Drama right from start (From Penarth Times)

Drama right from start

Ammanford v Llangennech

THE drama began before a single ball was bowled at the Park as the in-form Jeff Evans, appropriately warming up with a game of touch rugby, put out his shoulder and had to be ambulanced to hospital.

Fortunately, his team-mates didn't let the incident distract them from the oncoming task. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Ammanford posted their second impressive opening stand in successive days as Alun Evans joined Steffan Jenkins to put on 98 for the first wicket.

When Evans was out for 63 in the 25th over, a perfect platform invited the remaining Ammanford batsmen to put this game to an early bed.

They failed to respond to the invitation, largely due to the efforts of Mike Lloyd. Playing his 30th consecutive season for Llangennech, the veteran all-rounder took six wickets for 27 runs. Somehow, Ammanford managed to hobble to a total of 167, considerably less than they would have hoped for at the halfway stage.

The home team's opening bowlers, Mark Jones and Gareth Isaac, kept matters tight and Ammanford were beginning to breathe a little more easily as two quick Llan wickets fell.

However, a third wicket stand between Griffiths (20) and Cameron, who reached 42 after being inexplicably dropped by Jones when on four, took the score to 70 before that man Lloyd kept the momentum going for the visitors with 26 timely runs.

It was Lloyd's removal by skipper John which proved the turning point. From a promising 116-5, Llangennech collapsed to 128 all out, Jones (3-15) and Marsh (2-14) being the chief wicket takers.

Ammanford are away to either Llanelli or Gowerton in the next round of the cup. Meanwhile, they once again test their Treble dream next weekend with Dafen away in the league on Saturday, then Dyffryn in the League Cup at the Park on Sunday.