CRICKET: SULLY HIT SUMMIT; New boys pip champions to take over at top.

Byline: Thomas, Carroll South Wales Cricket League

SULLY sit on top of the Premier Division at the halfway mark after edging out champions Sudbrook in a thriller at Burnham Avenue.

Sudbrook blew a golden opportunity of beating the new kids on the block when they had them struggling at 161 for seven, but the Sully tail wagged and added 111 runs for the eighth wicket.

Ryan Sylvester made an early 77 for Sully, but it was bowlers Mark Walton (79) and Nathan Gage (49) who made the difference as Sully reached 272 for eight in their 55 overs.

Mark O'Leary finished with three for 45 for Sudbrook, former Test bowler Paul Jarvis got two for 51, as did veteran spinner Gordon Voke.

Ross Lewis went early for 23 and only a brilliant 91 not out by Carl Morgan kept Sudbrook's hopes alive. But he ran out of partners when they were still 39 runs short of their target with just two balls remaining in a great match.

All four Sully bowlers picked up a pair of wickets each with Terry Williams getting the best figures of two for 32.

Newport lost to old rivals Cardiff in another cliffhanger at Spytty Park after the match was switched because an important university game was being played at Llanrumney.

Cardiff made 231 with Ian Bridgeman top scoring with 66, Richard Almond making 49, Kurt Bettles 35 and Neil Buttigeig 31.

Mike Clayden took three for 37 for Newport and Owain Strange had two for 46.

Newport had 56 overs to get the runs, but soon lost Ian Thomas for 25.

Micky Martin made a stylish 57, Tom Roberts got 44 and Dave Teague 33, but their last wicket fell in the final over when they needed six runs to win.

Cardiff's Matt Smart took four for 60 and Chris Fowler three for 53.

The 2001 champions Pentyrch found their form to win comfortably at Chepstow by 150 runs after setting a target of 278 for seven.

Mark Tanner made 74 in the Pentyrch innings, Steve Lewis got 65 and Kristian Bell 44 not out. Bell then took five for 31 when Chepstow batted, as they hit 128 all out with Matt Bixby getting 59.

Pontypridd managed to get a draw at Penarth and St Fagans just hung on to draw at Usk.

Richard Skone (97) and James Docherty (55 not out) supplied most of the Penarth runs, while Jonathan Wintle took three for 53 for Ponty. They replied with 206 for seven thanks to the efforts of Ryan Evans (84), Steve Matthews (47) and Simon Taylor (42 not out), but Skone (240) and Peter Ingram (241) kept the run rate down.

Ian Clayton made a marvellous 118 not out for Usk, and contributions of 39 by Jeremy Wyatt and 27 from Dave Wilson helped them reach 245 for seven.

Nick Swetman took three for 25 for the Saints before retiring hurt and Polly Sachdev got three for 51.

James Samworth made 55 in the St Fagans reply,and skipper Mike Hill was still there on 44 not out at the finish when his side were 233 for nine.

CAPTION(S):

PICTURE: Glenn Edwards.; # SO CLOSE Sudbrook's Paul Jarvis goes past the edge of Sully batsman Nathan Gage's bat.