to bat sensibly, but a middle order collapse saw Centurions go from 97 for 1 to 120 for 5 as Smith (3 for 27) and Roderick (2 for 18) began to show some fight for the visitors.  When Goodway was eventually out one short of his half century, it left veterans Herbie Miller (11 not out) and Dave Sylvester (2 not out) to steer the side home in the 28th over.

Sully 140 for 6  Usk 139 all out  For Scorecard Click Here

Winning Draw for 2nds

The 2nd XI gained a winning draw at home to Chepstow. After winning the toss Steve Hood opted to bat and Gareth Sullivan and David Goodway had scored 11 when Gareth hit a high one into the wind. He was duly caught out for 10.

This brought in Rhett Jones, who went on his merry way hitting the visiting attack with some relish.  Rhett and Quimby put on 142 for the second wicket before Quimby fell for 55. Rhett was joined by Matt Thomas but Rhett was out soon afterwards for a well deserved 87. This precipitated a mini collapse, with Ben Horlock and Owain Sullivan both out for ducks. Matt Thomas (28 not out) and Richard Jones (22) took Centurions past the 200 mark as the innings closed on 2009 for 6.

After tea Chepstow began the task of chasing down the total and they got a decent start when Jones and Hepworth put on 48 for the opening wicket.  Things continued to move along nicely for the visitors and when they reached 137 for 3, the win was most definitely on the cards. But with Richard Jones getting the vital wicket of Bennett (68) the game began to swing back in Sully's favour. Richard went on to take 4 for 23 as the tail was duly whittled away.  At stumps the total had reached 201 for 8, which was enough to secure a winning draw for Centurions.

Sully 209/6  Chepstow 201/8

Narrow Defeat At Pentyrch in Last Over

 

The seconds travelled to Pentyrch and fell in the final over  as the home side reached the target for the loss of 8 wickets. 

Century for Matt

 

Centurions eased to an 8 wicket victory against Bridgend on Saturday. After a solid bowling display by all the Sully bowlers, led by the veteran Terry Williams (1 for 14 off 10) and the young upstart Lloyd Bruce (2 for 40), the visitors could only muster a total of 190 for 7 on a firm, dry pitch. The bowling was backed up by some excellent fielding which lead to two run outs and a series of excellent catches.  Clayton, with 51 not out, was the top scorer for Bridgend.

After the interval the opening batsmen for Sully tucked into the visiting attack as they progressed serenely to 84 before a misjudgement by Roger Clitheroe saw him several feet short of his crease and so depart for a impressive 37. Lloyd Bruce promoted to number 3 in the order fell in identical fashion 11 runs later to leave Sully 95 for 2 in the 21st over.

Ben Horlock (38 not out) joined Matthew Thomas and together they carried on accumulating runs at ease, mixing aggression with sensible batsmanship to guide Sully towards their target. Matt's fine season with the bat finally gave him the reward he deserved, his first century for the club. In true Matthew Thomas style it was brought up with a six over long-off. Together the pair added 96 runs in 20 overs to give Sully maximum batting points and so give a 20 point return for the game. The 2nds are now in 3rd place in the Premier Division table. 

 

Sully 191/2 Bridgend Town 190/7  For Scorecard Click Here

Big Win at Burnham Avenue

 

The 2nd XI defeated Blackwood in a one-sided affair at Burnham Avenue, with Roger Clitheroe starring with the bat.

The visitors batted first and they were soon losing wickets with regularity. Davies and Birch both made half centuries,but the rest of the Blackwood batting wasn’t of the same standard. Lloyd Bruce bagged 3 wickets for 25 and Huw Williams posted figures of 3 for 26 as the visitors’ succumbed. With David Goodway getting in on the act with 2 for 30 and Terry Williams and Gareth Sullivan bowling 10 overs for 36 and 37 respectively, the innings was wrapped up on 164 all out with plenty of overs to spare.

Roger Clitheroe hit a majestic 79, ably supported by Matthew Thomas (32) to set up the victory. It was left to Rhett Jones and David Goodway to see Centurions home by a margin of eight wickets.

 

Sully 166/2 Blackwood 164 all out   For Scorecard Click Here

Defeat at Cardiff Ends Winning Run

 

The 2nds travelled to Cardiff on a day of showers and unsettled weather and saw their recent winning streak come to a halt as the home side piled on the runs.

Batting first Cardiff reached 267 for 6, thanks mainly to knocks of 93 from Herbert and 74 from Bridgeman. Oz Bennett’s 2 for 36 was the best from the Centurion attack, although Sean Davies also picked up a couple of wickets for the same number of runs, but off five overs. David Goodway bowled his ten for just 18, with 4 maidens, picking up one wicket along the way.

In reply Sully never really got going, ending on 131 all out. David Goodway accounted for more than half the total with a score of 67, with Steve Hood (20) being the only other batsman to reach double figures.

Cardiff 267/6 Sully 131 all out For Scorecard Click Here

Great Win At Usk

The 2nd XI put in their best all round display of the year to make it three wins in a row on Saturday.

Having lost the toss on an overcast, humid day and being asked to bat, the Sully openers lead by Matthew Thomas took the attack to the Usk attack. In an innings consisting of 10 boundaries and 3 sixes he again passed 50 for third time, putting on 140 with the consistent Dave Goodway before an ambitious call saw the latter stranded for a well constructed 44.

Thomas followed 2 overs later, agonisingly short of a well deserved century as he spooned a return catch to the pick of the Usk bowlers, R. Rees (3 for 29) for 93. Huw Williams (2) soon followed and 140 for 0 had become 163 for 3. Rebuilding was undertaken by the vastly experienced James Langworth along with Ben Horlock. A partnership of 44 ensued before Langworth was out for 28 in the 42nd over. Owain Sullivan, fresh for his summer jaunt to Monte Carlo, set about the home attack as he and Horlock put on 32 in 4 overs before Horlock departed for 22.

Sullivan selflessly perished in the cause for late runs for 34 and it was left to debutant Dan Chaulk and Lloyd Bruce to nurdle their way through to a final total of 262 for 6.

After the best tea of the year so far the visiting bowlers struck early as Steve Hood (2 for 20) snapped up a caught & bowled opportunity from the opposing captain in the second over to set Sully on their way.

Some forceful shots from the 15 year old H. Lewis took Usk past 50 but the introduction of Lloyd Bruce (1 for 42) soon had the desired effect, as Matthew Thomas snapped up an excellent stumping to see off Lewis for 39 and open the flood gates for the Sully bowlers. Veteran Terry Williams proceeded to tie down the opposing batsmen and ripped out the middle order to return figures of 3 for 42 from his 10 overs.

Despite some lusty blows from the Usk lower order Sully remained on top and when the persevering Ben Callow (1 for 43) finally got a wicket against his name, Dave Goodway (2 for 22) cleaned up the tail to see Sully home by 69 runs with 6 overs to spare and to claim the maximum 22 points.

Usk 197 all out Sully 262/6    For Scorecard Click Here