CRICKET: Humphreys hits out to help Southerndown shine.

SOUTHERNDOWN moved up to challenge the Division Three leaders by beating Creigiau.

Matthew Gilbert (four for 27) and James Watts (three for 27) got wickets for Southerndown and a fifthwicket stand of 97 by John Humphreys (67 not out) and Ben Horton (38 not out) did the rest.

Llantwit Major Cavaliers are also in contention after overcoming bottom club Monkswood, with Julian Griffiths making their top score of 47 and taking five for 26 Blaina proved no threat to Division Four tabletoppers Pencoed who won by 150 runs.

Rhys Thomas (102 not out) and Mike Williams (74 not out) helped Pencoed reach 260 for three before Craig Jenkins (five for 32), Alistair Gregory (two for 11) and James Snelson (two for 51) got Blaina out for 110.

Great Western got the better of Penarth III thanks to a spell of five for 50 in 15 overs by Gavin Flower Phil O'Sullivan (57), Jez Isaacs (46) and Matthew Harrington (46) took St Peters to 192 all out at home to Caerphilly & Bedwas in Division Five. Matthew Jones (five for 52) and Stuart Evans (four for 70) took the wickets for the visitors.

Evans made 53 in the Caerphilly & Bedwas innings, but the Rocks won by 26 runs thanks to the bowling of skipper Matthew Sweeney (four for 58) and Isaacs (four for 55).

Skipper Byron Farr (91) and Dean Cadwallader (101 not out) helped Bedlinog to remain on top of Division One of the Alliance with a 110run victory over Cardiff side Nomad Dragons. Hopkinstown retained their perfect record in the Division One Second XI League by beating Cross Keys by eight wickets thanks to Darren Phillips (123 not out), but Whitchurch Heath did the double over Tredegar Southend and Abercynon accounted for Upper Rhondda.

Malcolm Troke made 98 not out and Kevin Jones 53 in the Heath total of 220 for six and Peter Teague (two for 20) and Terry Short (two for 39) got wickets when Southend batted.

P J Patel (70), Gareth Jones (35), Gareth Lowe (22) and Hefin Jones (21) took Abercynon to 182 all out with Kevin Culverhouse taking three for 54 for Upper Rhondda before they were bowled out for 104.

The second team game at Newbridge saw the home side dismiss Abercarn for just 108, and number seven batsman Ian Vines got 54 of those. Andrew Simmonds (six for 31) and Gerwyn Lovett (three for 32) did the damage for Newbridge.

Simmonds also took a brilliant catch and made the Newbridge top score of 26, but good bowling by Paul Lane saw Abercarn sneak it by one run in a desperately close finish.

In the Division Two Second XI League, Mansoor Tariq (40) and David Plain (21 not out) helped Cardiff IV to victory over Pontnewynydd and Dinas Powis beat Blaengarw by 42 runs.

Nigel Moore made 53 in the Dinas Powis score of 211 for six, while Matthew Brown (three for 29) and skipper Neil Evans (two for 13) took wickets for Blaengarw.

Evans top scored with 62 and Mike Griffiths made 38 in the Blaengarw innings, but Phil Date took five for 33 and Evans four for 29 to win the game for Dinas Powis.

Simon Jones (77) and Paul McGinn (46) helped Llantwit Major Cavaliers to beat Monkswood in the Division Three Second XI League, and Pencoed made sure they remained top of the Division Four Second XI table by thrashing Blaina.

Keith Redford made 75, schoolboy Richard Mort 69 not out and Gareth Hendry 45 in the Pencoed score of 2603 leaving Simon McCutcheon (four for 8) and Martyn Oram (three for 23) to polish Blaina off.

In the Division Five Second XI League, leaders St Peters had an eightwicket win over Caerphilly & Bedwas.

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PICTURE: Huw John