ABERGAVENNY CC'S first XI made it two wins from two games on Saturday after beating a youthful Croesyceiliog side by seven wickets at Avenue Road.
Croesy won the toss and chose to bat first on a good track with a tinge of green.
Aber's bowlers were a little off-line, and, after an early breakthrough as Ryan Watkins removed opener Herring to a smart catch behind by Greg Fury, Croesy rollicked along at more than five runs an over with the help of a large number of wides, dropped catches, and some lusty blows from Croesy's other opener Jones.
The game changed with the introduction of the evergreen Andy Timpson, who, after turning the first ball, settled into his cricketing form of Chinese water torture and tied the batsmen down completely, finishing his 10 over stint with 3-21.
With Ryan Jones producing a wicket in his first over, and also bowling an extremely miserly five over spell, Abergavenny were now right on top, and it became a question of when they could pick up maximum bowling points.
Once Timpson had bowled out, Craig Barnsley came on to bowl a nagging length, getting some lovely movement through the air. He too picked up three wickets in a seven over spell costing 22 runs.
After a cautious period of containment by Aber, Watkins was then reintroduced to go for the jugular, and bowled an aggressive fivre over spell, demonstrating a masterly control of swing, and returning figures of 3-11 in his second stint to wrap up the innings with Barnsley as Croesyceiliog finished on 148.
Aber's reply was dominated once again by Greg Fury, who continued his excellent early season form, with his third consecutive score of 60 or more, all made at better than a run a ball.
After James Schofield departed early for 10, misjudging a ball and chopping on, Watkins entered, and carefully played himself in while Fury continued the attack.
The partnership progressed to 66 before Watkins sliced one up in the air to be caught, having made 30. Fury followed shortly after for 62 and it was left to Dan Hartland to continue his run of not having been dismissed so far this season, to see Aber home in the company of the ever-reliable Gavin Heritage, who made an assured 29 not out.
Another good win for Aber, who nevertheless have areas for improvement - in particular the number of wides and the dropped catches - and will look to continue the momentum next week as they face a trip to Tondu.
AT the third time of asking, Usk CC firsts finally registered their first league victory of the season, against last year's league champions - Cardiff.
On a sunny day at the Athletic Club Ground, Usk skipper, Tom Robinson, won the toss and elected to field. This proved a wise decision as the Cardiff top order floundered.
Mike Read, paying his first league match of the season, immediately set about the Cardiff batting. Read ripped out three of the top four, with the other wicket falling to a run out, a smart piece of work from Ollie James fielding at point.
Cardiff laboured to 14-4 from the opening 14 overs. For Cardiff only top scorer Dave Kirtley (45) and Alun Thomas (20) managed to reach double figures.
Cardiff did at least post three figures, as they were dismissed for 105 after 38.2 overs. Read finished with the impressive analysis of 12-5-15-4.
In reply Usk got off to a stodgy start as they lost a couple of wicket; however Travis Townsend steadied the ship as Usk got themselves up to 51-2.
Usk then lost three quick wickets on this score, but suffered no further problems as Townsend (52*) and Tom Baker (28*) guided them home safely.
Meanwhile down at the Diamond Ground in Cardiff, the seconds fought back bravely to hold on for a draw.
Losing the toss Usk were made to work hard in the field as Cardiff's batsmen made hay.
Usk's fielders had a poor day dropping a number of catches as Cardiff rattled up 288-6 from their 50 overs For Cardiff, Ian Bridgeman made 122, whilst the only shining light for Usk was Neil Perrett who picked up three wickets.
Usk's reply got off to a sluggish start as they lost both openers with only 37 on the boarc; however, a stand of 80 between Neil Perrett (33) and Richie Catchpole got Usk back in the game.
With useful rather than significant partnerships forming, Usk ended up batting out for a draw. The innings was held together by the brilliant batting of Catchpole who registered his second century of the season. Catchpole ended up with a unbeaten 101, whilst Usk finished on 238-6.
On Sunday it was a slightly more overcast day in Usk as the visitors from Hatherley and Reddings won the toss and elected to bat.
This looked a poor decision as Vinnie Kay and Ali Waldron ripped through the top order to reduce the visitors to 17-3. it was from this point that Hatherley started to dominate.
A Soma (121) and R Burford (53) posted what would turn out to be the winning partnership as they added 135 for the fourth wicket.
Hatherley were well set to mount a charge at the end of their innings; however, both fell and Usk's bowlers pulled things around to restrict the visitors to 231-8 from their allocated 45 overs. Vinnie Kay finished with the excellent figures of 9-2-24-5.
Usk's reply got off to the worst possible start as a wicket was lost in the opening over. Despite this setback Jonathan Davies (26) and Travis Townsend (53) – Townsend's second half century of the weekend – got the innings up and running. With Richard Catchpole (32) also continuing his good form through the weekend, Usk were well placed at the 25 over mark, at 144-3.
Catchpole's departure then resulted in a change in fortunes as the middle order started to get bogged down. With wickets tumbling and the run rate ever increasing, things looked over when the hosts were reduced to 197-9. A brave last wicket stand between Mark Tamplin (65*) and Jack Stedman left Usk with 11 to score from the final seven balls; however, a run out from the last ball of the penultimate over left Stedman stranded as Tamplin looked to retain the strike.
Next Saturday sees the first team look to build on this victory as they make the journey to Port Talbot. The seconds will be hosting the same opponents. Both matches begin at 1.30pm. Then on Sunday, the firsts entertain local rivals Panteg in the second round of the Welsh Cup. Play begins at 2pm.
LLANARTH CC'S first team won an easier than expected victory by 186 runs over St Fagans
on the weekend.
Losing the toss Llanarth were invited to bat first on a wicket that was thought to favour the bowlers.
A decision that St Fagans came to regret as Llanarth's openers Glenn and Baxter produced their usual century opening partnership, despite facing six different bowlers.
With the score at 124 from 22 overs Glenn was first to go, falling to an excellent running catch right on the boundary.
Wharton joined Baxter, sharing in a partnership of 64 before Baxter departed for 78 with the score at 186 from 34 overs.
Runs began to come thick and fast, as Heath (29 at a run a ball) departed, followed by Wharton (54) who retired with a badly bruised wrist.
Two more wickets fell in the quest for runs and the innings finished on 281 for five with Powell unbeaten, and 95 runs coming in the last ten overs.
St Fagans set about chasing down this big total, but no one seemed prepared to anchor the innings and wickets fell steadily. Only Lewis (30) made any impression, as Hinton (3-27) and Johnson (2-12) aided by good fielding and catching, made inroads into the top order batsmen.
There was no respite as spinner Chris Powell came on to bowl and cleared up the lower order taking 4-20. St Fagans eventually collapsed to 98 all out, after only 25 overs.
This gives Llanarth two wins from two and perhaps the next match against DInas Powys will prove a sterner test, as they are another side with a 100 percent record.
LLANARTH second team also scored another successive win on the weekend with a comfortable eight wicket victory over Girlings –Croesyceiliog.
In a match played in temperatures about 20 degrees higher than last week Llanarth followed the same game plan by inserting the opposition after winning the toss.
Opening bowlers Piers Bisson and Gruff Parry began with a maiden apiece before the Croesy batsmen got the board moving.
The first wicket was a run out resulting from a smart piece of fielding by Rhys Willbourn compounded by the differing speed of the batsmen over 22 yards.
The other opener fell lbw to Bisson and Parry picked up a further wicket again thanks to Willbourn who plucked a good catch out of the air at cover to leave the visitors on 39-3.
At the other end 16-year-old Cordell D'Courte announced himself with a blistering cover drive off his first ball and was finding the boundary regularly.
When he departed for a well made 29 having been deceived by a flighted delivery from Willbourn who had taken over the bowling duties he was replaced by his identical twin Curtis who displayed the same precocious talent and struck several nice fours in his knock of 20 not out.
Willbourn however picked up two more wickets to finish with 3-45 and after the returning Bisson(3-20) dispatched the hard hitting Murphy the end was not long delayed and the visitors were bundled out for 130 in just 30 overs.
Llanarth had to commence their innings before tea and openers Peter Francis and Tony Vines were given the mission of being 50 for none at tea. In the event they surpassed the skipper's instructions having made 57 by the interval.
The rest came as a great relief to the batsmen particularly Francis for whom a lie-down half way through his innings is not so much a luxury as a necessity!
Suitably refreshed the duo carried on after tea with Vines who had only been coerced into playing on the morning of the game, having not played a serious game for many a year, finding some fine shots and matching Francis run for run.
The partnership had reached 87 when Vines(34) was out stumped and Francis(35) followed soon after when adjudged run out as he found 22 yards up hill to be about six inches too far. They were replaced by Matt Dunn having his first outing of the season and 13-year-old Richard Roberts making his senior debut.
Dunn's 29 not out included six fours all to square leg whilst Roberts gave a glimpse of his potential with a confident 16 not out including a lovely drive through mid-off. These two saw Llanarth home to a comprehensive win in the thirtieth over and an early finish.
AFTER relegation to Division Two of the Herefordshire Marches League last season, Glangrwyney CC's 'Boswell era' kicked off with a winning start on Saturday against Goodrich seconds.
Losing the toss, Glangrwyney were invited to bat on a greenish pitch and opener Paul Daniels alongside new skipper Geoff Holmes put on 30 before Daniels holed out at point.
This brought in Tom Grubb who, along with Steady Eddie, milked the bowling putting on 102 for the next wicket. The fall of Holmes sparked a flurry of runs with Grubb upping the tempo and some lusty blows from Ben and Phill Bowker left the groin on 219 for five of their 45 overs. Grubb finished on 73.
Goodrich were immediately in trouble losing early wickets to opening bowlers Joe and Ben Bowker, along with some good fielding from John Sussex, and were reduced to 60-5.
This brought together Beddard and Dryden for Goodrich who set about rebuilding the innings and put on 65 until Beddard was given out LBW for a well made 56 of the bowling of Phill Bowker.
Wickets then continued to fall at regular intervals with Bowker, Grubb and Richy Ashe all picking up scalps and Goodrich were eventually dismissed for 160. Glan picked up maximum points from the outing and will look for more of the same away at Hay on Wye next weekend.