2ND X1 MATCH REPORTS

JULY

SPONORED BY

PRETTY PINE COMPANY (Colwyn Bay)

01492 530264

Saturday 3rd July

Mochdre 2nd XI travelled to Carmel for the first time for a fixture against promoted Carmel 1st XI. Brian Boswell anchored the innings with a pugnacious 41 and received useful support from newcomer Oliver Tiernay, 26, Adam Cain, 25, and Alun Evans, 21. The tail remained determinedly limp leaving Mochdre's total of 157 all out some 20 runs short of a good target. Jim Hockenhull, 6 for 61, and Dave Timothy, 4 for 25, maintained the pressure for Carmel. Despite another fine effort from veteran spinner Bob Sugden, 2 for 26 off 15, Carmel had few alarms as they passed the Mochdre total for the loss of 3 wickets, Mark Bland, 70, and Steve Jones 37 not out, taking the lead.

Saturday 10th July

A superb display of the spinner's arts by veteran left armer Bob Sugden was not enough to save Mochdre 2nd XI from home defeat by Division 3 basement side British Steel Shotton. Mochdre will see the game as one of missed opportunity after opening bat Colin Midgeley set them up, flaying the Shotton attack for 42 in an opening stand of 48 off 11 overs. Brian Boswell, 15, and Graham Blythin, 19, took the home side to 81 for 2 before an astonishing collapse orchestrated by Shotton's Tony Bailey, 5 for 5 off 9 overs, saw Mochdre shot out for 119 off 37 overs. Sugden's inspired spell brought him a return of 4 for 34 off 23 overs as he maintained pressure throughout. Unfortunately Shotton were given extra overs by Mochdre's inability to bat out their allotment and opener Tony Jordan made good use of them, batting throughout for 37 not out. Even so, at 89 for 6 the outcome was in doubt until the arrival of Tony Bailey whose 26 not out saw Shotton safely home for a four wicket victory.

Saturday 17th July

Mochdre 2nd XI will be anxious to put their Bala experience behind them as quickly as possible. Put in on a pockmarked track they were shot out for 39 in 26 overs, only skipper Neil Campion with a defiant 21 preventing worse ignominy. Ray Larsen with 9 for 19 bowled superbly on a wicket of which the Mochdre bowlers would have loved to have had first use. A brief flail of the bat saw Bala home for the loss of one wicket.

Saturday 24th July

Mochdre 2nd XI could only pick up a single point in their Division 3 home derby with Conwy 1st XI and have slid depressingly into relegation trouble. As with their senior counterparts this is far too talented a side to be propping up the division but currently are lacking in both confidence and form. Their total of 149 for 9 owed most to Bob Gazeley, 55, and the evergreen Albert Woods, 30, whose stand of 60 for the seventh wicket pulled the side round from a devilishly poor 66 for 6. Dan Wilde added a vigorous 19 in a late flourish, but the damage had already been done by Conwy paceman Paul Williams, whose 7 for 62 came off 19 overs. Conwy opener Gary Fraser anchored the reply with an unbeaten 51 as only occasional bowler Brian Boswell, 1 for 10 off 4 overs, and skipper Neil Camp ion, 1 for 56 off 19, had success for Mochdre. Wholehearted bowling made Conwy fight for their victory just three overs remaining when the winning runs were struck.

Saturday 31st July

Mochdre 2nd XI's recent bad form was put behind them as they romped to a 10 wicket victory away to Pontblyddyn 2nd XI in a crucial Division 3 relegation battle. Splendid bowling performances were the key to victory as durable left arm spinner Bob Sugden, 6 for 35 off 14 overs, and rangy seamer Steve Penk, 4 for 26 off 13 overs, hustled out Pontblyddyn for 70 in 27 overs. In reply stand-in skipper Colin Midgeley, leading the side in the absence of Neil Campion who sustained broken fingers in last week's derby with Conwy, smashed ten fours and a six in his unbeaten 56. He received solid support from old stager Albie Woods, 6 not out, as Mochdre II took just 15 overs to sweep past the Pontblyddyn total.