MENAI BRIDGE 245-7

ST ASAPH 124

VICTORY proved to be a Bridge too far for St Asaph over the weekend.

It was always going to be a tough ask for the Saints to secure a win during their trip to defending North Wales Cricket League champions Menai Bridge.

In the end, the hosts enjoyed much the better of proceedings and they gathered all 15 points on offer following their 121-run triumph.

The first battle of the day went the way of St Asaph, with skipper Will Ryan winning the toss and he opted to spend the early portion of the afternoon in the field.

There was to be no early joy for the visitors with the ball, though, and Menai Bridge's total had reached 75 by the time the first wicket fell.

Luke Jones was the batsman to depart for 41 when he was bowled by Richard Marsh Evans.

Marsh Evans (2-42) quickly gathered the wicket of Jack Gower (24) and there was a glimmer of hopes for the Saints when Paul Fleming instigated a run out to leave the hosts on 89-3.

However, good efforts from Gethin Roberts (69), skipper Dion Holden (39) and Edward Gadsby (39) pushed the home total beyond the 200-mark.

When the 50 overs were completed, Menai Bridge had reached 245-7.

The remaining wickets were shared by Jason Foulkes (2-41), Danny Ryan (1-31) and Andrew Bellis (1-40).

After tea, the Saints will have been keen to see a solid start to their reply, but wickets quickly began to fall.

Openers Mathew Ryan and Duncan Midgley departed cheaply, leaving the St Asaph tally on 11-2.

Nathanael Scott and Will Ryan attempted to lead a recovery and the duo put together a 30-run stand for the third wicket.

This came to an end when Ryan was dismissed by Ashley Wood (3-45) for nine.

The biggest partnership of the innings then boosted St Asaph's hopes of a fightback.

Scott was joined at the crease by Danny Ryan and the pair put together a promising 62-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Ryan added 23 to the mix and Scott top scored with 56.

However, the end of this partnership heralded a collapse from the visitors, with four wickets falling for the addition of only four runs.

Number nine batsman Alex Baker was unbeaten on 10 at the end of the innings, with the Saints being dismissed for 124 in the 40th over.

The pick of the Menai Bridge bowlers was Dion Holden, who finished up with a 3-12 return.