ANOTHER away trip faced Nick Morgan’s Penarth Cricket Club's 1st XI last Saturday, with a trip up the A470 to Aberdare with the Bears looking to consolidate their league position after last week’s triumph.

The home side won the toss and unsurprisingly elected to bat after their mammoth total the week before.

An injured Ali Bukkhari opened the bowling with Tom Sidford, and it was the latter that made early inroads with a delightful spell of swing bowling. Alex Langrish joined in with the wicket taking after replacing Ali, and the home side limped to 48-2 at drinks.

The evergreen Mark Thomas was astronomically expensive with his 10 over spell, taking 2-19.

Next, a rare occurrence this season as Richard Skone broke his eight-week duck by taking his first wicket since May. Unfortunately for Aberdare, wickets fell at regular intervals and they could only muster 186 all out.

In reply, Penarth lost James Erasmus early on, but Rhys Morgan and Richard Skone rebuilt and started to look set. Then the usual Penarth curse struck again as first Skone (24), then Morgan (28) needlessly threw their wickets away.

Langrish then came and went first ball and all of a sudden, Aberdare were back in the hunt. That was until a reinvigorated Sidford and Ali started to tick. The pair put on an unbroken 120 to get to the total with five overs to go. Ali finished on 60no and Sidford hitting a six to win the game and bring up his 50.

The seconds suffered another heavy defeat at home, this time to Bridgend.

Without captain Tom Parkinson, the visitors batted first and amassed a huge 313-9 in their 50 overs. There were three wickets each for Tom Pascoe and Andy Graveson. Thomas Cogbill did most of the damage for Bridgend, scoring a brilliant 100.

In reply, Penarth lost Pete Docherty and James Groves early. Only Steve Newman (71) and Tim Miller (53) offered much resistance as the home side were bundled out for 184, losing by 129 runs.

There was better news for the thirds who beat Barry Wanderers 2nds at the Athletic Field. Matthew Birch (3-23), Neil Stephens (3-28) and Simon Wilkinson (3-19) shared the wickets around as the home side restricted Barry to 149.

Stephens (39), Conrad Adams (45no) and Paul Elias (48) made light work of the target, knocking it off in just over 30 overs, winning by seven wickets.

The fourth suffered a heavy defeat by the same margin away at Cynon Valley Wanderers.

The visitors could only make 83 in their innings, Steffan Crimp top scoring with 18.

The Wanderers made light work of the total, chasing it down in under 14 overs. Ray Vandyke did take two wickets to take some of the shine off the home side’s victory.

On Sunday, a weakened 1st XI travelled to the Diamond Ground to play Cardiff in the Welsh Cup. On a warm day, captain Morgan won the toss and elected to bat.

The visitors lost Rhys Morgan in the first over and then steady progress was made by Tom Sidford and James Erasmus (18).

However, although Sidford batted well for 49, it was only him and a late salvo from 2nd XI captain Tom Parkinson (21no) that made the best of the wicket, with the Bears bowled out for 161.

In reply, another great demonstration of swing bowling by Sidford (1-22) removed Dave Kirtley and the Bears sensed an upset.

However, not even another good spell of bowling from Mark Thomas (1-37) could deter the Cardiff batsmen as the home side won by seven wickets, with eight overs to spare.

Next week, the 1st XI welcome Tondu to the Athletic Field. The 2nd XI have a trip to Cardiff and the thirds and fourths play Coedely and Newbridge respectively.