Match Reports
1st XI |Mon 28th August
Town swept aside by Sully
Sully 258-7
Bridgend 129
Less than 48 hours after their superb win over Panteg, Town came a cropper at Sully. The defeat doesn't spell relegation yet but they have to win their last game against Abergavenny to have any hope at all of avoiding the drop.
There weren't really any crumbs of comfort got Alun Bunston's team as third placed Sully scored 258-7 with Gareth O'Sullivan getting 69, Sean Davies 56 and Shaid Naeem 40.
Tony Green 2-58 was the best Bridgend could offer. If that wasn't bad enough, Town's batting fell apart and nobody could manage to get past 20, with Town being bowled out for 129.
Sat 26th August
Bridgend cling on
Panteg 206
Bridgend 210-9
Bridgend Town Seconds won this vital clash at Panteg off the last ball of the 51st over to enhance their survival hopes
In a must win situation for Town, they saw Panteg get off to a flier with the inexperienced Town attack of Jamie Russell and Richard Tucker facing a steep learning curve.
But in maintaining discipline wickets fell steadilywith Colin Kelly and Richard Evans reducing Panteg to 138-6 after 34 overs.
Chris Bushel picked up the key wicket of Kyle Hazzard (90), caught at deep mid-wicket by skipper Abdul Bunston. Town ran through the remaining wickets and the innings ground to a halt on 206.
Skipper Bunston and Peter Stanton were up for the battle and they certainly had this with the Panteg fielders doing everything they could do to unsettle them. Dave Kelly kept things tight and with the score on 42, Stanton was yorked for 19 and Spencer Collier, son of Jake, didn't hang around for long.
Town now had a real fight on their hands, but Chris Bushell, who has shown consistent form all season, was the man for the job. He figured in a 41 run partnership for the fifth wicket with maturing Jamie Russell before he was bowled by Davies for a fine 38.
Morgan Evans joined Russell to try and bring Town home, but Russell gave a sharp catch to extra cover, departing for 29.
Town now needed a further 40 runs from eight overs with two wickets remaining, and a 32 run stand then developed between Evans and young Richard Tucker.
Tucker was bowled in the 49th over for 11, leaving Town to find 10 runs off two overs with just a wicket in hand.
The 50th over yielded 5 runs and with last man Colin Kelly playing a vital role, the key extra over resulted in Evans hitting the final delivery to the ropes to signal a thrilling Town win.
Sun 20th August
Town bowlers see off Penarth
Bridgend 113-1
Penarth 111
Barely 24 hours after getting turned over by Cardiff, Alan Bunston's boys bounced back to beat mid-table Penarth in the Thomas Carroll South Wales League Premier Division Second XI.
Because of the clash of summer and winter codes at Newbridge Fields, the game was brought forward from September 9, and two games in two days certainly seemed to suit the players.
Once again, considering the difficult conditions, winning the toss was vital and Bunston turned up trumps with a correct call.
The Penarth batsmen struggled from the start against a fired-up Bridgend attack and only Peter Docherty with 26 made a significant contribution as they were sent back to the pavilion for that most significant of cricket scores - 111.
Tony Green led the assault for Bridgend with a haul of 4-15 off 10 tight overs and Colin Kelly was equally mean for his 2-12 off nine while Jamie Russell captured 2-32 off nine.
Openers Bunston and Peter Stanton gradually eased their way to the target with the captain getting out for 30 when only three runs were needed for victory.
Stanton was still there on a splendid 70 not out when Bridgend reached 113-1 and a haul of 20 precious points.
That lifts Bridgend Town off the bottom of the table again but they really need to win all three remaining games if they are going to survive.
Sat 19th August
Town bottom after Cardiff defeat
Bridgend 92
Cardiff 96-2
BridgendTown Seconds came a cropper against Cardiff in the Thomas Carroll South Wales Premier League Second XI competition, going down by eight wickets.
The result leaves Town stranded on the bottom of the table with four matches to go as Cardiff moved over them.
The capital city side fell foul of the league's transfer regulations and had a 60-point deduction, which has left them battling to avoid the drop.
In was former Town captain Chris Day's day when he called correctly and invited Bridgend to bat.
On a damp track, openers Peter Stanton and Alun Bunston made a solid start with the ball misbehaving at regular intervals.
Having seen off the Cardiff new ball attack, the introduction of Elian Jones proved an inspirational move by Day.
With the score on 43, Bunston chased a wide delivery and holed out to gully for 12.
Day opted to join the attack, resulting in him picking up the prize scalp of Spencer Collier, son of Jake, for just five.
The dangerous Stanton (25) was next to go and it wasn't long before Phil Cadogan (10) followed him back to the pavilion.
Vandy Forbes returned to mop up the tail, finishing with figures of 7-0-25-3, while Elian Jones returned 9.3-28-5 and Day 7-2-16-2.
Town, who only made 92, needed early wickets if they were going to have any chance of an unlikely victory.
That seemed the case when John Corless fell for 13, neatly caught by Stanton at slip, but Owain Williams (44) and Andrew Inglis (33 not out) went on to post a second-wicket partnership of 55.
With Cardiff just six runs short of victory, another rain break followed.
But when play resumed, Andrew Jones removed Williams with a brilliant catch from top gloveman Huw Miles.
That secured Town a lone point of the day, but further rain just failed to save Town's bacon.
Sat 12th August
Time running out for Town
St Fagans 265
Bridgend 253-8
Not for a first time this season, Bridgend Town Seconds had to settle for a draw in the Thomas Carroll South Wales Premier League.
This time they got to within 12 runs of St Fagans in what turned out to be another heartbreaking end for Alun Bunston's side. During the early stages, Tom Duck (33) ruffled some feathers as did Hugh Owen (39) during an opening stand worth 81 runs.
Both departed in rapid fashion to change bowlers Jamie Russell and Andrew Jones, but this only served to bring James Richards and Sam Wallwork together. They batted with authority but Jones, the ex-Vale paceman, nevertheless returned 10-2-25-1.
In the absence of spin guru Abdul Bunston, acting-captain Huw Miles was forced to shuffle his pack and, in desperation, turned to Reg Green, who removed Richards for a splendid 70. Wallwork followed 15 runs later for a fine 55 and, suddenly, the Saints had been reduced to 244-4 by the 44th over.
A couple of run-outs mopped up the tail with icon Miles taking four great catches behind the stumps.
The innings closed on 265, Green finishing with 10-0-49-3, while Dominic Mabbs returned 3.5-0-19-3.
Yet again chasing a total in excess of 250, Town got off to a good start, only for Imran Ali to take out top bat Steven Richmond. Spencer Collier (23) and Marc Jones, making only a second appearance of the season, went on to consolidate.
In an attempt to break the second-wicket partnership, the Cardiff side rotated their attack and the introduction of 14-year-old spinner Amir Brohi did the trick. Jones chanced his arm once too often, and went for 38 while Phil Cadogan only lasted one ball after Collier refused a quick single. That upset Collier, who soon skied a catch, and at 105-4 captain Miles and Jamie Russell attempted to repair the damage.
Though an age gap of 40 years separated the pair, they worked the ball around with Russell looking to dominate. However, not even the return of Ali changed things as young Russell went on to recorded a maiden half-century at this level.
Miles eventually departed for 35 and, in the end, Town needed 47 runs off the last five overs. Russell continued to press on only to go for a superb 77 and, despite valiant efforts from tail-enders Mabbs, Green and Suranga Dharmasiri, making a first appearance of the season, Town fell 12 runs short.
They now face a crucial Newbridge Fields double-header this weekend against Cardiff and Penarth. And with fellow strugglers Pentyrch having lost heavily to Miskin Manor, the great Town escape act could yet unfold.
Sat 5th August
The one that got away
Miskin Manor 235-9
Bridgend 225-7
Bridgend Town remain in danger of relegation from the Thomas, Carroll South Wales League Premier Division Second XI but this was a game that got away.
Miskin Manor won the toss and elected to go in first and made steady progress. Rugby international Justin Thomas was top scorer with 43, James Cosgrove got 37, the evergreen Mike Cockell 33 and Abdullah Malik 27 as Miskin's innings closed on 235-9.
Richard Evans took 3-36 off nine overs for Bridgend Town and Jamie Russell 2-33.
It wasn't the greatest target and when Phil Cadogan scored 59, Adrian Daniel 53, Russell 45 and Steve Richmond 29, it should have been a doddle.
But the innings got bogged down and they fell behind the run rate and a glorious chance of a third victory of the season was lost as the innings closed on 225-7.
Bridgend Town picked up 12 points for the draw but that was the only good news.
The two teams immediately above them in the table - Panteg and Pentyrch - both won their games, as did bottom club Cardiff at Penarth in a rearranged game on Sunday.
Cardiff are bottom of the table only because they fell foul of the league over the transfer of Nishant Ajmani from Lisvane Whiteheads and had a large points deduction.
Town have six games left to escape the drop and they can do it but must be bolder and grab the opportunities when they come.
Sat 22nd July
Town leaving it late to avoid relegation
Newport 287-5
Bridgend 165-9
TIME is fast running out for Bridgend Town as they attempt to retain Thomas, Carroll Premier League Second XI status.
Having given second best to Newport during a drawn game in Newbridge Fields, Alun Bunston's side must surely muster a victory at Chepstow this Saturday to trigger a late revival.
The Spytty Park side won the toss and elected to bat and found a Clive Hughes crackerjack track very much to their liking.
Having lost opener Joe Roberts early on, 14-year-old Imran Hassan and the experienced Dave Knight set about repairing the damage, achieving the feat on the back of a 115-run stand for the third wicket.
Knight contributed a composed 55 while Andrew Jones kept plugging away for Town and returned respectable figures of 10-0-38-1.
Not even spin wizard Abdul Bunston or Richard Evans could make inroads as Hassan then added 98 runs for the fourth wicket with another rising star - Adam Millichip (35n.o).
Hassan eventually departed for a magnificent 126 to the bowling of Morgan Evans and this formed a second ton of the season.
Only the day before he had also scored 145 for Wales Under-14s and, at the close, Newport ended up with 287-5.
Town needed a good start and in-form Peter Stanton (38), with Steve Richmond (24), posted 72 for the first wicket.
Forty Club star Bunston, promoted in the batting order, then saw wickets fall all around him and at 116-7 the game was up.
Bunston reached 26 before perishing while Jamie Russell briefly showed his teeth with a brisk 18.
In the end it was left to last pair Richard Tucker (9) and Town's man of the match Andrew Jones (19) to salvage some pride with an unbroken stand of 25.
It earned Town a scrappy draw and extra bonus points while leg spinner Karan returned 10-3-22-4, Rob Brown 10-2-21-3 and paceman Najaf 10-2-33-1.
Sat 10th June
Bridgend earn draw as St Fagans pile on the runs
St Fagans 290-4
Bridgend 231-4
Bridgend drew with the mighty St Fagans, last season's Premier League 2nd XI champions of the Thomas Carroll League.
Town skipper Alun Bunston called incorrectly and Saints elected to bat with openers Huw Owen (58) and Dan Davies (42) posting a first wicket stand of 114.
The Newbridge Fields side struggled early on with further momentum provided by former captain Mike Hil (70 not out) and wicket keeper Pip Davies (46) adding 78 for the third wicket.
The intorduction of last season's 2nd XI captain Colin Kelly at last brought an element of control. His golden arm applied the breaks and figures of 10-2-34-0 underlined the impact Town's golden oldie made.
But abysmal fielding let the Saints off the hook with Mark Lewis (45) increasing the tempo. Aided by Hill, they added 98 during the last 10 overs, taking the visitors on to a highly respectable 290-4.
Town needed a sound start and go it via a superb effort from 15 year old Daniel Allen. His innings of 69 displayed maturity while Ian Keen (68) made a second consecutive half-century adding 130 in the process.
Chris Bushell raced to 12 before holing out deep on the boundary, and another shuffle in the order saw promoted Phil Cadogan play a cameo innings of 22.
At this point Town were behind the clock, the score standing on 186-3 after 42 over and skipper Bunston decided to take the conservative route.
They figured in an unbroken stand of 37 with Bunston closing up on 19 - and the final total on 231-4.
Town came away with another credible draw but Saturday's visit to Whitchurch to play Cardiff is vital if Town are to pull clear of the drop zone.
Sat 6th May
Under-strength Town dissappoint at Pentyrch
Pentyrch 220-7
Bridgend 130
Bridgend Seconds were well beaten at Pentyrch in the Premier Division 2nd XI of the Thomas Carroll South Wales Cricket League.
Pentyrch made 220-7 and only Jonathan Ling with 25 made any impression with the bat as Bridgend were dismissed for 130 in their reply.
Mon 1st May
Sully surprise Bridgend in season opener
Sully 207-7
Bridgend 140
Bridgend found Sully a handful in this Premier League 2nd XI game in the Thomas Caroll South Wales Cricket League.
Alun Bunston asked Sully to bat firstand they reached 207 for seven in their 50 overs.
Hugh Smith made the to pscore of 53, David Goodway got 37 and Mark Thomas 23 not out
For Bridgend, Tim Cooke took 3-37 off nine overs and Bunston 2-37 off 10.
Several Bridgend batsmen got started but no one could go on to make a match winning contribution
Spencer Collier made 37, Ian Keen 32 and Huw Miles 21, but Goodway produced an inspired spell of 6-35 in 10 overs and they were all out for 140.