Chasing pack put pressure on leaders Dafen

SWANSEA were relegated from the Swalec Premier League last year but are making a good fist of ensuring they make an immediate return.

They and Ynsytawe are gradually closing the gap that leaders Dafen Welfare hold at the summit of the South Wales Cricket Association first division.

The two sides again made ground on Dafen yesterday with the deficit now down to 11 points thanks to wins for them and the team in first place having their match disrupted by the weather.

There were no real standout performances at St Helen’s yet Swansea still managed to beat Gowerton by 100 runs.

Sasha Rodrigo (36), Ceri James (29) and 26 not out from Ed Smith contributed to the home side’s total of 182-9. Dwayne Batchelor (4-49) did well to not let the hosts score too freely.

But it was Smith and fellow all-rounder Johnny Hubschmid who did the damage for Swansea during the Gowerton reply as both claimed three wickets.

Ynystawe’s Andrew Beasley and Alex Fletcher also took three scalps in their side’s 34-run win at home to Tata Steel.

A first-wicket partnership of 94 between Gareth Bishop (63) and Beasley (32) set Ynystawe on the way to 174-8. Matthew Jones weighed in with 3-38 for the visitors.

Tata were in with a sniff as Owen Davies (39) and Kelvin Bartle (44) gave them a good start but Fletcher, Beasley and Ben Northey, with two wickets for no runs, sent the away side packing.

Dafen’s trip to Maesteg Celtic was hit by the rain and even though they declared on 207-5 in the 38^th over, the visitors came up against stubborn opponents who were never in danger of surrendering when they replied. Celtic finished on 82-3 from their 29 overs to ensure a draw.

Meanwhile, Neath (158-9) drew with Clydach in another rain-affected encounter and Pontardawe had reached 40-2 when their fixture against Llangennech was abandoned.