BART RYAN-BESWICK thinks somewhere in the region of 220 points could be enough to secure this season’s North Wales Cricket League Premier Division crown.
Ryan-Beswick is captain of last summer’s runners-up Northop, who will be aiming for their first league win of the campaign when they head to newly promoted Gwersyllt Park tomorrow.
“You’re playing for 270 points this year with 18 games,” said Ryan-Beswick (pictured left). “Anything around 215-220 points probably wins it.”
Northop started the season with a 113-run defeat at the hands of Mochdre, which demonstrates how competitive the top flight will be this time around.
“They were the better team,” admitted Ryan-Beswick. “We just went in a bit cold. We hadn’t managed to get a warm-up game. It was nice to get going, anyway.”
It was a tough start to life in the Premier Division for Gwersyllt Park, but Iroshan De Silva’s side can take great heart from their showing an an 18-run defeat at the hands of multiple champions Menai Bridge.
“We gave them a good game,” said De Silva. “And having after the game at Menai, they say we’ll finish in the top six and that’s nice to hear.”
Talking of the champions and that’s who Brymbo had to come up against to open their summer.
They managed to pick up four points from a 21-run loss at St Asaph and the aim for Dan Parry’s charges is a first win of the season when they head to Llandudno tomorrow.
Parry said: “It was disappointing to lose on Saturday, but it could have gone either way. Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way.
“Our bowling unit bowled well, with impressive debuts from Adam De Rycke and George Deniz behind the stumps.”
Next up for the Saints is tomorrow’s visit to Gresford.
Gresford also picked up four points from their opening weekend of action, which culminated in a narrow two-wicket defeat at Denbigh.
“It was good to get a game in,” said Gresford skipper Matt Thompson. “As expected, it was a cracking game versus Denbigh.
“I felt we batted okay and we were 15-20 runs short of a winning score.”
Toby Bellis and Sam Thompson will return to the Gresford line-up tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Denbigh pay a visit to Mochdre, while Bangor have home advantage against Menai Bridge.
It promises to be a fierce battle for this season’s Division One title and the first leaders are Northop Seconds.
They will be aiming to make it two wins out of two when they host second-placed Abergele tomorrow, while Halkyn welcome Connah’s Quay, with both sides seeking a first triumph of the campaign.
Mold, who pipped Pontblyddyn by a solitary wicket last time out, are on their travels to Hawarden Park.
Pontblyddyn have home advantage over Bethesda, while last season’s Division Two champions Brymbo Seconds entertain Conwy and Buckley go to Dolgellau.
Division Two: Bersham v Mochdre 2nds; Carmel & District v Bangor 2nds; Llanrwst v Corwen; Menai Bridge 2nds v Pontblyddyn 2nds; St Asaph 2nds v Gresford 2nds. Sunday: Llay v Marchwiel and Wrexham.
Division Three: Bethesda 2nds v Ruthin; Buckley 2nds v Gwersyllt Park 2nds; Connah’s Quay 2nds v Pwllheli; Conwy 2nds v Hawarden Park 2nds; Denbigh 2nds v Halkyn 2nds; Mold 2nds v Caernarfon.
Division Four: Abergele 2nds v Ruthin 2nds; Corwen 2nds v Dolgellau 2nds; Hawarden Park 3rds v Bersham 2nds; Marchwiel and Wrexham 2nds v Llanrwst 2nds; Mynydd Isa & Maeshafn v Carmel & District 2nds.
Jack Williams has been delighted with Chester Boughton Hall’s start to the season.
They’ve won both their opening Cheshire County Premier League games and enjoyed a National Cup triumph too.
Last weekend’s 23-run victory at home to Didsbury put them on top spot.
Alex Money top scored with 61 in Hall’s 246 for seven before Rick Moore and skipper Williams took three wickets apiece as Didsbury were dispatched for 223,
Tomorrow, Hall have a derby date at Neston and Williams said: “It was a great win and we’re full strength for this weekend with Warren Goodwin returning.”
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