ST ASAPH got their North Wales Cricket League Premier Division season back on track with a narrow six-run home win over Pontblyddyn.

The Saints were made to work hard against the newly promoted outfit to put their defeat to Menai Bridge behind them at the earliest opportunity, and the city side occupy fifth spot in the standings ahead of their derby trip to high-flying Denbigh on Saturday.

Things got off to a moderate start in the middle for the hosts when Mathew Ryan and overseas star Nathanael Scott were removed for 15 and 13 respectively, with Daniel Williams caught off a Chris Moss delivery after contributing just three.

Danny Ryan provided some resistance until he became Moss’ latest victim on 19, and Daz Wilcock also got in on the act with the wickets of David Lloyd (0), Alex Baker (2) and Liam Moores (0) on his way to figures of 3-21 from a 12-over spell.

The one consistent presence throughout was skipper Will Ryan, who continued his excellent start to the campaign with a patient 64 from 101 deliveries before he was ousted by James Hughes, leaving the home side all out for 150 from 44 overs at the crease.

Moores got the Saints off to a flyer with the new ball with the prized scalp of opener Ben Mason for a duck, with Alex Baker trapping David Foulkes lbw on one during a super start to their run defence.

Alistair Roberts fell foul of an lbw appeal by Moores after making a promising 19, and Mathew Ryan further aided his side’s cause with the wickets of captain Glenn Chambers (18), Hughes (9) and George Forgrave (9) to end the day on 3-35.

Another to threaten the scoreboard was James Griffiths, who was crucially run out by Baker on 33 during a critical stage of the innings, with the same player also disposing of Moss after the lower-order batsman made 26.

The away side were within touching distance on a notable victory on their travels, but Moores had the final say when he claimed the final scalp in the form of Wilcock for a duck.