CLUB WATCH: Gorvin, Root on Form as Premier League Reaches Halfway Stage

Andy Gorvin followed 97 from last week in peculiar opening circumstances with a century and three-for at the top of the order against league leaders Newport in a repeat of the title decider last season. St Fagans – who pinched the title by a point thanks to a wicket inside five overs in an abandoned game nine months ago – moved their way up the table in a 60-run win against Newport. Jack Hope-Bell and Harry Wallace who have been ever-present and key to Newport’s success so far this season were both missing due to their England Under-19 and development squad duties.

Cardiff levelled Newport’s points at the top with a win over fellow challengers Bridgend Town. Henry Hurle fired for Cardiff along with consistent run-scorer Tegid Phillips and ex-Glamorgan pro Prem Sisodiya. Imran Butt moved further clear of the run scoring charts in Ammanford’s win over Penarth with Jamie McIlroy winning the battle of the pros over Romano Franco.

Billy Root’s 90 wasn’t enough to send Usk top as they were beaten by Carmarthen Wanderers and Pontarddulais had an impressive chase over still winless Abergavenny thanks to a century from former Wales NC captain, Cam Herring. With losses for Newport, Usk and Bridgend Town the table now has just eight points separating the top five at the halfway stage.

In the North Wales Premier League, Brymbo had a mammoth 321-run win over bottom-placed Hawarden Park. Both openers scored century for the title-chasers and an impressive 95 and five-for for Dikshant Vairagi was too much for the newly promoted side.

On the other end of the scoring spectrum, Gwersyllt Park was a low-scoring thriller over Bangor in an important game in relegation contention. St Asaph kept their winning streak going to stay without a loss at the halfway mark thanks to shared contributions. Centuries for Dion Holden and Will Evans helped wins for Menai Bridge and Mochdre respectively as they remain in touch of the top while Mold move into the bottom two and the gap opens between Northop and the top half.

Glamorgan staff performances:

Jamie McIlroy 3/23 (8) & 15 (18) for Ammanford.

Romano Franco 2/51 (10) & 10 (16) for Penarth.

Henry Hurle 46 (42) for Cardiff.

Alex Horton 13 (16) for Bridgend Town.

Billy Root 90 (131) & 1/35 (10) for Usk.

Ben Morris 1/21 (9) & 5 (7)* for Abergavenny.

Andy Gorvin 114 (132) & 3/49 (8) for St Fagans.

Brief round up of scores from the weekend:

South Wales Premier League

Ammanford 227 (I Butt 82, J Kenchington 31; M Nasir 3/43) beat Penarth 159 (A Singh 36; J McIlroy 3/23) by 68 runs.

Cardiff 249/9 (Z Healey 53, T Phillips 52, H Hurle 46; B Wadlan 3/62) beat Bridgend Town 203 (B Wadlan 69, S Wood 54; P Sisodiya 3/33, Z Healey 3/40) by 46 runs.

Carmarthen Wanderers 218/6 (K Marsh 98, J Howell 31) beat Usk 217 (B Root 90; G Thomas 3/48) by four wickets.

Pontarddulais 211/3 (C Herring 101, M Fisher 64*) beat Abergavenny 210/8 (M Bevans 64, M Ilyas 43, R Avery 36, L Sharp 30*; M Fisher 3/48) by seven wickets.

St Fagans 291/5 (A Gorvin 114, S Reingold 68, O Morgan 37, R Lewis 30; D Farland 3/66) beat Newport 231 (H Friend 79, N Rice 56, I Hassan 31; A Gorvin 3/49) by 60 runs.

North Wales Premier League

Brymbo 430/3 (S Aplin 149, C Taylor 106, D Vairagi 95, J Underwood 58*) beat Hawarden Park 109 (J Duker 43; D Vairagi 5/21) by 321 runs.

Gwersyllt Park 137 (C Pearson 32; F Mostert 5/30) beat Bangor 127 (I de Silva 4/23, N Pearson 3/19) by 10 runs.

Menai Bridge 255 (D Holden 107, J Gower 34, R Jones 31; T North 3/39) beat Mold 163 (T North 58, E Hill 37; M Jones 5/34, P Glover 3/33) by 92 runs.

Mochdre 312/6 (W Evans 108, A Campion 58, J McIntryre 34, J French 30* ; T Hughes 4/49) beat Northop 287 (S Morris 83, R Walker 55, B Ryan-Beswick 46; A Campion 4/42, O Davies 3/35) by 25 runs.

St Asaph 261 (M Ryan 66, W Norman 60, J Norman 57; S Lewis 6/60, I Jones 3/53) bat Denbigh 171 (A Sussex 57, R Abeysinghe 32, S Nash 30; D Evans 5/33) by 90 runs.