Sudbrook hammer Penarth (From Free Press Series)

Sudbrook hammer Penarth

SUDBROOK player-coach Mark O'Leary has urged his side to maintain their form after hammering Penarth and making it two games on the trot.

The Deepweir side looked far more impressive than a week earlier when they stumbled to victory over Pentyrch.

Devastating spells with the bat and ball in hand eased O'Leary's men to a comfortable ten-wicket win and now he wants more of the same form.

"We have to do our best to maintain our current run," said O'Leary. "It was very important we won on Saturday. We struggled a week earlier against Usk and in a way I'm glad because if we had won easily then it would have set us up wrong mentally for the Penarth match.

"We've now won two and lost three, which is a bit more respectable. We're in a position where I feel we can build confidently for a top five place."

The Premiership race itself has been thrown right open following shock defeats for title chasers Sully and Cardiff. O'Leary though isn't surprised so many clubs are now vying for the number one spot.

"Every weekend in this league is a big game. It's Premiership cricket that's the whole point. Every game has top quality cricketers playing. You have to be cautious of every side you play no matter where they are in the table. We must keep headstrong and take each game as it comes," he said.

More games like Saturday's demolition job and Sudbrook will be mounting their own challenge for league glory. They had Penarth locked on the rafters from the start. Sharp bowling from O'Leary 3-30 and Daniel Fordon 2-35 saw the Cardiff side muster just 77-7 before a late rally edged the scoreboard up to 167-8.

Sudbrook didn't waste anytime wrapping the game up with magnificent innings from Ross Lewis 90 and Chris Archer 63.

"We bowled extremely well and looked very strong. When we had them for 7-77 I thought we we're going to finish them off pretty quickly, but they fought back. If you'd had said to me at the start though would I take 167 as a target then I would have," said O'Leary.

"Chris Archer and Ross Lewis looked in a different class. They were awesome. It was just nice for us to put our feet up and enjoy the win," he added.

This Saturday Sudbrook are home to St Fagans. The match starts at 1pm.