Match Reports
1st XI | 2nd XI |Sun 31st May
Pember class tells as Bridgend defeated in cup
Bridgend 204-5
Hopkinstown 205-3
After Saturdays emphatic victory, Towns attention turned the cup, as they played host to Hopkinstown.
On another boiling hot afternoon, skipper Liam Weller won the toss and had no hesitation in batting. With Brendan Joubert unavailable, Town were hoping Ian Henry could score runs after failing on the Saturday.
Weller and Henry opened the batting, but it was not long before Weller was out for 1. He managed to chip Hughes straight to mid wicket. This brought South African Shaun Payne to the crease.
After consecutive red inkers in the league, Clay was looking forward to spending time in the middle. After a shaky start, Clay started to show true class, disposing the bowling to all areas of the park.
Hopkinstown had to wait until the 23rd over to make their next break through, when Henry went for 42. He was caught at mid off trying to go over the top. However, Clay was looking in imperious form.
When Clay was joined by young all rounder Liam Callaghan, he upped the pace. As the field dropped, the ones became twos as Town looked to push on past the magic 200. Clay eventually brought up his first half century of the season, with a sweetly timed cover drive to the boundary.
Clay eventually fell for 72, when he unselfishly was bowled trying to play his shots and lift the run rate. Callaghan, who was starting to tier in the heat, was then run out for 25, when he failed to respond to second team captain Phil Cadogan’s call for a quick single.
Cadogan (19 not out) and Alex Frew (7 not out) guided Town to 204-5 at tea, a total that they believed to very defendable. The pick of the bowling attack was Hughes who ended up with 2-24 from his allotted 8 overs.
Towns confidence was soon dented by the brilliance of the visitors opening batsmen Simon Pember. He was showing genuine class and ability that begged the question as to why he is not playing at a higher level.
Weller (3-0-25-0)who bowled so well on the Saturday was dispatched to all areas of the ground, while Colin Kelly bowled well for fruitless 8 overs where he conceded 40 runs.
After experiment with Kerry Brett and Josh Thomas, Weller turned to Clay (8-0-41-1) who made the breakthrough when he bowled Harris for 43.
Pember was still going strong, and aided by some very poor fielding and catching swiftly moved to his century before being dismissed by Liam Callaghan (1-22) for a majestic 105. And despite Frew (2-0-18-1) taking his first wicket of the season, it was too late to prevent the inevitable defeat, as the hosts raced to victory inside 30 overs.
Town will undoubtedly be disappointed by the defeat, and will look to the poor wicket keeping of Cadogan who dropped two catches and missed numerous stumpings, and the shambles ground fielding of many in the game.
The Newbridge Fields outfit can focus solely and their ultimate goal of winning league promotion.
Sat 8th August
Spreadbury and Joubert lead Town to new record
Bridgend 303-6
Chepstow 150-9
Bridgend Town 3rd XI continued their impressive form this season with an emphatic 153 run win against Chepstow at Newbridge Fields on Saturday.
It was eighth consecutive victory and keeps them in second place in Division 4 of the Thomas Caroll Welsh Club Cricket Conference, with three games left to play.
Following the appalling weather of recent weeks, both teams were glad to play some cricket, and Bridgend batted first after losing the toss.
Third XI debutant Will Spreadbury got the home side off to a great start, smashing 18 off the first over, sending two balls into Newbridge Gardens. Chepstow, got an early breakthrough, Iwan Bunston out for 4 after missing a straight one. But this only brought Town's player of the season Brendon Joubert to the crease. He and Spreadbury set about murdering Chepstow's bowling attack. Anything short or wide was brutally punished and Spreadbury brought his 50 up inside the 13th over.
They sustained the pace until Spreadbury was caught on the boundary for an impressive 91. Joubert continued in usual fashion with an array of cover drives and a superb reverse sweep for 4. But he too fell just short of his century, falling LBW on 92. Evan Stanton (48) joined in the fun with some big hitting late on in the innings and Town finished on a 303-6. A new record highest score for the 3rd XI, beating the previous 20 yr old record of 281 against Cimla in 1989.
Despite the size of the total, Bridgend were determined not to be complacent and set about gaining maximum points to keep up the pressure on League leaders Barry Wanderers.
Despite some tight bowling and a couple of early wickets, Andy Jones taking 1-28 off 10 overs and Peter Clay 1-25, Town were finding it hard to dislodge the Chepstown batsmen. Youngsters A Jones (40) and T Huggert (38) frustrated the home side until Spreadbury came to the rescue. Inciting some vicious turn from the pitch, he proved almost unplayable, taking 4-14 from his 5 overs. But it was not quite enough for Town to claim the final wicket and the visitors ended their innings on 150-9, some 153 runs short.
Sat 27th June
Bridgend bliztz Barry thanks to Joubert ton
Barry Wanderers 171
Bridgend 174-3
Town marched to the top of the league with an emphatic victory over the former leaders. A near perfect display ensure Towns amazing run of wins continued, with their sixth consecutive wins.
It was a performance of champions and was set up by two of the foreign import Brendan Joubert.
On a soft pitch, town skipper Liam Weller asked the visitors to bat, a decisions that was fully justified early on.
The new ball was given to an unusual combination of two left arm seemers, Clay from the town end, and as usual Weller took it from the A48 end.
Both bowled exceptionally well, in both spells.
Wickets fell at regular intervals, which hampered the then leader chances of posting a big score which they felt they needed.
Of the batsmen only Aled Hughes offered resistance, with a brilliant 74, before being dismissed by youngster Tom Pearce.
Pearce was showing great ability to move the ball at pace and was well rewarded with figures off 8-1-21-3, with the majority of those runs coming in the last few overs when Blundell (22) was trying to lift the total by opening his shoulders. He was eventually last man out when Clay (3-37 from 9.1) had him caught at mid off.
Skipper Weller was also well rewarded with 3-23 from 9, while Jourbert picked up the other wicket (1-45).
Barry were eventually dismissed for 171 in the penultimate over. And if Town are completely honest with themselves, this should have been about 10/15 runs less. A few misfields in the deep, ensured that they got 171, and pick up 3 batting points.
Town were full of confidence at the interval, although they could not let complacency set in, as Barry were undefeated.
A good start was exactly what Town needed. Barry needed early wickets and that is exactly what they got. Huw Williams (2) was caught behind, and after a mix up Adrian Daniel (7) was run out, both inside 7 overs.
This meant that Alex Frew and Joubert had to rebuild the innings. Joubert was looking in class form, despatching any of the way wood bowling, of which there was plenty, to the boundary. While Frew was looking like a desperate man out of form at the other end. Despite sticking around for 15 overs, he never looked comfortable. And when Frew (15) decided to go dancing down the track, only to miss the ball, Town were 80-3 off 22.
Never the less, Joubert was staying strong and defiant as he bought up his 50, in a somewhat slower manner than what we have become a accustomed to. And when he has fallen after this stage before, he was determined to continue and hit his first ever 3 figure score for the club.
Jonny Ling to was determined to be there at the end. And like Frew, he was struggling to score freely. Nevertheless Ling stuck by his task, and guided Joubert to his ton.
Although at one stage, it looked as if he was going to de denied a ton by the smallest of margins, with him needing the best part of 20 out of 21. With one big over, he managed to take 15. This enable him to nudge the single he needed and bought up his century.
It was a classy innings, where at time he may have been seen to ridding his luck, but still managed to show great composure and gile to guide his side home.
And with the ton in the bag, and 4 runs needed off 9 overs, the Zimbabwean hit the biggest six of the day, with the ball ending up in Brynteg school, to win the game.
It was truly a great performance by the Newbridge Fields outfit, picking up maximum points and replacing Barry at the top of the table at the half way stage of the season.
Town now travel to Whitchurch aiming to continue their amazing run, and seek revenge on the team who inflicted their only defeat of the season thus far.
Sat 20th June
Town make it five in a row against Blaina
Bridgend 245-6
Blaina 134-9
Bridgend Town 3rd XI travelled to Blaina on Saturday and brushed aside their promotion rivals with a convincing 111 run win.
Blaina skipper Wayne Savage won the toss and inserted the visitors but this proved to be a mistake. Town found the hard wicket to their liking and despite losing opener Liam Callaghan (14) early on, set about posting a formidable total.
The catalyst was once again Brendon Jourbert, who ably supported by Adrian Daniel (36), gave the home team's bowlers a torrid time. Jourbert hit the ball to all parts of the ground and looked simply unstoppable. He quickly moved onto his half century, which included ten boundaries and two massive sixes. So it was something of a surprise when he edged one behind on 52, with the visitors score on 109.
In past seasons, this might have given Town cause for alarm, but they now have real strength in depth. Aussie import Peter Clay and Town stalwart Jonny Ling (37) came to the crease and built up a solid partnership. Clay looked to play his shots and kept the scoreboard ticking over, whilst after a tentative start, Ling found some form and started to increase the pressure on the home side's bowlers.
Their partnership of 67 proved invaluable for Town, before Clay fell for 37 after one slog sweep too many. All rounder Rhys Osbourne (23) and Ling added more vital runs to the board, with some excellent running between the wickets and the visitors finished with a strong total of 245-5 from their 45 overs.
Bridgend were quietly confident stepping out onto the field after tea and if Blaina had any hope of winning the game, they needed a strong start. However it was Town who got the early breakthrough, with opening bowlers Liam Weller (3-19 from 10 overs) and Andy Jones (1-37 from 10 overs) removing the home side's first four batsmen with just 43 on the board.
Some particularly harsh wides from the umpires moved the total upwards past 50, but Osborne (1-20) and veteran Kerry Brett (2-16) bowled superbly to leave Blaina seven wickets down. Only Alan Barber (46 not out) gave the visitors any trouble. Despite a late flurry of wickets from a superb spell of bowling by young Rhys Williams (2-1), Barber took the majority of the strike and ensured that the Town could not claim the final wicket. This left the home team on 134-9, giving Bridgend an 111 run win.
After moving into second position in the league, Liam Weller's troops now face a top of the table clash with unbeaten Barry Wanderes next Saturday, at Newbridge Fields, in a game which could prove to be a championship decider.
Sat 13th June
Jourbert class pushes Town towards promotion
Croesyceiliog 149-6
Bridgend 150-5
Bridgend Town 3rd XI recorded their fourth win in succession on Saturday by beating Croesyceiliog III by 5 wickets.
On a hot, sunny day at Newbridge Fields, Town skipper Liam Weller won the toss and asked the visitors to bat. Opening with himself and Shaun Payne (1-27 from 6 overs), Town quickly reduced the visitors to 30-2. However they were not to have it all their own way as Croey's middle order found some form to move the score past 80 without further loss.
The vital intervention for Bridgend came from left-arm spinner Rhys Osborne. Having just returned from his studies from university in Prague, Osborne bowled with superb accuracy and flight, tempting Ryan Lewis (44) out of his crease, just long enough for keeper Brendon Jourbert to make a great stumping.
Bridgend then introduced another left-armer into the attack from the Town end, in the form of Aussie import Peter Clay (1-34 from 10 overs) and in tandem with Osborne, who finished with 2-18 from 10 overs (including 5 consecutive maidens), they restricted Croesyceiliog to 149-6 from their 45 overs.
After tea, the usual opening partnership of Ian Henry (playing his last game before a tour of South Africa) and Adrian Daniel set about chasing down the runs for Bridgend. Croesy got an almost immediate breakthrough when Daniel was bowled through the gate in the second over by J. Dunn (1-35 from 6). But this only brought them the in-form batsman Joubert to the crease. In typical fashion Joubert played a dazzling array of shots, regularly sending the ball to the boundary. He quickly moved to within 3 of his half century before mistiming a drive off young leg spinner Richard Dunn who took 3-43 from 9 overs and was the pick of the visitors attack.
With Bridgend only needing another 50 to win, it was just a case ticking off the runs, but after losing Henry (21) and Callaghan (0), captain Liam Weller could have been forgiven for fearing the worst. He needn't have worried as Clay (28) and Jonny Ling (17*) steered Bridgend to victory, with Clay falling just before the finish, to a smart diving catch at mid-on by N.Griffiths.
The 5 wicket win puts Bridgend in an ideal position to move up to the top of the table providing they can beat second placed Blaina and first placed Barry in the following two weeks.
Sat 30th May
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Lisvane III 104
Bridgend 105-2
Towns impressive start to the season continued with their third consecutive emphatic victory.
After deciding to bowl on a beautiful summers day down Newbridge Fields, skipper Weller was confident they could beat the previously unbeaten Lisvane.
As per usual, Weller lead the town attack, with his usual tight and consistent bowling. And was rewarded with an early wicket as Nolan (10) was trapped LBW to a straight delivery that held its line.
However this was to be the hosts only breath through in the early stages of the encounter. Lisvane through Lane (29) and Beavan (19) Sought to rebuild the innings. Youngster Lewis Smith (10) was starting to settle into a nice rhythm, despite not being able to get the reward he dually deserved, in his ten over spell.
Despite not losing wickets, the run rate was slow at just over three an over. And in an attempt to take wickets, Weller turned to international superstars Pete Clay and Kerry Brett.
And it was Brett who made the breakthrough almost instantly. He removed opener Lane, aided by a smart catch standing up to the stumps by young wicket keeper Owain Roberts. Despite this, it was Clay who was writing the headlines. The slow left arm bowler was psyching out batsmen with mind games, and picked up a wicket in his third over when he bowled Beavn.
Clay managed to bamboozle the batsmen with an array of deliveries that were unplayable, and was well rewarded with 3-15 off 9. Brett, is like a fine wine -maturing with age- and ended up with 2-26, which could so easily have been 4 had Roberts held onto two smart chances standing up.
Weller then brought him back himself into the attack, along with debutant Zimbabwean Brendan Joubert. They managed to wrap up the innings in the last over, when Joubert claimed his first wicket for the club. But it was Weller he stole the show with the bowling. After conceding 6 runs in his first over, he then only went for 3 runs off 8 overs to finish with 3-9 off 9.
Town managed to dismiss the visitors for 104, who lost their last 9 wickets for just 40 runs.
After last weeks chase away at Mountain Ash, Town were confident of another victory. They opened up with the reliable Ian Henry and Adrian Daniels. However the innings got off to the worst possible start when Henry was caught behind off the very first ball.
This resulted in Joubert coming to the crease, who was not afraid to play aggressively. He showed fantastic hand eye co-ordination. As the runs started to flow easily, the Lisvane attack struggled to cope. They simple had no answer to Joubert’s class. His shot selection was superb, and he quickly brought up his first 50 for the club with an excellent straight 6 to the short boundary as Town closed in on victory.
Joubert’s dream debut was only spoilt when he went for one big stroke too many and was clean bowled for 65. His fantastic innings included 3 maximums and 9 boundaries. It was the left to Daniels (25 not out) and Clay (8 not out) to see Town home, who won by 8 wickets. Rowles was the pick of the bowlers with 1-32 from 8.
Town now face Chepstow 3rd XI away next Saturday in what can only be described as a top of the table encounter.
Sat 23rd May
Weller's men start to find their form
Mountain Ash 150-9
Bridgend 154-4
Weller’s warriors recorded back to back victories, with a crushing win over the Old Firm in their own back yard.
Having won the toss on a soft, damp green pitch, Weller had no hesitation in bowling, despite the glorious over head conditions. And this proved to be the right decision as the opening bowlers made in roads into the hosts line up.
Andy Jones partnered Weller with the new ball, and was first to strike. Bowling with accuracy, he managed to get one to nip back down the slope and bowl Wyatt for 9. Weller was not to be undone though, removing Lewis very next over for a duck. And when Jones picked up 2 wickets in three balls, the hosts were struggling at 32-4 inside 15 overs.
Only Steve Shellard (77) was offering any resistance for the hosts, as wickets fell at regular intervals. However, it could have been a totally different game, as Shellard was dropped twice, by the usually reliable pair of Pete Clay and Ian Henry. Despite the drop, you could not keep Clay out of the game. When brought on to bowl his slow left armers, he bowled Dan Allen for 10 with his first ball. Clay (2-30 from 9) bamboozled the batsmen with several different deliveries, that kept the runs down as the pressure mounted on the lower order.
As the innings drew to a close, Weller turned to himself and Jones to bowl the hosts out. Despite both picking up from where they left of, they could not break the last wicket partnership of Davies and Phil Jenkins who scored 15 from 8 overs. Weller (10-5-16-2) showed all the attributes of an ‘at the death bowler,’ conceding just one wide in his last four overs. Jones was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors with 3-17 from 10. Town went into the tea break the happy and extremely confident of being able to chase the total down.
The inform Ian Henry and promoted Adrian Daniels opened up the innings, and aided by some way wood bowling got the innings of to a great start. Both were showing fantastic shot selection and running between the wicket to ensure that the required run rate of 3.35 was never going to be a problem. Henry was first to fall being caught off Davies second ball. Henry had batted well for his 20, and would have been disappointed to get out to a nothing ball, with the score on 62. This brought the recently graduated Alex Frew to partner the dentist Daniels in the middle.
Fresh from a fourth team century, Daniels looked a class above the rest as he made scoring runs look incredible easy. Frew too was scoring easily through the gaps, although having been promoted up to 3, the added responsibility meant he did not play with his usual aggression.
And even the fall of Daniels (38) and Frew in (28) in consecutive balls could bring the hosts back into the game. With just 39 required Town had Jonny Ling and Clay at the crease. Despite not looking as comfortable as usual, Ling battled on valiantly until he was well caught at slip off Williams for 6. Wicket Keeper batsmen Owain Roberts (8 not out) and Clay (24 not out) guided Town over the finishing line, to ensure a 6 wicket victory.
Left arm seam bowler Davies was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts with 2-17 from 9.
With successive victories under their belts Town march up the table as they continue their quest for promotion. Weller and his team must now be looking forward to playing Lisvane thirds down Newbridge Fields next Saturday.
Sat 9th May
Bridgend fly high at Sully
Bridgend 242-1
Sully III 95
Bridgend third XI’s season took off on Saturday, with an emphatic victory against Sully in the shadow of Cardiff International Airport.
And the game was also significant for two land marks, the first of which was a new record opening stand for the third XI and new personal best figures for paceman Josh Thomas.
After the disappointing defeat at the hands of Whitchurch last week, Town were looking to bounce back. They were asked to bat on their arrival by Sully, on a pitch that seemed to favor the bowlers with plenty of life and grass on the wicket.
Although this did not seem to bother either opener, as Ian ‘Shifty’ Henry and Rhys Clayton set about scoring runs for fun. Both have a vast selection of shots in their locker and were easily able to pick up the singles to ensure the scoreboard kept ticking over.
Aided by some wayward bowling, Town raced to 44 from the first ten overs and the pace was to remain throughout the innings. The introduction of Liam Bennett to attack briefly brought a halt to the runs with his nagging line and movement down the slope into the lefthanders. However, Shifty was soon able to pick up the pace. Bennett dropped in a few short balls and they quickly dispatched to the short leg side boundary, including one massive six, which needed air traffic controls permission to land. Bennett ended up with figure of none for 37 from six, with 20 of those coming the last 2 overs.
Whilst Henry was scoring the boundaries, Clayton was more than happy to pick up ones and twos and move closer to his own half century. But it was Shifty who achieved the feat first, recording his highest score of the season, with a sweetly timed square cut to the boundary.
Clayton moved to his second consecutive 50, with a straight drive for four. The two continued to score at ease, picking up singles after Sully had dropped the field backwards to cut off the boundaries.
After the batsmen had brought up the 150 partnership, the attention soon turned to whether or not the 1st wicket record partnership would be broken. Whilst a few frantic phone calls were made to check on the current record, the runs continued to flow. Shortly afterwards, Clayton elegantly pushed Bennett back down the ground for two, to re-write the handbook. The 16 year old, who was not born when Alan Hadrill and Chris Rogers set the record of 181 twenty years ago, was clearly bemused as to why his team mates were clapping.
Just eight runs later, the hosts through Bennett, made their one and only breakthrough, when he clean bowled Henry for 75. His tight wicket to wicket bowling with pace ensured runs were hard to come by, until club stalwart Peter Stanton came to the crease.
Stanton, playing in his first game of the season was on top form. He smashed a quick fire 36 to ensure Town passed 200 and gained maximum batting points. Clayton continued to pick up the one and twos, and was duly rewarded with an unbeaten 73 at the end. Town closed on 242-1, thanks to the record opening stand of 190 and 60 extras.
Despite their inability to defend a total last week, albeit a lower total, Town were confident of a win. Skipper Weller opened with himself going up the slope and Andy Jones from the runway end.
Weller was not his usual self when bowling. His length was varied and his line was wayward, which led to Herbie Miller scoring runs freely from the one end. In contrast to the skipper, Jones was bowling tightly and moving the ball into the right-handers.
Jones made an early breakthrough, removing opener Gilliatt for 3. Weller then brought himself off and gave the ball to youngster Josh Thomas.
This was to prove to be the turning point of the match. Jones finished with 2-32 from his allotted ten overs, which do not tell the whole story of how well he bowled. Thomas, though, with pace and accuracy, ripped through the heart of the hosts line up. He removed Sullivan (31) with a great slower ball that cut back down the hill. And when Aussie import Peter ‘Mick’ Clay removed the resilient Miller for 40, Sully just capitulated, in a way the West Indies would have been proud of. Thomas continued to bowl with pace and was rewarded with figures of 6-21 from 6 overs. Clay finished with 2-7 from 3.
Sully lost their last 9 wickets for just 16 runs, to ensure Town recorded a maximum point victory and with their season yet to reach full flight, they will hope they can reach the same heights when Monkswood arrive at Newbridge Fields next week.
Sat 2nd May
Dropped catches cost Town first match of the season
Bridgend 161
Whitchurch Heath III 162-9
Despite the heroics of youngster Rhys Clayton, Town slumped to a two wicket defeat.
Bridgend, once again led by Liam Weller, were looking to improve on last year when they narrowly missed out on promotion. However, the season started badly when they lost to Whitchurch Heath 3rd XI, who won their first league game since 2007.
Town were asked to bat on what can only be described as a slow damp looking pitch, quite typical for Newbridge Fields at this time of the season. The host’s batsmen, Clayton excluded, failed o get going. However, Clayton was in his element. The 16 year old showed his true class with a brilliant 63. An array of shots all around the wicket led to Clayton starting the season with a brilliant half century that included 6 boundaries. And ironically it was own player who ended his innings, when there was a mix up with Alex Frew. Frew (11) did not respond to the call and did not move, so Clayton was run out.
Jonny Ling was the only other batsmen to offer any form of resistance. His quick fire 27, which included two massive 6’s was ended when he was bowled by a ball that nicked back. Debutant Peter Clay could only make 8, despite starting well with an elegant cover drive for 4. The pick of the guests attack was Anand Akhatar, who returned figures of 4-25 off 8.5 overs. Town were eventually dismissed for 161.
Despite their low total, Weller’s troops were confident off defending the score on the drying pitch. Although the runs were flowing at a quick pace, Town reduced their opponents to 41-4 in the 14th over. Mainly thanks to skipper Weller who finished with figure of 9-2-34-3. The left arm swing bowling was causing the top order batsmen trouble, so the skipper turned to Clay, to replace the ever improving youngster Lewis Smith (0-22 from 5) And that decision was soon justified, when Clay bowled Bishop for 24.
Despite some more tight bowling, it was his only success and he deserved more than his 1-19 form 9 overs.
Enter Rhys Clayton to the attack. The young leg spinner picked a wicket in his first over. However, this wicket brought Rhind to the crease. With only one shot in his locker, the across the line slog, Town were confident of removing him early. And it was Rhind, who took the game away from Town. He managed to connect with a few big sixes, mainly off last year’s leading wicket taker, Jamie Morgan (4-0-40-0) His quick fire 69, which included 7 sixes and four fours, meant that Town were put under pressure.
Tom Pearce was introduced into the attack, to replace his Uncle Jamie, and immediately succeeded where Morgan failed, removing Rhind first ball, caught well by keeper Owain Roberts. Pearce bowled with great pace, and although was wayward at times ended with respectable figures of 1-14 off 6, bowling well in tandem with Clayton.
Clayton was turning the ball both ways, and runs were hard to come by. And when Rhys picked up victims number two and three, Town needed just one wicket to beat 10 man Whitchurch. However, Clayton was unable to pick up a fourth wicket in his allocated nine overs (3-27) and Town were left to rue missed chances (6 dropped catches and 3 missed run outs) as Akhtar (3 not out) and Lampery (13 not out) guided them home with 15 balls to spare.
Town will hope to kick start their season next week, when they visit Sully.