CONWY’s outstanding start to the summer came to an end with a five-wicket home loss to Mochdre.

The North Wales Cricket League Group A rivals produced a contest full of notable highlights, but last season’s surprise package eventually emerged on top after a standout display against the Division One champions.

The home side had a mountain to climb early on when opener Shaun Davies was caught and bowled by Stewart Williams on five, with Evan Williams clean bowled by Sean Reilly after making just eight.

Williams continued his good form with the new ball with the prized wicket of Anthony Thorp for six, and the dangerous duo of Danny Davies (26) and Rajjenu Britto (21) looked set to make big scores before they were removed by Matty Humphreys and Kyle Brown respectively.

Gareth Thomas proved a far sterner presence at the crease, with the middle order batsman hitting no fewer than nine boundaries to finish the day unbeaten on 74.

Another score of not late on arrived courtesy of Jonathon James Davies (20), which left the hosts on 165-7 from their allotted 40 overs in the middle.

Williams was the pick of the visiting bowling attack, eventually finishing an economical eight-over spell with figures of 2-10.

Things looked bleak for the visitors early on when Finlay Jones (0) and Owen Davies (15) were both sent back to the pavilion during the opening exchanges, but a standout partnership from Williams and Humphreys tipped the scales in Mochdre’s favour.

Humphreys came in at number four and smashed five boundaries to finish unbeaten on 54, and Williams contributed a 53 knock that included seven fours and one six.

This swung the overall momentum of the game considerably, and despite Alex Davies getting out after failing to make a run, scores of 26 and 14 from Scott Brown and Sam Davies was enough to get the away side over the line with just four balls to spare.