Swansea clinch league title with cup final to come

SWANSEA’S players could be forgiven for taking their eye off the ball at around 3.30pm yesterday.

They hadn’t long got their match against Clydach under way at St Helen’s when the news came through that the South Wales Cricket Association division one crown was theirs.

They saw out the game, which Clydach won by 68 runs, before celebrating the first part of a potential league and cup double.

Either Llandudno or Mochdre await in the final of the Welsh Cup next Sunday when the Swansea players attempt to retain the trophy they won last year.

For now, all of the talk at the club will be about their return to the Swalec Premier League after last season’s relegation.

Had the rain not affected Tata Steel’s game away at Maesteg Celtic, there might have been an interesting climax to the league season although it would have taken a big swing in points for the Steelmen to catch Swansea.

For the record, Clydach made 233-7 in a game reduced to 41 overs with Jason Davies scoring 55 and Nicky Fisher ending the innings unbeaten on 50 having put on 84 for the sixth wicket with James Garland.

Although Ashley Pass smashed 70 for the hosts, 4-52 from Dean Kriescher and Steven Reeve’s 3-37 helped dismiss Swansea for 165 though they could be excused for having their minds elsewhere.

The only other game in the top flight to beat the weather saw Neath thrash Pontardawe by nine wickets to overtake Tata Steel and end the season as runners-up.

Relegated Pontardawe could only muster 79-8 with Neath, thanks to an unbeaten 40 from Callum Walters, getting the runs needed with ease.

As for the ups and downs in divisions two, three and four, they won’t be set in stone, according to the league, until the Glamorgan & Monmouthshire League has finished in two weeks’ time.

That’s because there are issues surrounding promotion to and relegation from the Swalec Premier League and what impact that will have on the Thomas Carroll South Wales Cricket Association.

That said, one matter that was decided yesterday was the destination of the division four title and it was the weather again that had the last laugh. Cimla weren’t complaining as they kept their slender lead over Dyffryn to clinch the trophy after both clubs’ fixtures were rained off.

Baglan finished third and skipper Lee Williams rounded off his campaign in fine style with 103 not out in a nine-wicket hammering of Felinfoel. Neath thirds also beat Llantwit Major Cavaliers by 44 runs.

Briton Ferry Steel could have saved themselves from the drop in division two after they beat Aberdare and Morriston lost to Llandysul. The game between champions Carmarthen and runners-up Cowbridge was washed out.

Bronwydd and Llanelli picked up winning draws against Gorseinon and Skewen respectively with Ryan Nicholas notching an unbeaten 101 for Llanelli. His knock included 10 fours and two sixes.

Daryl Phillips took 5-32 as division three champs Briton Ferry Town saw off Drefach by 36 runs and there were also wins for Maesteg and Margam.

Maesteg have had a poor campaign by their standards but did end on a high with a seven-wicket success at Landore while Margam brought Pwll’s miserable few months to an equally miserable close.

There had been a glimmer of hope for Pwll after Margam could only muster 120-9 in 45 overs, but even that was too much of an ask for the visitors and they were all out for 92 with Ian Jepson taking 4-12 and Luke O’Connor 3-17.