By Edward Bevan at Cardiff
First day of four: Glamorgan (161-4) trail Yorkshire (306) by 145 runs
A CAREER-BEST 79 by Gavin Hamilton, a maiden fifty from Ryan Sidebottom and support from the other tailenders, who combined to put on 218 for the last four wickets, rescued Yorkshire from the depths of 88 for six to reach a commendable first-innings total.
All-rounder Hamilton timed the ball perfectly as he raced to a 62-ball fifty and struck 13 boundaries before nicking Dean Cosker's first ball to slip.
Hamilton put on 81 for the seventh wicket with James Middlebrook and 64 with Gareth Clough, a 20-year-old all-rounder making his first-class debut.
The conditions - a thick cloud cover, strong crosswind and a green pitch - were ideal for swing and seam after Matthew Maynard won the toss. After Michael Vaughan and Matthew Wood were out in the first four overs, David Byas and Darren Lehmann initiated a partial recovery but neither lasted and Yorkshire were soon wobbling at 82 for five in the 20th over.
None of the top-order batsmen threatened to play a lengthy innings but there were no hidden terrors for Hamilton and Clough, who bats No 3 for the second XI and was only included when Byas decided his 'seam-up' bowling would be more advantageous than Richard Stemp's spin.
As Glamorgan's pace attack strayed in direction, Sidebottom struck some powerful blows to pass his previous highest score of 13 not out and guide Yorkshire to their third batting point.
Wayne Law and Steve James gave Glamorgan a rapid start with Law, a 19-year-old of considerable potential, reaching fifty from 43 balls and sharing an opening partnership of 104 in 16 overs.
Hamilton then completed a highly satisfactory day by dismissing the openers in the space of nine runs.
Second day of four: Yorks (306 & 272-7) lead Glamorgan (266) by 312 runs
YORKSHIRE, who built a commanding lead in their second innings, were again indebted to their uncapped players and are well placed to gain their fifth championship win of the season.
Gavin Hamilton struck his second half-century of the game, while Matthew Wood (62), one of many former England under-19 players making their mark on the county circuit this season, displayed a solid technique and unwavering concentration.
Yorkshire had gained a 40-run lead on first innings mainly through the efforts of Hamilton, who followed a fine batting performance the previous day with his first five-wicket haul of the season. This augurs well for Scotland, who will include him in next year's World Cup squad.
Anyone putting the ball in the right place was rewarded on this pitch, but the absence of five international seamers on either side was reflected in both teams scoring more than four runs an over in their first innings.
Glamorgan needed quick wickets to get back in contention and after their opening bowlers had obliged by removing the openers in the first six overs, Simon Jones then trapped Darren Lehmann leg before.
But Wood then took three hours to compile a patient half-century and although Richard Blakey nicked one to second slip, Hamilton further frustrated the opposition by sharing in two productive partnerships.
Day 3: Dale spins out
By Peter Roebuck at Cardiff
Yorkshire (306 & 296) beat Glamorgan (266 & 222) by 114 runs
UNTIL Adrian Dale and Mike Powell joined forces in a sturdy fifth-wicket partnership Glamorgan seemed likely to go down without a whimper. Pursuing a target of Hebridean remoteness and batting hectically, the hosts had lost four wickets cheaply and seemed doomed.
Batting has changed in county cricket. Occupation has nothing to do with it. A man must either dominate or die.
Accordingly, Glamorgan had slipped to 88 for four when Dale and Powell found themselves together, cricketers old and new, patient and powerful.
Dale was soon collecting in his unobtrusive way so that the applause for his fifty came as a surprise. Meanwhile Powell, a tall and wide-shouldered young man with a thumping off-drive, launched an assault upon the bowlers.
For a time the pair seemed capable of taking Glamorgan to victory. Much to Yorkshire's relief they were parted as Powell pushed at James Middlebrook, Yorkshire's spinner, with an open face and was held at slip. Undaunted, Dale drove indiscreetly to mid-wicket as Glamorgan spurned an opportunity created by their pacemen Darren Thomas and Owen Parkin, who mopped up the tail to bring career-best figures.
Yorkshire have signed Australian batsman Greg Blewett as their overseas player for the 1999 season. Blewett replaces fellow South Australian Darren Lehmann, who is expected to be on World Cup duty next season.