SATURDAY 2ND JUNE

MOCHDRE v BANGOR

League leaders Bangor, bristling with class and sporting West Indian speedster MacNeil Morgan, brutally exposed the lack of depth in a Mochdre side shorn of two top players as they cruised to a comprehensive 112 run victory in the North Wales Premier Division. It just might have been different. Bangor top scorer Robbie Marshall, 69 not out, and Tom Evison, 34, were both dropped without scoring, although in the absence of Paul Colman, the most penetrative and consistent of Mochdre's bowlers this term, Bangor were always likely to rack up a big total on a superlative Black Marsh Field track. Bangor opener Hefin Lewis, 49, gave his side a good start before Evison, Marshall and skipper Andy Savage, 45, piled on the agony for the home team. Last year's 2nd XI skipper Neil Campion, unlucky to return only 1 for 41 off 15 overs, was by some way the pick of the Mochdre bowlers, with Phil Leeds picking up 2 for 39 off 7, as Bangor declared on 229 for 4 off 49 overs.

Having given themselves 61 overs in which to attack the Mochdre batting, Bangor were made to work hard as the early order provided dogged resistance in the face of hostile bowling from MacNeil Morgan, 4 for 31 off 14. Opener Steve Jones, 26, demonstrated bulldog spirit, fearlessly deploying his trademark hook as the ball whistled past his ears, before a groin strain restricted his movement . Gareth Davies, 11, and skipper Dafydd Rhys, 11, fell when looking comfortable, before Phil Leeds added a patient 26. Batting at five, Bill Maidlow mixed aggression with watchfulness but was left unbeaten on 30 as the tail collapsed quickly and tamely to Morgan and Wales spinner Gareth Edwards, 4 for 16 off 8. As the wickets fell the chance of valuable bonus points for a drawn game disappeared with Mochdre all out for 117 in the fifty third over.

SATURDAY 9TH JUNE

CONNAH'S QUAY v MOCHDRE

Mochdre can take comfort from some fine batting performances despite being pipped in the last over of a run-filled thriller at Connah's Quay in the North Wales Premier Division. Despite the early loss of county hero Gareth Davies for 7, Mochdre garnered a solid start through Steve Jones, 25, and Paul Owen, 17. Skipper Dafydd Rhys smoothly compiled 38, and together with Phil Leeds added 51 for the fourth wicket , before his side suffered a setback with new recruit Bill Maidlow suffering a facial injury requiring hospital treatment. All rounder Paul Colman joined Leeds at the wicket and launched a spectacular and brutal assault on the home bowlers. In just 47 minutes and off 45 balls he hammered an unbeaten 69 including 6 sixes and 5 fours, whilst Phil Leeds provided a calm core to the innings with 66 not out off 106 balls. For the Quay, seamer Steve Jones was the pick of their attack, returning 2 for 48 off 15 overs, as Mochdre declared their innings on 247 for 4 off 54 overs, leaving the home side 56 overs to overtake the visitors seemingly mammoth total. Undeterred by a teatime dressing room ruckus, Connah's Quay took up the challenge with a will. Dave Mellor, 31, and Paul Bartlett, top scoring with 60, added 73 for the second wicket, before Matthew Needham, with a quickfire 39, joined Mellor to add 71 for the third. From 153 for 2 the Quay suffered a mid-order collapse, four wickets falling for the addition of 21 runs, before Darren Jones, 60 not out, joined David Jones, 24 not out, in a 74 run match winning partnership. Not for the first time this season, the Mochdre attack has lacked a cutting edge when it needed to close down the game. Paceman Rob Stewart was the most economical bowler with 1 for 40 off 15, whilst Paul Colman's off-spin brought both wickets and punishment with 3 for 67 off 13, as Connah's Quay scraped breathlessly home on 248 for 6 in the final over.

SATURDAY 16TH JUNE

MOCHDRE v LLANDUDNO

Both teams' anxiety to avoid defeat overcame desire for victory as Mochdre and Llandudno's much anticipated derby petered into a tame draw in the North Wales Premier Division. Electing to bat, Mochdre received a flying start courtesy of skippe r and opener Dafydd Rhys whose 16 came off 12 balls and included a brace of sixes off Llandudno paceman Graham Boase. However, Boase quickly took revenge, removing both home side openers with just 29 on the board. Gareth Davies, batting at no. 3 for Mochdre, settled in to provide a cornerstone innings for his side. Holding the side together, his 83 came off 138 balls and included 11 fours in a three hour knock of great concentration and composed stroke-making. Partnerships of 57 for the third wicket wi t h Paul Owen, 28, and 42 for the sixth with Paul Colman, 25 off 23 balls, along with useful contributions of 14 by Paul Buckley and 12 by Wasim Ali, saw Mochdre reach 207 as the final wicket fell in the fifty fourth over. Graham Boase, 4 for 50 off 15 ove rs, returned to mop up the tail along with Steve Smith, 3 for 24 off 6, whilst Martin Roberts, 3 for 48 off 13, accounted for the Mochdre middle order. Needing to score at 4.5 runs per over to achieve victory, Llandudno's Martin Roberts, 67 off 84 balls in cluding 7 fours and a six, batted fluently in an opening stand of 90 with Tim George, 12. The visitors, however, were unable to break the shackles imposed by Mochdre medium pacers Phil Leeds, 0 for 32 off 12, and Gareth Davies, 1 for 30 off 15. Batting at 4 Kevin James added a breezy 25 off 27 balls, but the early Mochdre pressure took its toll as Steve Smith, 21, and Aled Williams, 11 not out, were unable to raise the run rate, Llandudno closing at 153 for 4. Late wickets for Paul Colman, 1 for 48, and Wasim Ali, 1 for 9, flattered to deceive - Mochdre were never likely to take the wickets and Llandudno were never likely to score the runs.

SATURDAY 23RD JUNE

PONTBLYDDYN v MOCHDRE

The rule changes which have accompanied the accession of the new-format North Wales Premier Division allow teams to escape with a draw from what previously would have been a thumping defeat - an opportunity gratefully grasped by Mochdre on their visit to Pontblyddyn. The new rules also provide the opportunity for the team batting first to set a tempting target, an opportunity signally missed by Pontblyddyn. Pontblyddyn elected to bat against a Mochdre side shorn of four regulars, and proceeded to make h ay on an excellent track. Openers Mark Chambers, 58, and Phil Davies added 160 before a wicket fell, leading to a further stand of 98 between Andy Doorman, 43 not out, and Davies, who remained unbeaten with a splendid 126. Mochdre's bowlers struggled ma n fully to contain the home side's onslaught with Neil Campion the most economical, conceding just 24 runs off his nine overs. The only wicket fell to the very occasional donkey drops of skipper Dafydd Rhys, 1 for 58 off 7, as Pontblyddyn soared to 258 for 1 off 56 overs. This left Mochdre needing to score at almost five runs an over to secure victory, and Pontblyddyn fifty four overs in which to capture all ten wickets. Whilst a home declaration around the 200 mark might have tempted a run chase, with a t ail effectively starting at number five it was hardly surprising that the visitors opted for the draw. Mochdre's rearguard action was built around an unbeaten 82 from Gareth Davies - continuing his recent rich vein of form. His craftsman's performance l a sted a shade over two hours, and included 13 boundaries in his 156 ball innings. Stands of 47 with Steve Jones, 25, and 35 with Phil Leeds, 16, brought Mochdre to a still-precarious 111 for 5 with 10 overs remaining. At this point Davies was joined by the stalwart Neil Campion and the pair were able to reach the close on 157 for 5, Campion contributing a determined unbeaten 5 to their partnership of 46. Rhys Jones, 3 for 41 off 13 was the pick of the Pontblyddyn attack.

SATURDAY 30TH JUNE

MOCHDRE v NORTHOP

A six wicket home defeat by Northop in the North Wales Premier Division made it seven games without a victory for Mochdre and leaves them urgently in need of luck and inspiration to arrest their slide towards the foot of the league. \par \par Skipper Dafydd Rhys re-shuffled his batting order to mixed effect as Mochdre made a solid start only to see the innings falter and then fall apart completely in its later stages. Openers Steven Jones and Paul Owen put on 58 at three an over for the first wicket, before the loss of Owen for 17 was followed by a rare failure by Gareth Davies, dismissed for 8. Jones reached 47, including eight boundaries, before being third out in the thirtieth over with the score on 95. A useful stand of 47 between Dafydd Rhys, 43, and Phil Leeds, 17, saw Mochdre reach 142 for 3 in the 45over, but in need of a sharp acceleration if they were to set a challenging total for the visitors. It was not to come, as the introduction of medium pacer Carl Williams, 6 for 27 off 10 overs, saw him remove the last six wickets for 4 1 runs as Mochdre tumbled to 183 all out - well short of a decent target on a benevolent track. Mochdre's opening bowlers Rob Stewart and Phil Leeds have bowled well bit not been blessed with luck this season. So it proved again as Northop opening batsme n Carl Williams, 38, and Mark Williams, 40, played and missed on countless occasions. They also punished the bad ball, adding 80 for the first wicket, and providing a foundation for no. 4 Graham Williams, 44 not out, and no. 6 Darren Williams, 32 not out , to further punish the Mochdre attack. A wicket apiece for Stewart, 1 for 39 off 8, Leeds, 1 for 38 off 13, Gareth Davies, 1 for 27 off 8, and Richie Totton on his season's debut, 1 for 19 off 6, failed to hold up Northop's march to victory, as they cruised home on 187 for 4 with time and wickets to spare.