Cricket: Llandudno on course to repeat Welsh Cup glory

Jul 28 2011

LLANDUDNO remained on course to repeat their Welsh Cup triumph of 2006 after they reached the semi-finals with a superb win in South Wales on Sunday.

The North Wales League champions thrashed Swansea area club Mumbles by 71 runs to set up a home semi with Ammanford on August 14.

Tudno are one of only three north clubs to lift the cup in its 40-year history, alongside  Brymbo (three times) and Northop Hall (once).

The Oval outfit were the last northern team to land the trophy five years ago and if they can get past Ammanford, Cardiff or Swansea await in the final.

Having won the toss, Tudno skipper Steve Smith had no hesitation in batting first in Sunday’s quarter-final at Marespool and the decision was justified when the captain and Aled Williams put on 96 for the first wicket.

Both players dominated the early exchanges with fine shots.

Williams eventually fell for 39, which brought Sam Rimmington to the crease. The score moved to 143 when Rimmington was caught and bowled.

This sparked a slight collapse as Llandudno limped to 199-9 off their 45 overs on what was a deteriorating pitch. Smith top scored with 79 in what looked a challenging total.

Tudno then made the perfect start in Mumbles reply, quickie Jack Rimmington having opener Cameron Protheroe caught behind off the second ball of the innings.

Tasmanian Gordon Kerr then picked up two more wickets, both bowled, to leave the hosts reeling on 16-3.

Chris Hardy and Ajay Dhawan carried on where the openers left off and continued to keep the pressure on by restricting the runs, both also grabbing a wicket apiece.

This trend continued with Graham Boase and Luke Regan, the former scooping one and the latter two victims. Kerr then returned to polish off the innings, bagging another two wickets taking his tally to four.

The hosts were dismissed for 128, with Mumbles youngster Ieuan Rosser the mainstay of the innings finishing unbeaten on 49.

LLANDUDNO pace bowlers Gordon Kerr and Jack Rimmington produced a stunning pair of performances to destroy Connah’s Quay in Saturday’s North Wales League Premier Division top of the table clash.

Put into bat, the Seasiders lost the league’s leading run scorer, skipper Steve Smith, early for just a single.

The top order struggled on a bowler’s pitch and it was good efforts from Jack Rimmington and Matt Lambe (both 28) plus a quickfire 20 from Duncan Midgley that enabled the visitors to set a respectable 157.

The Quay reply saw Llandudno make an early breakthrough with Kerr bowling opener Richard Smith.

Martin Burger batted with his usual ferocity and hit four successive boundaries off the openers the robust run machine as always looking threatening.

At the other end Jack Rimmington bowled Dave Fox and then Kerr had Burger lbw for 28. The score had been 44-1 and stayed right there as six wickets fell without addition to the scoreboard.

This included a hat-trick for Rimmington who wrapped up the innings in the 23rd over with the Quay having mustered just 69 runs.

Rimmington pocketed 6-21 off 11.2 overs and Kerr 4-31 from 11. Llandudno took the points 20-4.

Llandudno Cricket Club welcome all past and present players to the club tomorrow night (Friday, 7pm) for a social evening.