Kerr shows his class to maintain Llandudno's push

North Wales Cricket League review

ALL-ROUNDER Gordon Kerr added fresh impetus into Llandudno’s push for the premier division title with a virtuoso performance yesterday.

His team breezed to an impressive 128-run win against Northop, a result which keeps them in touch with leaders Menai Bridge, who also won.

The Llandudno batsmen weren’t at their very best and it took Kerr with a knock of 46, including a stand of 64 for the seventh wicket with skipper Jack Rimmington, to see them to a total of 178-7.

Any hopes Northop had of causing a surprise went up in smoke when Darren Williams was out without a run being scored and from then on it was the Kerr show. He ended up with figures of 8-30 as Northop scraped to 50.

Menai Bridge hold a 17-point lead at the top with four games left and their cause was aided by an Ashley Wood hat-trick in a nine-wicket trouncing of Brymbo.

The visitors had no answer to the Menai Bridge attack and Wood’s 4-7 saw Brymbo dismissed for just 82 with David Broderick the only player to score more than 20. The leaders eased to their victory target for the loss of one wicket as Robbie Jones ended 38 not out.

Mochdre in third are still in with an outside chance of landing the top prize and they battled to a narrow two-wicket triumph against Pontblyddyn despite Marcel Frenzen taking 7-21 for their opponents.

Last year’s champions Connah’s Quay moved up to fourth thanks largely to Martin Burger, who took 3-22 in Mold’s 206-8 then scored an unbeaten 81 as his side got home with six wickets to spare.

At the bottom, Llay Welfare looked doomed for relegation after a nine-wicket defeat at the hands of Denbigh. William Affleck took 5-10 as Llay were all out for 141 and the same player, along with Gwern Owain, scored a half-century in reply.

South African Grove Venter (69) took St Asaph to a successful run chase against Bangor, who were bowled out for 107. Simon Morley did claim 4-43 for Bangor but they went down by two wickets.

Only five points separate the top two in division one after Hawarden Park closed the gap on leaders Llanrwst, who could only manage a losing draw against Menai Bridge seconds. Jason Biddulph took 4-26 then scored 60 not out as Hawarden Park beat Conwy by five wickets.

Batting performance of the day came from Chirk’s Nick Flack who contributed 125 to his team’s total of 168 all out. Brothers Tom and Jack Thornton took seven wickets between them and Sunil Bhatt claimed the other three.

That had been in reply to Llandudno seconds’ 193-6 of which 82 were scored by Kevin James. The visitors won by 25 runs.

Pwllheli had few problems seeing off Marchwiel & Wrexham by eight wickets with debutant Andy Duffy, Nadim Rehman and Adam Williams all taking three wickets for the hosts. Reham scored 45 in reply as Pwllheli chased down Marchwiel’s 96 for the loss of two wickets.

Gresford got the better of Halkyn by only one run in a very low-scoring game. The former were bowled out for 86 but Halkyn fell agonisingly short with Paddy Richards taking four of the wickets to fall.