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North Wales League: Connah’s Quay take over at top of Premier Division

CONNAH’S Quay moved into pole position in the race for the North Wales League Premier Division championship on Saturday when they beat previous pacesetters Menai Bridge by two wickets.

Having been well beaten the last time the teams met, Sean Steynberg-Wright’s side could not have picked a more opportune time to get their revenge as they took over at the top with four games to play.

But they had to work hard for their fourth win on the spin.

Menai survived a series of LBW decisions to set a testing 249-7 from 50 overs.

Shane Carlton (3-36) shined with the ball for the Quay, whose reply could not have got off to a worse start as openers David Fox and Darren Jones went for nine and a duck respectively – the former to a controversial LBW call.

But thanks to Gareth Jones (73), Martin Burger (66) and David Powell (43), the hosts recovered and it was left to Ryan Holloway (27no) and Richard Williams (5no) to see the new leaders to 253-8 with two overs to spare.

Pontblyddyn maintained their title challenge with a nine-wicket romp over rock-bottom Pwllheli.

Unbeaten in their last 10 matches, the Alder Meadow outfit bowled their doomed visitors out for a measly 69.

Skipper Mark Neath (3-9), Marcel Frenzel (2-7) and the league’s leading wicket-taker Glen Chambers (2-22) did most of the damage for Pont, who needed less than 17 overs to cruise to 73-1 (Chris Myles 38no).

Hawarden Park slipped into the relegation places after they lost a high-scoring encounter at in-form Mochdre by two wickets.

Without an outright victory since the middle of May, Park gave themselves a fighting chance by flaying 223-7dec.

Matthew Fawcett (87) and captain Campbell Marr (38) were in fluent form for Hawarden, whose confidence grew when Ian Martin (3-35), Mike Salisbury (2-39) and Craig Wilson (2-47) had Mochdre on the rack at 97-6.

Step forward home skipper Adam Campion as he smashed a superb 142no to fire his side to 227-8 with just four balls remaining.

Mold all but secured their survival by taking 18 points to Brymbo’s 12 in a run-laden affair at Tan-y-Fron.

Cliff Wiseman (127no) and Jamie Griffiths (104) both cracked centuries as the unpredictable Chester Road boys posted a daunting 325-3 from 50 overs.

Stewart Roberts (41) also played his part for Mold, who had Brymbo at 245-5 (John Wilkie 2-29, Thomas North 2-86) when rain stopped play after 51 overs.

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