Sport

Glamorgan gain dramatic victory

Published

7 years ago

May 12, 2017

Royal London Cup

Glamorgan 281-7 beat Essex 280-9 by 1 run

Colin Ingram: 142 vital runs for Glamorgan

ESSEX lost the opportunity of maintaining their 100% record in the competition, when they lost in an exciting last over finish against Glamorgan, who gained their second win from five games.

Glamorgan were indebted to Colin Ingram, who scored a superb 142, which included four fours and eight sixes, two striking the pavilion roof, while Varun Chopra, who made 124, threatened to win the game for Essex. Following Chopra’s dismissal, panic set in and Essex were two runs short of the seven they required to win from the last over.

Glamorgan, who had elected to bat on the pitch used for the previous one day game on Friday, soon lost their openers, Jacques Rudolph and David Lloyd, who were both dismissed by the New Zealand seamer Neil Wagner. Ingram and Will Bragg then played with extreme caution against Wagner and James Porter and after the first ten over power play the score had only progressed to 26 for 2.

Their caution however was rewarded as the third wicket pair put on 98 in 22 overs, before Bragg, having scored 59 from 79 balls, was stumped down the leg side from Ashar Zaidi’s left arm spin- the second time in successive innings for Bragg to be dismissed in this way.

Kiran Carlson then joined Ingram, and the 18-year-old, who top scored in the previous game, again showed plenty of promise, with an array of attacking strokes, scoring 36 from 33 balls, before giving Ravi Bopara a return catch.

Ingram, playing every ball on merit, reached his sixteenth on day hundred, and his third against Essex, before launching a furious assault on the Essex attack, notably Ryan Ten Doeschate, who was struck for three sixes in an over and with 87 runs scored in the last ten overs, Essex faced a challenging target of 282.

Glamorgan’s opening attack struck immediately, and after Marchant De Lange had Nick Browne caught behind, and in-form Tom Westley was bowled by Michael Hogan, Essex were 2 for 2 after nine balls.

The visitors then replicated Glamorgan’s recovery, as Alistair Cook and Chopra settled into a productive partnership.

De Lange didn’t help his, or Glamorgan’s cause, by greeting Chopra with three short pitched deliveries that the batsman struck for sixes over the mid- wicket boundary. He outscored Cook, reaching 50 from 59 balls, and they added 103, before Cook gave a low catch to cover point.

Ravi Bopara then supported Chopra in a stand of109, with Chopra reaching his third List A century for Essex, and Bopara making an attacking 56, before the latter was unluckily run out, when Craig Meschede dropped a return catch from Chopra, only to deflect the ball on to the stumps at the bowler’s end.

Essex then faltered, losing Adam Wheater and Chopra, who was bowled by Meschede, and at 239 for 6, the visitors required 43 from the last six overs.

Essex were favourites at that stage, but when Ashar Zaidi and Ten Doeschate were dismissed, and Simon Harmer ran himself out, four runs were needed from the final ball with the last pair at the crease. They could only manage two and Glamorgan had won by the slender margin of one run.

Varun Chopra said: “We are all disappointed- we were on course to win after 40 overs, but then threw away wickets. All credit to Colin Ingram, who played a magnificent innings. We have to pick ourselves up from this, it’s our first defeat of the season, but we have the chance to bounce back against Sussex on Wednesday.”

Sport

Promotion, relegation and everything in between.

Published

5 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Herald Sport

As we come to the end of the 2023-2024 season it’s time to look at the winners and losers so to speak as most promotion and relegation battles are now all sewn up.

We begin at the very top where Goodwick United have blown away the first division to become deserved champions elect. At the opposite end of the table Fishguard Sports struggled all season and we comfortably relegated, going down with them are Neyland who’s relegation was confirmed a few weeks ago. Neither team were cut adrift and battled right until the end which is credit to both outfits, sometimes relegation can act as a spring broad and both clubs will be hoping this is the case.

Monkton Swifts reserves were the outstanding team in the second division and were a cut above the rest on their journey to becoming league champions on 56 points with an impressive plus 61 goal difference. As Monkton can’t be promoted due to their first team being in the first division it allowed both Herbrandston and St Ishmaels to be promoted. Herbrandston finished in third on 40 points, whilst the Mice just beat them to second place ending up on 42 points. Both clubs will now use the summer to prepare for the step up that awaits.

At the opposite end of the division, Cosheston never really got going and after their points deduction ended on a lowly 6 points which is never going to be enough to avoid relegation. The second relegation place was much closer with St Clears, Carew reserves and Broad Haven all being in a dog fight for the majority of the season. Broad Haven showed good fight and character which steered them clear of trouble while Carew found form at a key time, which means St Clears will play their football in the third division next season.

Sport

Fox’s Fantastic Clarby shock the county to win Senior Cup

Published

2 days ago

April 29, 2024

Herald Sport

Strong favourites Goodwick United were expected by many to be lifting the senior cup again come Saturday afternoon. However Clarbeston Road had other ideas, we warned they were a dangerous opponent with pressure off, this proved to be the case.

A healthy crowd at the Bridge Meadow were treated to an excellent final, often cagey perhaps boring affairs this final was far from boring. It took just seven minutes for the deadlock to be broken when Clarby captain Rheinallt George put the underdogs ahead. However just before the twenty minute mark his opposite number in Scott Delaney squared things up with a trademark header.

Goodwick then took the lead when another set piece caused problems for Clarby who failed to deal with a free kick before Rhys Dalling latched onto the loose ball to volley his team into the lead. However the lead was short lived as the impressive Jake Booth found the net at the second time of asking to make it all square at the break.

Halfway through the second half another set piece led to the equaliser when Matthew Davies headed home a Laurie Haworth corner. Goodwick manager O’Sullivan rung the changes in search of a way to find an equaliser. Newly introduced striker Nathan Greene was fouled in the box and Rhys Jones had the chance to level the cup final, however Rhys Mansell had other ideas and he saved the penalty. The save gave his team a huge boast and belief that this could be their day, and indeed it was.

Most of the season we have hyped up the quality and character of this Clarby team and praised Matthew Fox and his players. Fox has done a excellent job and this is just rewards, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Clarby began this cup run by beating Hakin who have dominated this cup for so many years. An excellent achievement for all involved and an interesting plot going into next season, will Clarby be able to challange Goodwick in the league also.

For Goodwick it’ll be a bitterly disappointing defeat in a season of such dominance just the one trophy will be the least most expected from this quality side. Many thought Goodwick would win the treble and they were certainly capable, which will be the frustrating factor for the Goodwick management.

Sport

South-West Wales Athletes Aiming to Shine at the Summer Olympics

Published

6 days ago

April 26, 2024

Design Team

Two of the finest athletes in south-west Wales are dreaming about bringing home medals from the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

Track cyclist Emma Finucane and sailing star Micky Beckett will head to France in a buoyant mood after enjoying a successful build-up to their respective events.

Welsh athletes collected a record-equalling 11 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games and hopes are high that the tally could be beaten this year.

The Carmarthen-born rider cemented her rapid rise up the sprint ranks by winning a gold medal at the 2023 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.

She became Great Britain’s first women’s sprint world champion since Becky James in 2013 and is now on track to chase more medals at the Olympics across three events.

The 21-year-old has yearned to compete at the Summer Games since watching Team GB sparkle at London 2012 and she is eager to make her mark this summer.

“It’s a massive dream of mine and it’s pretty cool that I’m kind of living my dream,” Finucane said. “I’m just trying to enjoy the journey and hopefully I’ll get selected and compete for my country.

“And it’s exciting because as the Team GB women’s sprint. I feel like we’re in a really good place to do well at the Olympics, not just compete as Olympians.”

Pembrokeshire-born sailor Beckett will also head to Paris with his sights firmly set on winning gold in the hugely competitive ILCA 7 class.

He will renew rivalries with Australian Matt Wearn, who controversially claimed the World Championship title ahead of Hermann Tomasgaard and Beckett earlier this year.

Online bookmakers rate Wearn as the favourite to emerge victorious this summer, but Beckett’s recent form gives him every chance of turning the tables.

Several new sports betting sites in Australia cut the Welsh sailor’s Olympic odds after he completed a trio of World Cup successes at a recent event in Palma.

Beckett believes the hard work he has done over the past few months gives him every chance of toppling Wearn when the action gets underway this summer.

“There is still plenty of work to do and managing form is probably the most important thing of any athlete’s job,” Beckett said. “There is no point being the best in the world unless you are the best in the world when it counts.