Cricket: 'Please don't rain on our title ambitions' Pontblyddyn praying for fair weather NORTH WALES LEAGUE.

Byline: By MARK CURRIE 

CRICKETERS from the half-dozen or so Premier Division clubs which harbour ambitions to topple current leaders and defending champions, Llandudno, from their perch will be hoping that the title race does not become a lottery decided by the weather.

With yesterday's heavy rain likely to take its toll on this afternoon's fixture list, nobody is more anxious for their game to go ahead than Pontblyddyn and Connah's Quay.

Lying second and third respectively in the top flight and with some ground to make up on the runaway leaders, the two clubs are desperate to see some action at Alder Meadow.

Pontblyddyn skipper Julian Morris, whose team have already lost two matches during the first half of the campaign, was particularly disappointed to miss out last weekend when their game with Menai Bridge/First Hydro was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

More in hope than expectation yesterday, he said: "The ground looked okay when I was there last night, so we'll see what happens, but we can't afford too many more called off.

"We really could have done with some points last week to make up some ground on Llandudno, whose match was also called off."

Currently 37 points adrift of Llandudno, Pontblyddyn head a pack of five teams separated by just 19 points and Morris wants cricket, rather than the weather, to determine the outcome of what promises to be a tight battle.

"I'm delighted with the way we have been playing and the lads have done very well, particularly batsmen Phil Davies and Glenn Chambers, who have scored a lot of runs for us this time," Morris said.

"Given a bit of luck and a couple of good results we could close the gap on Llandudno, and we'll be playing them in two or three weeks looking to get revenge for our meeting earlier in the season."

But Connah's Quay skipper Sean Stey-burg-Wright believes any one of five clubs could yet challenge for the honours.

"If tomorrow's game goes ahead we'll be looking to put one over on Pontblyddyn, who beat us in the first game of the season," he said.

"We paid for a lot of dropped catches earlier on, but we've pulled it together and we have to keep going in the hope that Llandudno slip up maybe once or twice.

"At the moment everyone in the top six has a shot at the title and I reckon the second half of the season is going be exciting."

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, sixth-placed Mold have the task of trying to inflict only a second defeat of the season on Llandudno, while bottom club Bangor, buoyed by their comprehensive victory against Mold last weekend will be looking for a repeat performance when they entertain Mochdre.

Division One leaders Llanrwst travel to Chirk, who need points to pull away from the relegation zone, while title rivals Beth-esda are at home to Rhewl.

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Pontblyddyn skipper Julian Morris fears his side's ambitions are being halted by the poor weather