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Llanrhian (207-9) remain bottom of Division 2 despite a victory over Johnston (180-7) at Glebelands on Saturday (Jul 13), the Cows sitting one victory away from climbing out of the relegation zone, having to play Pembroke Dock, Llechryd, and Lamphey, who sit above them, before the season ends.

Skipper Iwan James, after he was invited to bat by his opposite incumbent Lewis Boswell, set the foundations for victory with key partnerships. Firstly for the second wicket with opening batsman Stuart Bachelor (28: 5x4) to take the score to 50-2 after Paul Lewis (10) had been superbly run out by a direct hit from Leigh Walters at deep mid-off, as he attempted to return to the non-striker's end for a second run.

James (38: 7x4) was also run out from a combination of Walters and teenager George Twigg hitting one stump with the score on 125, after a 75-run third-wicket partnership with man of the match Jack Jones. Jones stroked the ball all around the park, capitalizing fully as the Tigers dropped key catches and bowled some loose deliveries, caught behind by the home skipper the ball after he cut the ball to backward point for his eighth boundary, to bring up his century, which included four maximums.

All-rounder Tom Clarke (16: 2x4) nurtured the tail over the magical 200 for full batting bonus points, before he fell to opening bowler Nathan James who snaffled 3-34, Lee Summons taking 2-18 as Boswell used six bowlers in an attempt to restrict Jones's attacking play.

Key batsman Summons (12: 2x4) departed early as Jones (1-23) had him caught at extra cover by a juggling Clarke, Walters joining his skipper Boswell to add 82 for the second wicket to leave the game evenly poised at drinks. Boswell had seven boundaries in his 50 before he became seamer Joe Crelin’s (4-32) first wicket, Walters not able to find a partner to stay with him as wickets fell regularly to Crelin which stemmed the flow of runs in the chase for victory. Walters was bowled by Carl Davies (1-29) for a boundary-laden 82 (12x4: 1x6) on 173, the home side's innings closing on 180-7 as Nathan James (8; 1x4) and Twigg (6; 1x4) saw off the final deliveries from Jones, to be the not out batsmen.

Johnston will need to regroup as they travel to the Gerald Hicks Recreational Grounds next week to face Carew II ahead of key games with Llechryd and Lamphey in the following three weeks.