WITH four games to go of the season in Division One of the Thomas, Carroll Welsh Club Cricket Conference, Hopkinstown are firmly in the driving-seat after their nearest rivals, Pontymister, slipped up against third-placed Whitchurch Heath.

At home to Cefn Fforest, Hopkinstown dismissed the visitors for just 77, Chris Brown making 28 as Greg Dean took 5-29 off eight overs and Scott Parrish 3-28 off seven.

Hopkinstown got the runs in 14.5 overs, with Rhys Weekes getting 15 and Gareth Hopkins 13 not out. Tony Birt took a splendid 4-19 off 7.5 overs for Fforest.

Visitors Heath reached 202-8 at Pontymister, with Dave Tibbs scoring 74 and Tony Coombs 26. Akeel Ahmed took 3-25 off 10 overs for Pontymister and Tarun Monahar 2-36 off 10.

Ahmed then scored 54 when Pontymister batted but it looked all over at 154-9.

Skipper Neil Turned came in at number 11 and gradually nudged his side towards the Heath total until he was adjudged lbw for 27 with four runs still needed for victory.

Mike Richards took 3-48 off 10 overs for Heath and Tom Salmon 2-19 off 10.

Owen Price, son of legendary British Lions and Wales prop Graham, made a superb 108 as Pontnewynydd reached 237-9 at Abercynon.

Gareth Jones got 26 and Richard Jones 21, while Dale Owen took 3-18 for Abercynon and Dave Williams 3-25.

Craig Mohring (35), Richard Hobbs (32) and Hefin Jones (21) all chipped in to help Abercynon to reach 146-5.

Ashley Willis (49 n.o) and Richard Gibby (36 n.o) then took Abercynon home in a dramatic finale with Willis hitting a two off the last ball to win. Off spinner Joe Matthews returned 10-6-8-3 for Pontnewynydd.

Pentwyn are still in the race after they won at Cardiff III by 17 runs.

Fifteen-year-old Josh Harris hit four sixes in 80 not out when Pentwyn batted first after being put in. Lee Jones got 28, John-Paul Rosser 20 and Sam Saunders 18.

James Lewis took 3-33 off seven overs for Cardiff III, Tom Barry 2-30 off seven and Darren Hales 1-38 off 10.

Andrew Johns (52), Owen Morgan (48) and Owen Thomas (20) kept Cardiff III in the hunt but their innings ended at 198-9.

Spinner Dave Harris took 3-29 off 10 overs for Pentwyn, Josh Harris 2-50 off 10 and there was a wicket each by Saunders (1-43 off 10), Jones (1-39 off seven) and Rosser (1-32 off eight).

Dean Oram (60), Sean Williams (36) and Wayne Thomas (33) all helped Pencoed to reach 209 all out at home to Tredegar, for whom Tom Morris took 4-34 off 10 overs.

Only Rob Jenkins (47) offered much resistance as Tredegar slumped to 115 all out with Rhys Morgan taking 4-27 for Pencoed, Layton Williams 3-17 and Richard J Gregory 3-19.

Jeremy Parsons made 57 and Mike Pye 30 as Abercarn scored 161 all out at home to Division Two leaders Llantwit Major Cavaliers.

Mike Wood took 3-25 for the Cavaliers, Ben Jenkins 3-34 and Julian Griffiths 2-24.

Mark Coldwell (60) and Griffith (77 n.o) almost led the Cavaliers to victory but Ed Pickford (11 n.o) came in to help Griffiths take them home by nine wickets.

Cross Keys’ challenge faltered as they were beaten at home by Dinas Powys despite batting first and making 242-6.

Father and son Mark (62) and James (51) Baker added 95 for the second wicket and Jack Taylor scored 44, while Owen Coughtrey took 2-39 for Dinas Powys.

Stuart Jones followed his 142 last week with a brilliant 155 not out and helped Dinas Powys to 247-4 with two overs to spare.

Great Western’s game against St Fagans had to be abandoned and Llanarth’s miserable run continued as they lost at home to Abertillery.

Will Glenn made 43, Chris Powell 36, Doug Spencer 26 and Ed James 25 not out in Llanarth’s 184-7 with Faiz Ali taking 4-26 for Abertillery.

Captain Steve Flay (61) and Andy Poole (78) opened for Abertillery and shared a century opening partnership before Simon Bayliss came in to make 32 not out to help Abertillery to an eight-wicket win and they go up to second place in the table as a result. Ian Johnson took 2-29 for Llanarth.

Newport III scored 273-5 at home to Christchurch with David Lomaz making a fine 102, Dave Nowell 59 and Elgan Alderman 46 not out. Gary Francis took 2-53 for the Rhondda visitors.

Fourteen-year-old leg spinner Dave Cooke then took 5-14 and 16-year-old James Lewis 2-14 to dismiss Christchurch for 93.

Blaina’s game against Blaengarw in Division Three was finely balanced when rain brought an early conclusion, while third-placed Crumlin defeated Pontllanfraith to confirm their championship credentials.

Ian Hopkins (66), Ross Jolliffe (62), Dominic Green (39), Simon Veal (31) and Ryan Hayward (22) all got runs as Crumlin amassed 260-7, with Alan Lewis taking 3-44 off six overs for Pontllanfraith and Robert Davies 2-32 off 10.

Gareth Moseley carried the Pontllanfraith innings with 50 not out and Andy Gibson made 22, but they were bowled out for 149 with Jolliffe taking 4-21 off 10 overs for Crumlin, Veal 2-17 off 10 and there was a wicket each by David Evans (1-34), Hayward (1-22) and Green (1-10).

Chris Lewis (33), Steve Bufton (28) and Geraint Adlam (26) got runs as Brynmawr posted 147 all out at Lisvane III, for whom Nick Edwards took 4-25 off nine overs, Steve Hughes 3-34 off 10 and Ali Sanandaji 2-35 off nine.

Clensil Cox anchored the Lisvane III innings with 64 not out and Edwards made 62 as Lisvane got the runs for the loss of three wickets with Gary Adlam taking 2-39 off 10 overs for Brynmawr.

Leaders Barry Wanderers scored 196 all out at Monkswood, with Gareth Lanagan making 42, Neil Blundell 37 and Will Panton 32. Gareth Trumper took 4-44 for Monkswood and 15-year-old off spinner Mike Jones had 10-2-24-3.

Unfortunately Monkswood’s batting didn’t match their bowling and they collapsed to 98 all out with Jones getting a battling 44.

Grant Cole took 4-31 off seven overs for the Wanderers, Gareth Hughes 3-17 and Aled Hughes 10-4-29-2.

Lee Derrick made 41 and Tom Evans 19 as Aberdare III were bowled out for 119 at Chepstow III, for whom Will Durbin took 5-1-14-4 and Lewis Fawsitt 9-2-39-3.

Abhijeet Malkar made 29 and Geraint Alexander was 24 not out when Chepstow III got the runs.

Bedlinog beat Sudbrook III in the Alliance Division One, bowling the visitors out for 76. Denny Wallace scored 27 and Paul Lundy 24 as Byron Farr had 9-5-7-4 for Bedlinog, Andrew Jones 3-9 off 3.3 overs and Dean Cadwallader 2-22 off 10.

Farr scored 21 not out and Matthew Back 31 as Bedlinog eased to an eight- wicket victory.

Jarrad Wilkins made a magnificent 123, Rhys Howell had 51 and Lewis Wilcox 43 as Wenvoe set a target of 252-5 at home to Cwmbran Woodlands, for whom Chris Pacey returned 10-0-50-3.

David Jones (43) and Mark Lewis (39) tried hard but Woodlands could only reach 182-9 in their reply.

Rhys Norville scored 57 not out and took 5.2-0-11-6 to help Blackwood III to beat Newbridge III in the Alliance Division Two. Leon Jacka blasted a brilliant 124 and Ben Evans got 60 as Porth piled up 269-7 at Monkswood III, for whom Roger Edwards took 3-56 and Adrian Hancock 2-43.

Only Gary Butler (14) offered much resistance as Monkswood III slumped to 46 all out.

Leaders Caerleon defeated former leaders Pontypridd III by six wickets in their top-of-the-table clash to remain on top from Blackwood III.