Match Reports
1st XI | 2nd XI |Sat 26th August
Under-strength Town lose final game
Bridgend 99
Blaina 102-3
The season ended on a disappoitning note for Bridgend Town Thirds as they were well beaten by lowly Blaina in their last game
The chance of promotion had gone before the last match so perhaps the same impetus wasn't there, as they could only manage 99 batting first.
Steve Richmond batted bravely for 30 as Clayton Lane took 3-26 for Blaina and Grant Gwilym 2-26.
Gwilym then cracked an unbeaten 55 as Blaina reached 102-3. Liam Weller took 2-23 for Town, who have had a fine season without quite managing to maintain their bid for promotion.
Sat 19th August
All round performance by Weller crushes Crumlin
Crumlin 139
Bridgend 140-8
Bridgend Town Thirds got the better of both the weather and Crumlin in a tight Thomas Carroll Welsh Club Conference Division Four clash at Newbridge Fields.
The Gwent side took first strike and reached 139 thanks to Gareth Davies and Vic Veall, who both chipped in with 27s.
The pick of the home attack was Richard Evans with 4-42 while Liam Weller also bowled line and length to capture 3-26.
The big surprise of the day was caused by veteran performer Carl Moruzzi clutching three catches, but he blotted his copybook by dropping the same number.
Bridgend then lost early wickets in pursuit of a modest 140 and the game was balanced on a knife-edge when the scoreboard read 66-5.
However, ex-Coychurch star Steve Richmond, a carpet merchant by trade, piled on the misery in laying down a tip-tapping trend.
While Richmond blocked in captain Marvell style, James Townley went for his shots in thrilling fashion.
Townley went on to hit a belligerent 46, and received tip-top support from Weller (33).
However, Town continued to make heavy weather of things and, with just two overs remaining, they were still looking for five runs to win with just two wickets in hand.
But skipper James Morgan took the bull by the horns and, in the process, took a leaf out of former captain Harry Lime's book.
Morgan put bat to ball in a final smash and grab act that signalled victory with just one over to spare.
The prestigious man-of-the-match accolade was heaped on all-round hero Weller.
Sat 12th August
Town promotion hopes crushed by Penarth
Bridgend 164-7
Penarth 165-4
Bridgend Town Thirds went down to defeat against Penarth in the Thomas, Carroll Welsh Club Conference Division Four.
Town were invited to bat at the Recreation Ground, and found run-making a difficult process. One of the tightest attacks on the circuit made Bridgend struggle for runs and even Adrian Daniel was made to graft. Dentist Daniel went on to make a polished 60 to take his seasonal average past the half-century mark.
James Townley contributed a splendid 33 while Liam Weller made 29 and all things considered, Town were reasonably satisfied with 164-7.
Penarth skipper Robert Crimp took 5-40 off his 12 overs, but it was the Penarth openers of Ishtiak and Humpage who did the initial damage in applying the brakes.
Bridgend attempted to mimic their miserly deeds with the ball but Omar Sawar raced on to 47. Matthew Daniel eventually made the breakthrough, father Adrian clutching a surprise catch, but it made little difference as Penarth cruised home with 10 overs to spare.
Captain James Morgan returned 3-38 off 11.3 overs, and in the process recorded a 100th wicket for the club.
Sat 5th August
Brett family see Bridgend through
Bridgend 201-8
St Peter's 170
Bridgend Town Thirds endured some scares before pocketing a 31-run victory at St Peter's in the Thomas, Carroll Welsh Club Conference Division Four.
Put in to bat, caution was the key element as Town struggled for runs, and were tottering on 55-4 at the 25-over juncture.
But brothers Jonathan and Chris Brett then turned things around with a stand that seemingly placed Bridgend in the driving seat.
Chris was unbeaten on 70 while younger brother Jonathan got 31, as Town closed on an unlikely 201-8.
Rob Corsi took 4-41 for St Peters, skipper Matthew Sweeney 3-27 and Tony Lewis 1-24.
But the Rocks were out of the starting blocks like a shot, blasting their way on to a whirlwind 72 off just nine overs.
Skipper Jamie Morgan was left scratching his head and was beginning to drink in the last chance saloon when deciding to turn his arm over.
But in tandem with Liam Weller, the haemorrhaging of runs was stemmed and the tide gradually turned in Town's favour.
Both proved economical, Weller taking 2- 40 off 12 overs, while Morgan led from the front in taking 1-28 off a similar number of overs.
Teenage leg spinner Devlin Smith rewarded a late call in capturing 2-17 to place alongside two excellent catches while it proved a memorable day for the Brett family.
Having seen sons Chris and Jonathan work wonders with the bat, proud dad Kerry joined the Brett party in claiming 2-25 from seven magnificent overs.
All this proved too much for the Rocks, who eventually folded for 170.
Tim Cross top scored with 46, Tony Corsi had 37 and his brother Rob 22.
Sat 22nd July
Mountain Ash dent Town's promotion bid
Bridgend 193
Mountain Ash 194-2
Star bat Carl Moruzzi got one in the eye as Bridgend Town Thirds suffered a heavy eight-wicket defeat against Mountain Ash in the Thomas, Carroll Conference Division Four.
Moruzzi top-edged a ball into his left eye and joined one of the Old Firm's fielders in hospital.
Adrian Daniel went on to make 46 and young Rhys Clayton picked up a useful 31 not out.
But it was stumper Pete Barry's brisk 52 that gave the Town attack something to aim at.
Mountain Ash, who came into the game on the back of a magnificent score of 493-2 the week before, set about things in orderly fashion.
And only Liam Weller (2-64) got among the wickets as the Cynon Valley batsmen reached a 194 target with seven overs and eight wickets in hand.
Neil Thomas led the way with 72 while Ryan Harris was the other not-out batsman with a half-century.
Sat 10th June
Town edge St Peters by 8 runs
Bridgend 196-6
St Peters 188
Bridgend Town Thirds pulled another unlikely win out of the hat in the Thomas Caroll Welsh Club Cricket Conference Division 4.
On the receivng end were old friends St Peters who were edged out by just 8 runs. Bridgend won the toss and batted, going on to score 196-6. Big hitting veteran Carl Moruzzi sped on to 68, while dentist Adrian Daniel made things painful for the Rocks by hitting a polished 54
Former Coychurch star Steve Richmond then hit a whirlwind 30, while Jonathan Ling, son of Bridgend Town legend Howard, provided some late mischief in hitting 16 off just 6 deliveries. Rob Corsi took 4-40 and St Peters went on to make a positive start in pursuit of 197.
But it was the dismissal of key operator Gareth Jones for 79 that set up victory. As is so often the case, catches win matches and a fantastic boundary catch by Ling - right out of his father's top-drawer made him a Kluber Cup candidate.
The Rocks were eventually sent back for 188 with Chris Johnes their next highest scorer with 30. Richard Tucker (3-42 off 10 overs) and Kerry Brett (3-38 off nine overs) led the way while Liam Weller (2-31 off 12 overs) also kept the ball up to the bat.
But another titanic battle went Town's way, and now the find themselves near the top - somewhere they haven't been near since Howard Ling was in his pomp.
Sat 6th May
Bridgend start the season with a win
Bridgend 247-4
Croesyceilliog 141
Bridgend Thirds opened thier campaign with a welcome victory at Croesyceilliog in the Thomas Carroll Welsh Club Cricket Conference Division 4.
After winning the toss, Bridgend posted an impressive 247-4 from their 45 overs with veteran batsman Carl Moruzzi getting 59 while former Coychurch star Steve Richmond chipped in with 55 not out.
Paul Roberts (47) kept Town heading in the right direction but grey skies threatened to frustrate them.
However, the Bridgend attack managed to dismiss their hosts for 141. Youngsters Matthew Daniel and Dewi Bowen impressed with good spells of seam bowling, but it was last season's main strike bowler, Keri Brett, with 4-17 who turned the game on its head.
Bowen picked up one victim while tip-top fielding in combination with deadly glove-man Pete Barry accounted for one run out. However, the champagne moment belonged to Owain Roberts on the back of a direct hit from 20 metres.