HALKYN 2nds sealed their promotion from Division Six on Saturday with an eightwicket rout of Corwen 2nds. Shaun Gibson (4-12) took the lion’s share of the wickets as the hosts were skittled for 54 before captain Ian Mercer (25) and Stephen Morrish (18no) saw Halkyn to 57-2. Shotton 2nds ended their long wait for a win with victory at home to Ruthin 2nds who, at the hands of maiden wicket-takers Anto Carrino (3-16) and John Mallon (1-5), fell for 62 before Luke Bennett (22no) guided Shotton to 62-3. Pontblyddyn 2nds cemented top spot in Division Four on Monday with a nine-wicket derby romp at Mold 2nds. Pont snaffled Mold up for 87 and then eased to 88-1. The pacesetters were also victorious on Saturday, at home to Mochdre 2nds, who got as far as 117-7 (Andrew Watkin 3-30, Tom Dawson 2-20) in reply to 155-9 (Chris Myles 47). Mold lost at second-placed Gwersyllt Park, who chased down 159-7 (Alasdair Harradine 34no, John Wilkie 32) when reaching 160-6 (Keith Embleton 4-40). Connah’s Quay 2nds’ promotion hopes were hit when they went down on Monday at home to Gwersyllt, who were all out for 132 but who then halted their fellow challengers on 69. The fifth-placed Quay’s clash at Conwy 2nds on Saturday was abandoned with the home side on 120-6. Sixth-placed Corus Colors were 53-run home winners on Monday over Buckley 2nds, who were done and dusted for 71 in response to 124-8. But Corus’ hopes of going up were all but ended on Saturday when their game at Bethesda 2nds was cut short by rain. Buckley were beaten by third-placed Abergele 2nds who, despite having only eight players, ripped their hosts apart for 56 having been bowled out for 85 (Mike Leach 4-9). Carmel & District 2nds remain on course for promotion from Division Five following their eight-wicket home triumph over Dolgellau 2nds on Saturday. Dafydd Bailey (53no) and skipper Jon Fisher (34no) fired Carmel to 106-2 after Derek Johnson (5-33) and Matthew Prescott (3-25) restricted the strugglers to 103-8. Mynydd Isa 2nds were crushed at leaders Llay Welfare 2nds, who cruised to 29-0 after the basement boys were demolished for 28. Northop 3rds moved up to fourth on Sunday with a 131-run home victory over Mochdre 3rds, who collapsed for 88 (Ken Totty 3-8) following 219-9, a total made possible by 13-year-old Harry Lewis (61), Bart Beswick (46) and 14-yearold Liam Naylor (48). Jason Perry cracked 90no as Hawarden Park 2nds won a Division Three thriller at home to Denbigh 2nds on Saturday with five balls to spare. Liam Adams (27) and Lee Davies (22) also chipped in as Hawarden got to 190-6 after Denbigh laid down 189-5 (Matthew Beech 2-25, Mike Salisbury 2-34). But the Castle Ground outfit suffered heartbreak on Monday at Shotton, who just made it to 150-9 having been set 149. Mynydd Isa claimed a welcome win at Castell Alun, who, Michael Arden (50) aside, had no answer to John Gorman (5-25) and captain Tom Norris (3-19), with their innings coming to a close on 123 after the excellent Chris Geary (84) fired Norris’ boys to 164-6. That followed Isa’s loss on Saturday at home to table-topping Anglesey Aluminium, who hit 122-5 (Jason Carr 3-29) after Dave Pryce (54) hoisted his team up to 120. Castell Alun recorded a 10-wicket whitewash on Sunday at bottom-team Brymbo 3rds, who were dismantled for 61 (Philip Lloyd 3-17, Paul Winfield 3-19) before the Alun took 13 overs to reach 64-0 (David Lloyd 37no). | 
Flintshire Sport 
