Wanderers keep the pressure on Penarth (From Penarth Times)

Wanderers keep the pressure on Penarth

BARRY Wanderers' midweek game against Barry Athletic was a rather one-sided affair, with the Wanderers running out easy winners and maintaining pressure on Penarth at the top of the league.

On Thursday, the Wanderers entertained Walsall Health in the annual fixture. On a belting afternoon, the visitors wanted to field, so Dave Smith (24) and Brian Gist (15) opened the innings, adding 36 for the first wicket.

Anthony Barratt added a useful 10, but with Sanders Snr and Jones back in the pavilion, the Wanderers were struggling at 55 for 5.

Mark Ellis and Paul George had other ideas, with superb innings of 60 and 64 not out respectively, adding 104 for the 7th wicket. Gerry Richards scored 12.

The score ended on 220 for 7.

Tea finished with a presentation in honour of Gerry Richards, who has ensured this fixture has taken place over the last 13 years, and in which he has turned out eight times. He was presented with a trophy and given a champagne toast.

The Walsall innings began with great urgency, with Fenton and Furnham trying to keep them in check. After a rapid 52, Furnham (12-0-54-5) took the first of his five wickets (a club personal best) and the next soon followed.

The score progressed to 127 for 5 and with plenty of overs left, Walsall looked favourites. However, Ant-hony Barratt took 2 for 8 off 6 overs and the game had swung the other way again.

Fenton bowled Jacob for a duck and man of the day Gerry Richards took two cracking catches at slip to finish things off - Wanderers successful by 65 runs.

The Saturday First XI of Barry Wanderers were entertained on their home pitch by Pencoed. On winning the toss, skipper Andrew Ferg-uson asked Pencoed to bat on a damp wicket, following the thunderstorms.

Stuart Jones (12-3-31-3) and the returning Colin Row-lands (12-2-25-1) opened with some tight, accurate bowling, the latter successful in his 3rd over and the former in his 4th and 5th. Wickets fell regularly and with Hassett (9.1-3-37-3) joining in on the act, Pencoed were struggling at 83 for 8. The 9th wicket produced a blistering 56 runs off the last 7 overs, to allow them to end on 151 all out.

After tea, Wanderers started the chase and were soon in trouble, with Jones back in the pavilion for 2. Sherriff (7) and Denning (29) added 37 for the 2nd wicket, but when Denning was bowled, little else was offered, with only Coleman (13) and Barrett (12) notable entries. Wanderers were all out for 88 runs.

Saturday was day four of Wanderers' five-day cricket fest, which celebrated the 35th anniversary of the club.

With light rain falling and wind blowing, Brynmawr put Wanderers in to bat.

On a damp wicket and wet outfield, 130/140 looked to be a realistic target.

Openers D Smith (19) and C Sanders (15), batting sensibly against the good bowling attack of R Lewis and D Watkins, put on 41 for the first wicket.

The 12-over spell of R Lewis (12-5-20-2) was probably one of the best that Wanderers have faced this season. Top of the batting averages, P George (54) joined the fray and did not disappoint. M Ellis (51no), on his first outing for the Seconds, put on a magnificent fourth-wicket partnership of 96 runs with P George, with both scoring to all parts of the ground.

L Walters finished with an unbeaten 31 and Wanderers exceeded all expectations by scoring 202 for 4 and enjoyed a good tea.

Brynmawr's reply started badly, with G Gwillym bowled first ball by L Walters (7-0-30-1) and A Smith being run out for 3. This brought J White to the crease and the course of the game began to change inexorably.

The ball had deteriorated to such a state that a bar of wet soap would have been easier to handle and this was reflected in the accuracy of Wanderers' bowling. Only M Ashton (12-0-35-1), with customary good line and length, was able to master the poor conditions.

J White, who should have been run out on two occasions, went on to score an outstanding 90. This comprised three partnerships - 30 with D Evans (22), 79 with A Watkins (21) and 86 with B Watkins (30) - which took Brynmawr past the winning post with four overs to go.

On Sunday, another two games were played by the club, with a friendly against local friends Cardiff Casuals at Hayes Point, where the Wanderers won with just 3 balls remaining. Mark Ellis man of the match with his 3rd 50 in 4 days - surely a club record.

The Firsts had a league double header away at Brynmawr. Fenton, as ever, lost the toss and was asked to field with a batting paradise laid on.

The opening partnership played superbly, yet simply, and added 175 for the 1st wicket.

Mark Evans reached a magnificent 119 and was ably supported by Adlam Snr with 57 and Lewis with a rapid and brilliant 77.

The score finished on 304 off 45 overs - a mammoth task for Wanderers.

Ferguson and Coleman opened the innings with the aim of going for it from the off. 76 was added before Ferguson was out bowled for 29 and Coleman caught for 41. Some excellent batting by Denning (49), until he was run out and with Lanagan 32 not out, who ran him out, plus a quickfire 32 from Chris Barnes, the Wanderers had a chance.

However, it was just too much and the shop was shut up to ensure 2 bonus points at the end - Wanderers losing by 54 runs - a great effort.

The games were all kindly sponsored by Lion Laboratories.