A superb bowling performance proved the catalyst for Northop’s super seven wicket Division One win over hosts Bethesda.
Poynton brothers, Mark and Andy, started the ball rolling by removing the Bethesda top six, the former with four victims as the home side slipped to 25-6.
Jonathon Haupfleisch took over the mantle having entered the attack as first change, the youngster bagging 4-19 to successfully skittle Bethesda for 95.
Andy Poynton (44 not out) and Richard Walker (27 no) then saw Northop to victory inside 20 overs.
Leaders Denbigh were forced to settle for a winning draw as Conwy frustrated the hosts for 55 overs.
Gerallt Lyall (97) and William Affleck (94) were the main run scorers for Denbigh as they totalled 261-4 having been asked to bat by the away side.
In reply, Denbigh removed the dangerous Shaun Davies for 43 and with four of the remaining top six making a combined 25, victory looked there for the taking.
However, Ed Favill and David Jonathon soaked up 185 balls for 46 runs to bat their side to a losing draw, seeing off the impressive Harrison Jones (3-27).
Lowly Marchwiel and Wrexham upset Pwllheli’s promotion campaign by securing a hard earned and deserved four wicket home win.
Tommy Bellis (4-39) and Anthony Morris (2-45) bowled tightly to restrict the free scoring Pwllheli batsmen to 186-7 from 45 overs.
Marchwiel’s chase didn’t get off to the best of starts as Nick Husbands went for one, but David Ward (71) produced a composed knock to help his side over the winning line.
Gresford, without all-rounder John Bell, were unable to chase 135 for victory as Llandudno 2nds recorded a 59 run success.
The signs were promising as Matthew Cree (3-15), Sean Richards (3-21), Arthur Thomas (2-18) and Chris Ellwood (2-42) bowled Llandudno out for 134, but things
took a turn for the worse after the tea interval.
Wickets fell with alarming regularity and having reached 20 without loss the away side slumped to 75 all out.
Halkyn also came unstuck as Bersham inflicted a seven wicket defeat on Mike Briscoe’s outfit.
Briscoe led the way at the top of the order with 44, but apart from 32 by Matthew Williams, Halkyn struggled to score and totalled just 155-6.
Halkyn again started brightly with the ball to leave Bersham on 6-1, although that initial burst failed to last and Daniel Williams (76no) and Stephen Lloyd (55) took
their side home.
Gwersyllt Park continue to suggest that a third successive promotion is not beyond their reach as they beat Division Two leaders Menai Bridge 2nds.
Captain Phil Huckridge was the top performer with the ball, bagging 4-40 as Bridge’s batsmen struggled to 167-8 from their allotted 45 overs.
Bridge managed to take the prized wicket of Ian Pearson for 22 as Park slipped to 77-5, but Lee Beer (44no) and Gregory Moss (40no) saw the home side to victory with seven balls to spare.
Thomas Pearson-Jones struck a sublime unbeaten century as Northop 2nds improved their safety hopes with a three wicket win over Corwen.
Matthew Duckworth (61) and Steve Swygart (62) were impressive for Corwen as they posted 204-4 from their 45 overs, Ken Totty the pick of Northop’s attack with 2-22.
It was then a two-man show as Pearson-Jones and George Johanssen (62) saw
Northop home with three wickets in hand and 29 balls to spare.
Pontblyddyn 2nds overcame a potential banana skin to record a 42 run triumph over relegation threatened Brymbo 2nds.
Tony Manoj (65 no) and Ranjith Appuhamy (45no) helped Pont recover from 87-6 to 210-6, and it proved to be sufficient.
Appuhamy completed an impressive personal performance after the interval with 5-50 and Richard Davies chipped in with 3-29 as Brymbo were bowled out for 168.
Jonathan Hunter picked up 5-24 as Carmel and District defeated Bangor 2nds by 87 runs.
Richard Jones (89) and Daniel Oliver (45) put on 109 for the first wicket, but Carmel failed to go on from there and were force to settle for 189-7.
Hunter then shone to restrict Bangor to 102-8 from 37 overs.
Ken Hipkiss recorded excellent figures of 4-3 from 4.4 overs as Chirk 2nds overcame Mochdre 3rds by eight wickets in Division Five.
After Ross Morrison, Ian Hall and John Swarbrick removed four of the top five Mochdre batsmen, Hipkiss took over to bowl the away team out for 76.
David Andrews (24no) and Hall (17no) then led Chirk to victory.
Halkyn 2nds endured a day to forget as they were skittled for just 28 en route to a 10 wicket loss against Llandudno 3rds.
Extras led the scoring for Halkyn as they were bowled out for 28, before Llandudno took just 43 balls to secure the points.