SATURDAY 7TH JULY

MARCHWEIL & WREXHAM v MOCHDRE

A much improved performance to start the second half of the season saw Mochdre just fail to clinch victory at Marchweil & Wrexham in the North Wales Premier Division. Mochdre were given another good start by openers Dafydd Rhys, 40 off 68 balls including 6 boundaries, and Steve Jones, 21, together putting on 51 for the first wicket. After both fell victim to Frank Johnson, Marchweil's leading bowler with 5 for 46 off 12 overs, Mochdre's middle order accumulated runs in steady if unspectacular fashion. Paul Owen contributed a patient 28 from no 3, whilst Phil Leeds and Paul Colman, each scoring 29, added 44 for the fifth wicket. Mochdre's tail end batsmen can, if nothing else, lay claim to consistency, yet again failing to raise the feeblest of wags as the last six wickets tumbled in the space of 35 minutes for the addition of just 21 runs. The home side's Australian professional David Scheffer claimed 2 for 25 off 15, and John Pugh chipped in with 2 for 31 off 12 as Mochdre's innings closed on 178 all out. Mochdre set about defending their modest total in determined style, and their disciplined line and length approach paid dividends - a stranglehold on runs being followed by the steady fall of wickets. Paceman Rob Stewart, 1 for 24 off 12, and off-spinner Paul Colman, 1 for 36 off 15, persevered to good effect whilst Gareth Davies reaped the reward of intelligently varied medium pace to pick up 5 for 33 off 15 overs. Roy Hooper, 23, and David Sheffer, 25, shone briefly in the Marchweil middle order, but at 104 for 7 Mochdre looked to be on the verge of an overdue victory, only to be denied by the not inconsiderable talents of former Wales skipper David Jones and ex-Denbighshire opener Pete Barrett. Batting at eight, Jones scored 25 before proving a prize scalp for 15 year old Russell Boswell, 1 for 20 off 4. At no 9, Barrett, 27 not out off 66 balls, resisted stubbornly, allowing Marchweil to slip off the hook at 159 for 9 after 55 overs of Mochdre pressure.

SATURDAY 14TH JULY

MOCHDRE V MOLD

A superb all-round performance from Mochdre's county star Gareth Davies, was not enough to save them from a home defeat by high-flying Mold in the North Wales Premier Division. Mochdre skipper Dafydd Rhys' decision to make Mold bat first paid early dividends as accurate medium pace bowling from Davies, 4 for 38 off 15 overs, and Phil Leeds, 2 for 26 off 14, made steady inroads into the visitors' batting line-up. Mold were in trouble on 116 for 6, when, not for the first time this season, Mochdre hopes of chasing a lowish total were thwarted by a determined rearguard action. Mold's Flintshire all-rounder Russell Wiseman laid the basis for their fightback, scoring 48 off 67 balls and receiving solid support from no 9 Alan Coppack, 21 not out. The introduction to the attack of Amir Sardar as fourth change swung the balance back towards Mochdre, as his sprightly spell included Wiseman taken at gully in, with a return of 3 for 11 off 6 overs. Mold skipper Gareth H Evans declared on 180 for 9, a bold decision but one made with an eye on a Mochdre batting line-up containing just four recognised batsmen. With 57 overs in which to reach their target, Mochdre openers Dafydd Rhys and Steve Jones could afford to be patient, and had put on 31 untroubled runs before Rhys was run out for 9. Jones' dismissal for 28 with the score on 49 precipitated a gruesome middle-order collapse, four wickets falling for the addition of just 3 runs. Gareth Davies, meanwhile, demonstrating skill and concentration, rose to the challenge with a superb unbeaten 76 off 149 balls. He received overdue support in the form of late order resistance from no 8 Rob Stewart, 16 in a stand of 39, and 13 year old Russell Boswell, batting at no 10 and bravely taking on the experienced Mold attack for an excellent 18 off 21 balls in a stand of 38 for the tenth wicket. His gallantry was to be unrewarded as a questionable LBW decision saw Mochdre all out 12 runs short on 168. Steve Burkhill, 5 for 39 off 14, took the bowling honours for Mold, well supported by Russell Wiseman, 2 for 21 off 7.

SATURDAY 21ST JULY

HALKYN v MOCHDRE

SATURDAY 28TH JULY

BRYMBO v MOCHDRE

Two controversial umpiring decisions early in the game did not help Mochdre's relegation plight as they plunged to a seven wicket defeat at Brymbo in the North Wales Premier Division. Veteran opener Steve Jones, 15, and in-form Denbighshire all-rounder Gareth Davies, 28, were both going well when each was adjudged to have been caught behind the wicket. From the relative comfort of 65 for 2, the Mochdre middle-order colla psed badly for the second successive week, five wickets falling in the space of 12 runs to Nick Jones, 4 for 34 off 10 overs and Russell Jones, 3 for 19 off 10. Batting at no 7, John Mills provided resolute resistance, reaching an unbeaten 27 before runn ing out of partners as Mochdre were bowled out for a dismal total of 109. Despite an early success as Gareth Davies picked up the dangerous Stewart Williams for 7 with the score on 11, a partnership of 86 in 15 overs between Mark Jones, 58, and Phil Lloyd, 22, took Brymbo to the brink of victory. Mochdre did achieve late success as both Jones and Lloyd fell victim to promising 14 year old Russell Boswell, 2 for 11 off 3, before Brymbo eased home with seven wickets to spare.