COLWYN Bay Cricket Club’s men’s team won the Senior Welsh Cup for a second time on the weekend, with victory over defending champions Swansea CC.

Colwyn Bay were appearing in their third cup final, while Swansea were attempting to win the cup for a third year running - a feat that would have been the first in the history of the competition.

The 51st edition of the cup took place at Usk CC, with the two sides the last ones standing from 87 entrants.

After a pre-match toss with captains George Johansen (Colwyn Bay) and Gareth Hayden (Swansea), Johansen elected to field first with moisture on the pitch, and the Conwy club’s habit of chasing down a score. 

The Swansea innings got off to a good start with openers Brad Wadlan and Cameron Hemp scoring freely, but with the score on 81 Wadlan (45) was dismissed. 

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At this stage, it was expected that a score of more than 250 runs was on the cards.

Steff Roberts joined Hemp and took the score onto 116 before the former was caught for 19.

Swansea’s scoring rate reduced as Colwyn rang the bowling changes, spin proving far more difficult to get away to the boundary.

Swansea keeper Will Davey joined Hemp and the pair moved the score onto 156 before the Swansea glove man perished for 23.

Soon after Hemp left the crease having crafted a polished 69.

All-rounders Dan Rowe (25) Tim Moses (18) and George Pritchard (26) took the score onto a 40 over close of 231 for 6, a solid target but one that had probably fallen short by 20 or so runs, mainly due to some excellent bowling from the Bay, the stand outs being Sion Morris (3 for 62), Paul Jenkins (1 for 41) and the impressive Adam Campion (2 for 23).  

The Colwyn Bay reply was off to a steady start with openers Will Evans (17) and Sion Morris compiling 42 before Evans was trapped with an LBW by the impressive left-arm seam of young Osian Webber.

Bay skipper George Johansen joined Morris and the pair set about their task, always seeming to manage to maintain the required score rate (just under six), despite accurate bowling from George Pritchard and Webber.

With Dan Rowe (1 for 42) replacing Pritchard at the Pavilion End and Brad Wadlan providing spin at the other end the Bay reply might have been kept in check were it not for the relentless batting of Morris and Johansen, who made a stand of 88 for the second wicket.

Bay skipper Johansen eventually fell for an excellent 59 with the score standing on 130.

If Swansea had any thoughts of getting back into the game these were quickly dispelled by the incoming batter Adam Campion (49) together with Morris who eventually fell for an excellent 76, caught behind by Will Davey off the bowling of Rowe with the score on 194.

Will Higginson joined Campion and brought the Bay reply home to 232 for 3 with seven balls remaining.

Colwyn’s chase earned them a comprehensive win, and the club’s second Senior Welsh Cup.  

The club’s ladies’ team also claimed their second Welsh Plate.

A Colwyn Bay CC spokesperson said: "As the dust settles on Sunday’s Welsh Cup win we’d like to pay thanks to Cricket Wales for their fabulous organization and to Usk CC for their wonderful hospitality along with Swansea Cricket  who pushed us to the wire. A fantastic day for Welsh Cricket!"