Sport

Bittersweet win for Porthcawl as club stalwart dies

Glamorgan Star news 24/05/2022

5 minutes read

SPORT | Cricket:

Porthcawl 156-5 Gowerton 154 all out

There was jubilation at Locks Lane as Porthcawl gained their first success of the season with a thoroughly professional five wicket victory over Gowerton, but joy turned to sadness as news filtered through that former legendary fast bowler Dai Pugh had passed away.

Dai Pugh will forever have his name etched in Porthcawl’s history as the only player to take all 10 wicketsin an innings, a feat rarely accomplished at any level of cricket. It was in the days when bowlers could bowl unchanged from one end for the whole 50 overs, and Dai Pugh did that many times. He was as deadly accurate in his 25th over as he was in his first.

He had suffered ill health in recent years but still made the occasional visit to see his club play. Tragically, he is the fifth club member the club has lost in the last eight months, a period of immense sadness. The thoughts of the club go to Dai’s family and friends. He was a man who was not just a great cricketer of enormous talent, but a lovely, modest man. May he rest in peace. He will never be forgotten.

It was fitting, therefore, that the day of his passing should be the day the Seasiders achieved their season’s first victory and impressive it was, too. It did not look that way as Gowerton eased to 131-4 en route to a major total. But, from that seemingly impregnable position the visitors slumped, losing their last six wickets for just 23 runs, 10 overs short of their 50 over allocation.

It was a magnificent effort by the Porthcawl attack and it was former skipper Jack Tuck, making his season’s bow, who led the way with an excellent spell of 3-26 from eight overs. 14-year-old Finlay Cannon is enjoying an inspired season so far with his seam bowling, and he continued his magnificent form, taking 2-26 from six overs. Josh Lyddon’s economical seven overs yielded 1-19 and Ian Parsons twirled his off spinners to good effect, taking 1-40. In their two over spells, Tariq Ahmed posted an important 2-6, while Stephen Doherty returned 1-13. Another of the 14-year-old Locks Lane prospects, Luke Adefioye, bowled admirably on his first outing of the season and, although wicketless from his five overs, he conceded just 18 runs.

The early batsmen prospered for Gowerton, David Roberts leading the way with a fine 44 from 67 balls, an innings containing a six and six fours. He was ably assisted by Adam Bond, whose 30 was based on five boundaries. James Gardener, with 21, was the only other batsman to reach double figures.

The early loss of Mark Lewis was a blow to the home side, but Mark Dixon and Josh Lyddon set about a recovery before Dixon fell for 23, from 39 balls, with five fours. The third wicket partnership of 55 between Lyddon and Stephen Doherty, proved decisive. Both batted sensibly to put their side in pole position. Lyddon departed on 103-3 for a well-made 37, from 55 balls, which included a six and six fours and when Doherty departed, with the score on 123-4, the game had far from run its course. Doherty’s excellent contribution of 38 from just 45 balls, was boosted by five fours and a six.

Unlike the visitors, who collapsed at this stage, Porthcawl continued to defy the Gowerton attack, with Bill Frost the mainstay, well supported by young Finlay Cannon, who, despite only scoring two, lasted 19 balls to help Frost put on an invaluable fifth wicket partnership of 23, and leave the hosts just 10 runs short of the winning post. Frost’s important unbeaten 22 from only 14 balls, contained 18 in boundaries. Tim Richards ensured no late drama, with six not out.

Pontarddulais Thirds 230-7, Porthcawl Seconds 120-6

Although Porthcawl were no match for the table toppers, this was a stout performance from Steve Richmond’s side who looked, midweek, unlikely to fulfil this fixture due to a lack of players, through numerous circumstances. That would have resulted in a deduction of 20 points, so the six points gained at Pontarddulais was a huge 26 points bonus, despite a 110-run defeat.

The confident hosts won the toss and opted to bat and were soon in the ascendancy, despite losing opener Peter Jones for 14, with the score on 41. With Jac Williams looking threatening, Theo Bowden proved to be a valuable ally as the pair advanced the score to 96 before Bowden trudged back to the pavilion, for 27 from only 33 balls. His knock was helped by a six and three fours.

A cluster of wickets then fell cheaply but Williams held firm. Josh Jewell was looking destructive, striking three sixes in a quick fire 21 and when Jac Williams was on his way for a superb 83, from just 92 balls, with 10 fours, the game had taken an unexpected twist with Bont on 173-7. But that was as good as it got for the under-strength visitors, who had to endure an unbeaten eighth wicket partnership of 57 which enabled the hosts to reach a formidable 230-7 from 40 overs. William Llewelyn was the main aggressor with a punishing unbeaten 36, from only 26 balls. He plundered two sixes and five fours in his cameo, helped by Paul Evans’ undefeated 12.

Skipper Steve Richmond again prospered for the visitors, his wily leg spinners rewarded with a 2-28 return from his eight overs. Adrian Shambler again showed up well, his figures 2-29 from six overs. Mark Bevan was a economical as ever, his eight overs yielding 1-30. Marc Harrison chipped in with 1-34, while young leg spinner Will Mitchell continues to learn his trade in the heat of the battle, taking 1-55. Yet another 14-year-old, James Hodges again went unrewarded but his learning experience will bring huge benefits along his journey.

Faced with a monumental task a policy of gentle accumulation, to sweep up batting points, was the strategy and, who better to lead that approach than experienced skipper Steve Richmond. Once again, showing remarkable patience and resilience, Richmond batted throughout his side’s innings facing 116 balls, finding the ropes just three times and scoring a resolute undefeated 37. The policy brought the visitors three valuable batting points.

Adrian Shambler helped his captain add 42 for the first wicket, with a contribution of 16 from 42 balls, with a brace of fours, and Marc Harrison’s partnership with his skipper reached 41, Harrison’s tally 23 from 51 balls, with two boundaries. Young James Hodges also gave valuable support, with 10 as the Seasiders ended on 120-6.

For the division leaders, Will Davies took 2-4 from four overs and Ryan’s Evans 2-29 from eight overs. There was, also, a wicket apiece for William Llewellyn and Paul Evans.
All in all, a satisfactory outcome considering what might have been.

Reports by John Edwards