SATURDAY 5TH MAY

A weekend of mixed fortunes saw Mochdre lose a tight, low scoring struggle with Halkyn in the Readers Romida North Wales Premier Division, and comfortably beat Connahs Quay to secure a plum home tie with Colwyn Bay in round 2 of the Welsh Cup. The introduction of early starts as part of the new league set-up was always going to place pressure on Mochdre, many of the players having Saturday work commitments. With just three of the team present for the toss Mochdre were delighted to win and choose to bat. On a damp early season track wickets fell steadily to the accurate medium pace of Andy Bellis, 3 for 14 off 10 overs and Maelor Thomas, 4 for 10 off 9. Promising new recruits Wasim Ali, 17, and John Mills, 13, glittered briefly, whilst old hands Steve Jones, 14, and Paul Colman, 10, helped Mochdre to reach 72 for 9 - skipper Dafydd Rhys having been unavoidably detained at work in Wrexham. Undaunted by the low total, the Mochdre seam attack tore into the Halkyn batting line-up. Gareth Davies, 2 for 13 off 13, Neil Campion 2 for 19 off 12, and Phil Leeds, 2 for 23 off 14, plundered richly whilst off-spinner Paul Colman demonstrated fine early season form snapping up 3 for 9 off 15 overs. Halkyn were reduced to 47 for 9 and an unlikely Mochdre victor y looked to be on the cards. Sadly for the home side they were unable to press home their advantage as young Halkyn tail-enders Adam Foley, 18 not out off 58 balls, and Paul Rutherford, 6 not out off 55, batted sensibly and maturely for over an hour of in tense pressure, conjuring a single wicket victory for Halkyn. The new league points system hit Mochdre hard, their reward for a narrow defeat being just 4 points to Halkyn's 16.

SATURDAY 12TH MAY

A solid all-round performance sa w Mochdre defy the odds to defeat bogey side Brymbo to pull off the surprise of the weekend in the Readers Romida North Wales Premier Division. Mochdre openers Steve Jones and Dafydd Rhys revelled in the warm sunshine, adding 95 for the first wicket before Jones fell for an excellent 50 off 95 balls, including 9 fours and a six. Skipper Rhys was run out for 35 as Paul Colman, 33, steered Mochdre towards a substantial total. However, old habits die hard at Mochdre and the last eight overs of the innings saw a classic collapse as 8 wickets fell for 22 runs. Mochdre plummeting from 137 for 2 to 159 all out. Keith Hughes was the pick of the Brymbo bowlers returning with 4 for 21 off 11 overs. Brymbo's openers also served them well, Denbighshire county men Stewart Williams, 26, and Mark Jones, 48, adding 79 for the first wicket. Mochdre's bowling attack refused to wilt, as, led by rejuvenated paceman Rob Stewart with a fine 3 for 17 from a 14 over stint, and well supported by Gareth Davies, 3 for 27 off 13, and Phil Leeds, 2 for 18 off 12, Brymbo's remaining batsman added a meagre 55 to their final total of 134. Five catches, including smart efforts in the slips by Gareth Davies and at gully by Steve Jones, a stumping and a run out, were evidence of superb fielding by the home side, capping the most encouraging performance of the season to date. With star batsman Paul Owen due to return shortly from long-term injury, and the anticipated seasonal debut of the redoubtable Peter S Williams, the club enters the new Premier league era with high hopes.

SATURDAY 19TH MAY

A magnificent 88 by Paul Owen marked his return from injury in fine style whilst securing a five wicket victory for Mochdre at Bethesda to move them to the rarified heights of second place in the Readers Romida North Wales Premier Division. Having chosen to bat, Bethesda started well, reaching 85 for 1 by virtue of a solid second wicket partnership of 78 between Robbie Owen, 55, and Glyn Jones, 24. Mochdre skipper Dafydd Rhys utilised all five of his regular bowlers to try to break the pairing before the re-introduction into the attack of seamer Gareth Davies, 3 for 26 off 15 overs, sparked a minor collapse. Davies reeled off seven consecutive maidens whilst, at the other end, off-spinner Paul Colman, 3 for 27 off 13, made steady inroads. Bethesda no 7 Dewi Roberts, 36 incl uding three sixes, resisted fiercely but briefly, before Phil Leeds, 4 for 38 off 11, returned to wrap up the tail. In all, seven Bethesda batsmen were clean bowled as their innings closed on 166 all out. Mochdre's reply hit early difficulties, slumping to 21 for 3, before the reliable Phil Leeds, 34, joined Paul Owen at the crease. Together they took Mochdre to the brink of victory, adding 124 in 30 overs, Owen's composed innings including eleven fours and a six. Dewi Redvers Jones, 2 for 33 off 12, and his brother Huw, 2 for 35 off 13, battled hard for the home side as Mochdre cruised home to a five-wicket victory.

Paul Owen - 88	Paul Colman 3 - 27	Gareth Davies 3 - 26	Phil Leeds 4 - 38

SATURDAY 26TH MAY

The 1st XI's Saturday success against previously unbeaten Hawarden Park saw them hold on to second place in the North Wales Premier Division. Victory had seemed an unlikely prospect as Park openers Ian Rowlands, 57, and Mike Parton, 34, guided the visitors to 100 for 1 with 24 overs remaining. However skipper Dafydd Rhys had an ace up his sleeve having held back paceman Rob Stewart. His introduction, together with the second spell of off-spinner Paul Colman , spelt disaster for Hawarden Park as the pair wrought havoc, Colman picking up 4 for 27 off 15 and Stewart 4 for 39 off 12. Only 47 more runs were added as Park slumped to 147 all out. Mochdre's reply started brightly with opener Steven Jones, 18, in particular looking comfortable. Paceman Steve Speed, 3 for 22 off 15 induced mistakes before Phil Leeds, 13, joined Dafydd Rhys in a stand of 42 for the fourth wicket. Leeds controversial dismissal by Lee Davies, 3 for 43 off 14, was followed by two more in the same over reducing Mochdre to 88 for 6 before Rob Stewart, 15, containing his attacking instincts, joined Rhys in a crucial stand of 45 for the seventh wicket. Dafydd Rhys continued to a masterly unbeaten 71 off 138 balls as Mochdre eased home for a three-wicket victory

MONDAY 28TH MAY

It was a distinctly makeshift Mochdre side that faced up to newly promoted Marchweil/Wre xham in their Bank Holiday Premier Division fixture at Black Marsh Field. The Mochdre batting never looked comfortable as it was pinned down by accurate and parsimonious bowling from all five members of the visitors' attack . Only Gareth Davies with a gutsy 39 looked to have their measure although Bill Maidlow, 18 on his 1st XI debut, Alun Evans, 13, and John Mills, 11, resisted briefly as Mochdre laboured for 58 overs for a decidedly meagre looking total of 119 all out. Despite early successes and a flicker of hope as Marchweil/Wrexham were reduced to 6 for 2, it proved illusory as Del Shaeffer, 44, and Chris Hemmings, 40 not out, steered the visitors to a comfortable seven wicket victory and Mochdre's heaviest league defeat of the season to date. Paul Colman was again the pick of the Mochdre attack with 1 for 13 off 8 as seven bowlers were used in all.