ABERGAVENNY CC slipped up in their match against Panteg at Avenue Road and consequently lost their position as league leaders.

Having lost the toss Aber were asked to bat first. Gavin Heritage dominated the innings of 206-8 with a superb 93 not out assisted by Chris Hartland (24).

Mohammed Ali Bukari took 3-33 for Panteg, Chris White 2-26 and Lewis Parfitt 2-58. Ian Bird (33) and Barney Worrad (29) helped Panteg to 72-2 and Bukari (53), Actar Baloch (53 n.o) and James Reid (21 n.o) finished it off.

Nathan Byrne, Andy Timpson and Craig Barnsley all took a wicket apiece for Abergavenny.

ALSO on Saturday another young Beavers side travelled to Weobley who won the toss and immediately invited Abergavenny to bat on a rain affected wicket.

Thanks to the Hereford traffic neither of the Holley brothers was there to open the batting so Jake Groves and Ellis Jones strode out to the middle.

For the first two overs the wicket played as expected and was slow, however it quickly changed character and became quicker and gave some variable bounce with the odd ball becoming very big on the batsmen.

This accounted for Jake who returned a simple caught and bowled to B Davies. Skipper Schofield now entered and he and Ellis occupied the crease for several overs whilst taking a few blows to the hand off some lively bowling.

Schofield departed for 13 and Nathan Holley then made 10 valuable runs following which brother Lewis entered the fray only for Ellis Jones to depart for a very gritty 30 runs - a solid score which had laid good foundations.

Lewis Holley is in fine form with the bat and carried on from his previous two scores of 24 and 60 to score a beautifully made 37 of the highest quality. The Gwent County player is attracting praise from all who see his skillful batting. He was last out with the score on 130, run out by veteran pace bowler Havard whose legs are much longer! J Lewis and L Davies returned very good bowling figures of 4 for 44 and 3 for 34 respectively.

By this time the wicket had largely flattened out a was of easy pace and bounce and though Huw Griffiths removed Thomas for a duck in his first over Weobley proceeded with the run chase with few alarms.

These all centred on Havard and opener Hurds. Early in his innings he survived two caught and bowled chances and playing the ball gently on to his stumps without dislodging a bail - all to Havard.

He went on to make an unbeaten 76 in the key partnership of the innings with skipper L Davies who scored 30 before falling to Harry Lesbirel. 

By this time the result was in no doubt but along the way Gethin Price bowled an accurate four overs of seam and swing to follow his excellent performance of the previous week.

Weobley scored their 133 quickly and the team was home in Abergavenny by eight, even having stopped to watch Crickhowell win the last but one over in Division One.

AFTER going without defeat last weekend, on Saturday Usk were to experience no success at all as the firsts drew away to neighbours Newport, and the seconds lost at home by 80 runs.

On a sunny yet breezy day down at Spytty, Usk skipper, Tom Robinson, won the toss and elected to field first.

This looked a wise decision as the visitors tore into the Newport top order, reducing the hosts to 15-4; most of the damage being done by skipper Robinson, who captured three wickets in this spell.

Shortly afterwards debutant James Haswell, also picked up a wicket to leave Newport reeling on 60-5. This is where the game turned.

Nathan Millichip scored a brilliant 122, and with Gareth Thomas (28) posted 88 for the sixth wicket. Millichip also managed to extract a further 65 from the tail before he was last out and Newport closed on 213 all out.

Millichip's ton lasted 123 balls and included 17 fours. For Usk, Robinson was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 10-0-42-4 whilst Travis Townsend also picked up three wickets.

Usk's reply got off to a good start as Neil Perrett (53) and Mark Tamplin (39) put on 81 for the first wicket; however it was from this point that the Usk middle order began to get bogged down and wickets started to fall.

As the rate soared it was left to Tom Baker (33*) and Pat Rodden (12*) to bat out the last few overs to ensure the draw; Usk closing on 187-8. For Newport Imran Hassan finished with the impressive figures of 12-2-41-4.

Meanwhile back at the Athletic Club Ground, Newport skipper, Rhyddian Knox, won the toss and decided to bat. It was the hosts though who made the better start as Jack Stedman captured a couple of early wickets. Newport's middle order though held firm as Geraint Leach (41), Josh Ashton (55) and Gareth Alred (48) all batted well. Newport managed to post a formidable 261-7 from their allocated 50 overs. Out of Usk's bowlers, Stedman ended up with figures of 12-0-62-4.

Usk's reply got off to a frustrating start as all the top six reached double figures, with only the Rees brothers: Richard (34) and Dominic (54) making significant contributions. Once they had departed the tail folded meekly and Usk collapsed to 182 all out after 44 overs. For Newport, Tom Josham, David Lomax and Josh Ashton all took three wickets.

Next weekend Usk's teams will hope to return to winning ways as the firsts entertain Pontarddulais and the seconds make the journey away to the same opponents. Both games begin at 1:30pm.