A Trawl Through The Past
A Look at Some Notable Events in Centurions' History
July 2001 - This was the year that we started the 3rd XI, in order to help bridge the gap between the under 15s and the senior sides. We played a handful of friendly matches that year, but this was our first victory. It was a 35 over match, played in damp conditions on an artificial strip. There are a couple of 'unsures' in the card, but the rest makes interesting reading.....
Sat 14th Jul 2001 – Friendly played at Taff’s Well
Sully Centurions CC 3rd XI Won by 6 wickets
Creigiau CC won the toss and decided to bat
Creigiau – 3rd XI
D Price LBW D Goodway 8
T Murray Ct & Bowled G Patel 3
G Thomas Not Out 103
M Lewis Ct Harries Bowled JT Sylvester 7
J Smith Bowled JT Sylvester 0
A Morgan Bowled G Dodd 8
A Jones Not Out 16
D Taylor DNB
T Taylor DNB
D Pearson DNB
A Cook DNB
Extras 21
Total (5 wkts) 166
Bowling O M R W
D Goodway 8 2 12 1
G Patel 6 1 7 1
JT Sylvester 6 0 22 2
R Harries 6 0 22 0
S German 1 0 16 0
G Dodd 4 1 8 1
J Ord 4 0 23 0
Sully 3rd XI
M Fisher Ct Bowled D Taylor 2
J Caton Ct Bowled D Taylor 1
G Patel Bowled D Taylor 0
D Goodway Not Out 57
G Dodd Bowled D Pearson 2
R Harries Not Out 70
JT Sylvester DNB
S German DNB
J Ord DNB
Unsure DNB
Unsure DNB
Extras 35
Total (4 Wkts) 167
Bowling O M R W
A Morgan 5 1 17 0
D Taylor 4 1 8 3
D Pearson 5 0 22 0
T Taylor 8 0 43 0
M Lewis 4 0 25 0
T Murray 3 0 30 0
A Jones 2 0 13 0
Unsure 1 0 1 0
Centurions in the News
A Look through the Archives
1963 - Barry Times
We are indebted to founder member Terry (JT) Sylvester, who is still going strong in the 4th XI at the age of 103, for this cutting from the Barry Times of 1963.
Your webmaster can't be sure which is the most remarkable - The description of the 'young' Donald Sylvester, the statement that newcomer Sam German would 'strengthen the batting' or the fact that Terry got 1000 runs the previous season! Enjoy....
From Barry Wanderers' web site
Friday 2nd August 2002.
On a bright and sunny Friday evening Barry Wanderers met Sully Centurions for the Vale Midweek cup final at the Barry Athletic ground. A fairly sizable crowd had arrived supporting the Wanderers, and one could sense that it was going to be their day, as all the players looked up for the fight.Sean Davies, the Sully skipper won the toss, and after some deliberation with fellow players, decided to put the Wanderers into to bat. The Wanderers innings started well as the inform partnership of Ed Sheriff and Pete Coleman put the opening attack of Jim Ord and Terry Williams to the sword. This was until Williams dismissed Sheriff with the final ball of his spell, but not before he had reached 23 with some beautiful shots. Unfortunately for the Wanderers, Coleman followed four balls later, being run out for 29 runs, but this had already given the Wanderers the best possible start, and to somewhat ease the nerves of the players. This brought Paul Swannick and Mark Ellis to the crease. Ellis kept up his recent good from and hit numerous good shots as Swannick from the other end picked off the one’s and two’s to keep the run rate going. When Ellis was out, another wicket soon followed, and this brought Tony Swannick to the wicket who anchored the innings well in the middle order to get the Wanderers back on track. After another few wickets fell, some further runs were blasted at the end, with Simon Walters who got the score up to a commendable 125 for 7 off their 20 overs.The Sully innings started well for the Wanderers as the youthful opening bowlers, James Hassett and Nimesh Patel kept the Sully batsmen in check. Patel had the best start possible as he had the promising Morgan Hodges adjudged LBW for one. Better was soon to follow as Hassett had Mick Fisher bowled. This brought the man inform Ryan Sylvester to the wicket. But Patel gave him his wonder ball and Sylvester was on his way for three caught beautifully by the cool headed Swannick junior. Hassett kept the delirium going as he had Don Sylvester caught by a fine catch from Sheriff that seemed to be up in the air for an age. After Hassett and Patel had finished their spells, Sully were reeling on 38 for 4 off 8 overs. Both bowlers bowled extremely well, especially Patel who bowled the spell of his life to make himself a strong contender for the man of the match award.
Now Nathan Gage and Luke O’Connor were at the crease and compiling runs, but the Wanderers bowlers of Gareth Lanagan and Swannick senior made sure that they were being kept behind the run rate. But, the Sully boys looked in a good position, as they were 84 for 5 with five overs remaining. But, then Gage was out foxed with a slower delivery for Walters to take an excellent match turning catch on the boundary. This had swung the momentum firmly back in the favour of the Wanderers and was further enforced when Lanagan had O’Connor caught on the boundary by a fine catch from the irrepressible Swannick senior. Sully were still in it but two wicket taking economical overs from Lanagan, who bowled a fine spell of bowling under pressure, won the match for the Wanderers. The team spirit of the Wanderers boys, brilliant display of outfielding and the support of spectators had got them through the match and it was now time to party.
Now, the Wanderers fans could start celebrating and proceeded to drink the bar dry (most of the drinking was done by birthday boy Ashton who seemed a little pleased by the victory), as the Wanderers collected the Cup and held it aloft with the pride of knowing they had beaten a very good Sully Centurions side. Nathan Gage was attributed with being man of the match due to his bowling and batting.Barry Wanderers: 125 for 7 (P Coleman 29, E Sheriff 23 ; R Sylvester 2 - 13)
Sully Centurions: 114 for 8 (N Gage 39, L O’Connor 30 ; N Patel 2 - 16 A Fenton 2 - 18)
Barry Wanderers won by 11 runs
From our own Archive
30th April 2006 - Pre Season Friendly
The game at Creigiau was reduced to 35 overs due to the fact that we only had 8 men and Creigiau only had 9 - this is a poor state of affairs when we have potentially so many players to choose from. After winning the toss we batted first and were going along steadily when Terry Bulge ran out opening partner Owain Sullivan like the proverbial dog (Loose’s comments were ‘colourful’ to say the least!) Enter deadly Dougy who steadied the ship with a responsible innings. JT played down the wrong line and was comprehensively bowled for just 5 after 18 overs - it was time for some bat swinging. Enter Brucie who pushed things along as he reached 22 before skying a full toss to midwicket. Piehead came and went for a huge 2, followed by a couple of nice innings’ from Lewis Doel and Jacob Stone. With Don (36*) and Mick Fisher (1!*) at the crease we saw the overs out to end on 95 for 6.
Mick Fisher and Lewis Doel got the bowling underway and Lewis made the breakthrough when the webmaster pulled off (even if I do say so myself) a stunning catch to dismiss the opener Taylor for 6. Two overs later Mick saw Don, Brucie and Owain (behind the sticks) drop catches of varying degrees of difficulty off three successive balls. The Legend’s 6th and final over saw him slapped all over the parish and seriously knackered both his figures and any chance we may have had of winning. Jacob Stone picked up a wicket with a beautiful ball but it was too little too late and Creigiau reached the target with plenty of overs left.Creigiau 96/2 Sully 95/6
Centurions get Season off to Strong Start with Friendly Rout
From the 'Penarth Times', first published Thursday 14th Apr 2005.
SULLY Centurions’ new season got under way last Sunday with a friendly against Blackwood at Sully, made possible by the superb efforts of groundsman Don Sylvester who worked all morning to make sure the ground was playable.
Centurions batted first on the customary early slow wicket but some useful early season form saw runs flow freely after the loss of skipper Jamie Sylvester who misjudged a straight ball to be bowled for 5.
Reardon Smith 21, Ryan Sylvester 54, Mike Newbold 50 and Mike O’Shea 23 all looked in good form as Centurions posted a very big score of 223-7 at the end of their allocated 40 overs.
Blackwood never really got going as Dave Eskins winter break at the Cwm Talwg seemed to have worked wonders for him as he took the first three wickets for just 11 runs off 11 overs.
Young Gareth Sullivan, who certainly looks as though this could be the season he bursts on to the scene, also claimed three wickets.
Skipper Sylvester got in on the act with his customary three, and Blackwood were all out for just 71, with only Davies 27 showing any real resistance.
Centurions 223-7. R Sylvester 54, M Newbold 50, M O’Shea 23, L Smith 20.
Blackwood 71 all out. S Davies 27. D Eskins 3-11, J Sylvester 3-8, G Sullivan 3-18.
TEAMS
Centurions continue their build-up to the season with two friendly games this weekend, against Aberdare on Saturday, and Glamorgan Academy on Sunday, both at Sully.
The club is looking for new members to play in the 3rd and 4th XVs. Contact Dave Sylvester, evenings on tel 029 2053 0896.
Team for Saturday v Aberdare, meet 12.30pm: D W Sylvester, R Sylvester, D Eskins, D P Sylvester, S Davies, T Williams, D Goodway, I Thickpenny, M Thomas, G Dodd, C Bruce, L Coslett, R Galliford, P Rose, D Fiddler.
Team for Sunday v Glamorgan Academy, meet 12 noon: J Sylvester, R Sylvester, D Eskins, M O’Shea, L Smith, T Williams, H Williams, O Lovering, M Rushbrook, G Sullivan, N Gage.
From the 'Barry & District News' 2001
