DOMINANT Marchwiel and Wrexham have taken another big stride towards securing the Division Two title.

Wins are all that matter at this point of the summer and the league leaders were on top at home to St Asaph seconds as they recorded a mighty 151-run triumph.

The decision to bat first after winning the toss proved to be the correct one as Marchwiel and Wrexham’s 40 overs yielded 238 for five.

George Forgrave (74), Scott Lawrenson (56) and skipper Sam Shoemark (52) led the charge. Saints’ response was then halted on 87 (Shoemark 3-4). Credit must go to both sides in the field, with just 15 extras seen in more than 76 overs.

Third-placed Llay maintained their promotion push via a six-wicket success away to Bersham.

Opener Sathyajith Ihalagama (76) top scored in Bersham’s initial 147 all out.

Matthew Cross grabbed four for 37 for Llay, who then responded with 150 for four.

Jack Honey (56 not out) and Cross (35) were the main contributors, as Nilanka De Silva picked up two wickets.

In the closest contest of the day, Gresford seconds pipped Pontblyddyn seconds by a solitary wicket.

Dylan Pearn (60) and Gareth Jones (55) were the leading lights in Pontblyddyn’s 182 for four.

Gresford crept home on 183 for nine with two deliveries to spare.

Sam Burke (53) and Gez Jones (52) made crucial contributions, as Christian Wrathall (3-40) kept Pontblyddyn interested.

Carmel & District lost out by 37 runs on their trip to Llanrwst, who struck 148 for five.

Skipper Aron Hughes led the way with his knock of 40, with Lee Rowles picking up two wickets for Carmel.

Jonathan Fisher made 28 in the visitors’ 111 for nine (Trefor Williams 4-23).

In a low-scoring encounter, Corwen prevailed by 14 runs away to Mochdre seconds.

Harry Pooler made 34 out of Corwen’s 93 all out (Finlay Jones 5-17). This proved to be enough for victory, though, as Mochdre could only muster 79 (Simon Harrison 4-15).

Elsewhere, Bangor seconds got the better of Menai Bridge seconds by seven wickets.

Hawarden Park seconds are still in the mix to secure promotion from Division Three.

Third-placed Park were able to get the better of Mold seconds by three wickets.

Craig Roberts’ knock of 58 was the top contribution in Mold’s initial 154 for eight (Ahmed Javed 4-30).

Hawarden Park reached a winning 158 for seven with seven balls to spare, thanks in the main to an unbeaten 87 from skipper Haseeb Hanif Bikya. Luca Davies picked up four for 29 for Mold.

Gwersyllt Park seconds eased to a 107-run success over Halkyn seconds after amassing 172 for eight (Ted Pearson 66, James Collier 53, Ryan Ferguson 5-46).

Michael Griffiths took five for 11 in Halkyn’s 65 all out.

Meanwhile, Buckley seconds secured a seven-wicket triumph in their home clash with Connah’s Quay seconds.

Jake Chare top scored with 34 in Quay’s 172 (Abbey Mayers 3-26).

Jon Whitnall finished unbeaten on 38 in Buckley’s 173 for three response.

Pwllheli took over at the top courtesy of their four-wicket win at Bethesda seconds.

Previous leaders Ruthin lost out by four wickets in their Vale of Clwyd derby at home to Denbigh seconds.

Bersham Seconds lost their top-two battle in Division Four at leaders Llandudno Seconds.

Now 21 points off top spot, Bersham were bowled for 141 chasing the leaders’ 166 for seven.

Mynydd Isa and Maeshafn beat Marchwiel and Wrexham Seconds by four wickets thanks to an unbeaten 63 from Stuart Applewhite as they reached 189 for six with three overs to spare.

Jonathan Fagan had earlier taken 3-42 as Marchwiel, for whom Nick Husbands was 80 not out, opened up with 188.