PENARTH Cricket Club enjoyed the rare occurrence of league wins for all four senior teams on Saturday for the first time this summer, results which leave all four teams at the business end of their divisions.

After a slow start to the season, the first team collected their third consecutive victory with a comprehensive 110 run win over Ynystawe at the Athletic Field.

It was a result built around a sparkling 93 from Nick Morgan and another fine display from the Bears’ spinners in a game kindly sponsored by Dave Rickets and Co.

Some tight opening bowling from Ynystawe’s Lee Hicks and Rhys Palmer made life tricky in the opening exchanges and it was Hicks who made the breakthrough as Scott Matthews was caught at midwicket in the 6th over.

Penarth skipper Tom Sidford was caught behind off Palmer soon after and the visitors were well on top once Hicks had Jamie Hitchen caught at mid off for 22 to leave Penarth 49 for 3.

Morgan and Richard Skone began the job of rebuilding steadily and although the bowling remained tight the pair were able to turn things in Penarth’s favour.

Eventually increasing the rate against the change bowling Morgan and Skone added 114 in 26 overs before Skone was caught at long on off Tom Morgan for a fine 52.

With 8 overs remaining Ali Bukkhari made a blistering 33 off just 17 balls before Nick Morgan was caught at point in the penultimate over off Beasley, his 93 coming off just 108 balls as Penarth closed at a healthy 237 for 7.

With new ball in hand, Penarth were able to put Ynystawe immediately behind the rate thanks to some accurate bowling from Sidford and Bukkhari. However, it was the introduction of spin that really gave Penarth the advantage.

Having amassed 30 from the opening 11 overs the visitors suddenly found themselves further behind against the twin-spin attack of Skone and Mark Thomas and it was the latter who found the breakthrough as Morgan Hodges was caught by Matthews for 14.

Before long Thomas was 3 wickets to the good as Tom Blake and Gareth Bishop were sent back and Penarth could scent victory.

With runs drying up dramatically Skone soon had 3 wickets of his own as the visitors slipped to 103 for 6 before Will Skone got in on the act as the third of the Penarth spinners with a brace of his own. Ali Bukkhari returned to the attack to make light work of the tail and Penarth wrapped up a comprehensive and valuable victory and themselves well placed in the league.

The seconds made the journey to Panteg and maintained their 100% record with the most comprehensive of victories.

Bowling first, Nathan Piddock made a breakthrough with a wicket in the first over and once Rhys McGowan had picked up a couple more it looked as though Penarth were on their way to another quick win. Panteg offered some resistance in the middle overs but could never accelerate the run rate and wickets were shared among the attack of Zac Essenhigh, Cameron Jeffers and Tim Miller as the hosts were eventually all out for 144.

The Penarth reply could not have been more comprehensive. Gareth Jenkins and Essenhigh got their team off to a very healthy start and although both will have been disappointed to lose their wickets it paved the way for Dafydd Manley and Nitin Mathias to shred the home bowling with a blistering assault and lead their team to an 8 wicket win with well over 30 overs to spare, Manley reaching 50 along the way.

The 3rds bounced back from defeat last week with a win against old rivals Ton Pentre. Batting first, Peter Docherty, 26, and Luke Tillbrook, 38, helped Penarth recover from the loss of an early wicket with some positive batting to keep the score ticking along.

There were plenty of good contributions, Nick Viner’s 52 the pick of them, as the team reached 198 in their 40 overs. Ton Pentre set off well in pursuit with their top 5 all making starts and looked well set for victory but some tight bowling by Tillbrook and Andrew Graveson plus two excellent catches by Conrad Adams brought Penarth right back into the game. A close finish to the game saw Penarth emerge victorious by just 7 runs.

Andy Prickett’s fourth team continued their serene progress with victory at Radyr. Having lost the toss Penarth made light work of their opponents and bowled them for just 87. Rhys Mottram continued his breakthrough season and once again bowled superbly in picking up 5-32, ably supported by Julien Humphreys with 2-13. Penarth made light work of the chase with the evergreen Dai Carter once again seeing the fourths home with 31 not out to seal an eight wicket win.

The only disappointment of the weekend came on Sunday when a much changed first team were knocked out of the Welsh Cup after a narrow defeat at Clydach.

Reduced to 30 overs per side by the morning rain Penarth fielded first and despite some fine efforts with the ball a late surge from James Garland with 75 not out saw the hosts finish at 188 for 7. Richard Skone was again the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 18.

The Penarth reply was always competitive but a constant fall of wickets saw them fall behind the required rate despite solid contributions from first team debutants Nitin Mathias, 32, and Greg Cross, 21. In the end the target was just too much and Penarth closed on 175 for 9.

This week sees the first team visit unbeaten Carmarthen Wanderers, while the seconds hosts Port Talbot in a clash of two 100% records. The thirds have a local derby at Sully while the fourths host Newport.