ON A rain-hit Saturday for Sully Centurions the 2nd and 3rd XI matches were called off, but the 1st and 4th XIs managed to play some cricket.

Unfortunately neither match was completed due to the deterioration in the weather.

The 1st XI travelled to Port Talbot and had to wait around until 2pm for the start of the match, which was reduced to 37 overs.

After reaching 30 in 7 overs – thanks a to good start from Ryan Sylvester and Chris Thorne, the teams were off again for another 35 minutes as the weather intervened.

On the resumption of play, however, the wickets began to fall with some regularity. Ryan was caught and bowled by Phelps for 24, followed by Lloyd Smith (5) and Jamie Sylvester (9) both lbw to Tobin.

Chris Thorne eventually went for 44, bowled by Thomas, with the score on 88 for 4. Thomas also accounted for Gareth Sullivan (3) and Tobin took his third wicket when he bowled David Eskins for 1.

Daniel Rowe (5) and Tom Evison (2) were at the crease when the rain came back and no further play was possible. At 101 for 6, Centurions were more than pleased to have survived.

As things stand, with one game left to play, Centurions are third in the table.

Sully 101-6 after 25.1 overs – match abandoned.

FOURTHS

THE 4th XI turned up at Whitchurch and were pleasantly surprised to find the game on, in spite of some morning rain.

With a backdrop of a rather noisy PA system from a local fete the home side batted first in a 40 over match.

Opening bowlers Nick Jones and Lewis Cuddihy were finding the wet ball tricky to control and when Nick had been no balled a couple of times he switched to spin, which brought immediate results.

The wicket of Mohit (lbw for 10) opened the floodgates as Nick picked up 4 for 12 off his 9 overs – including the wickets of J Ward (bowled for 0) and P Ward, caught and bowled (8).

The wicket of Milburn was via a particularly smart catch by Steve Morse behind the stumps. The hosts were on the back foot when the innings of opener Owen was brought to an end for 34, courtesy of a Lewis Cuddihy catch off the bowling of Iwan Baker, leaving Whitchurch on 62 for 5.

But a couple of decent partnerships (31 between Coombes and Owen) and 53 between Owen and Goddard saw Whitchurch through to 160 for 9 at the close.

Ieuan Ridout (1 for 19) showed great promise on his senior debut, as did Tom Johnson, who fielded well. Iwan Baker was the other main wicket taker with 3 for 37 off 8 overs, with Tom Davies (1-16) picking up the wicket of skipper Coombes for 27, thanks to a fine catch by Lewis Cuddihy.

After tea, Centurions lost the wickets of Tom Davies (4) and Terry Sylvester (6) but Nick Jones (12) and Ricky Griffett (7) were beginning to enjoy themselves when the rains returned.

No further play was possible and with Sully on 31 for 2, the match was abandoned.

Whitchurch Heath 160-9; Sully 31-2 (8 overs) - match abandoned.

FRIENDLY

CENTURIONS welcomed touring side Westbury on Severn to Burnham Avenue on Sunday and, after Saturday’s rain it was nice to get a match completed and enjoy some sunshine.

Sully batted first, with new Sunday skipper Lewis Doel and David Goodway opening. Doely went in the fourth over, bowled by Burrows for 7 with the score on 15.

Quimby was joined at the crease by Shae Ellis and the pair enjoyed themselves, putting on 101 for the second wicket. Quimby was stumped off the bowling of Brady for 53, which included 7 fours. This signalled a bit of a middle order slump and Centurions went from 116 for 1 to 152 for 6. However, James Haswell hit 12 and Lewis Cuddihy knocked a spirited 21 to help keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Dan Thacker, going in at number 8, was 27 not out at the end (20 coming from boundaries) having steered Sully to a total of 203 all out. Brady and Burrows, with 3 wickets each, were the pick of the Westbury bowlers.

After tea the visitors got off to the worst possible start when opening batsman Burrows was out first ball, bowled by James Haswell.

Haswell went on to claim 3 more victims and ended with the impressive figures of 4 for 21 off 5 overs. The bowling was shared around, with Lloyd Bruce nabbing 3 wickets for 12 from his 4 overs. Shae Ellis finally removed the danger man Nice for a well made 64. A run out and a wicket for the wily old pensioner David Sylvester completed the Westbury innings and they were all out for 153 in the 27th over.

Sully 203 all out; Westbury 153 all out.

ANNUAL TOUR

THIS weekend Sully Centurions leave on their annual tour taking in four games in four days.

They travel via Crowcombe on Sunday (players note it is a 12 noon start), then on to South Moulton to the Coaching Inn for a three nights stay, playing North Moulton on Monday, Filleigh on Tuesday and Newton Tracey on Wednesday.

The group travel home on Wednesday night in preparation for the September friendlies, starting on Saturday, September 3, with the visit of the mighty Minstrels from Birmingham (Aston Villa), and away at Miskin on Sunday.

Will all the touring party meet at the ground at 9.15am prompt Sunday.

FIXTURES

Saturday teams are as follows:

1st XI v Newport, at Sully: J Sylvester, R Sylvester, L Smith, R Clitheroe, D Rowe, C Thorne, D Eskins, M O'Shea, W Bragg, G Sullivan, G Davies, L Bruce.

2nd XI v Newport, away, from M Thomas, H Williams, O Lovering, L O'Sullivan, S Ellis, J Haswell. B Callow, O Sullivan, R Jones, T Williams, S Rehan, C Sleeth, T Edwards.

3rd XI v Welsh Asians, leave Sully Inn 12.15pm, from D W Sylvester, N Jones, R Griffett, S Banga, H Miller, C Bruce, D Thacker, L Doel, N Cuddihy, M Pryce, M Hayes, D P Sylvester, L Bennett.

4th XI v Welsh Asians at Rhoose, from M Fisher, J T Sylvester, P Harrison, L Cuddihy, T Davies, M Burnett, L Burnett, R Bennett, S Morse, L Jones, D Edmunds, I Ridout, T Johnson, A Langrish, P Barnett, D Chalk.