NEWLY promoted Llanarth travelled to Crosskeys on a cold, damp and cloudy day to face last season's Division Two champions, (not promoted to Division One due to a technicality) for what was expected go be a tough opening match for the 2010 season.

Llanarth won the toss and put Crosskeys into bat, and other than the odd batsman, they all seemed intent on hitting the cover off the ball rather than accumulating runs.

Consequently a number of catching chances were offered to Llanarth who gracefully accepted. Eight out of ten wickets fell in this fashion.

Bearing in mind the conditions, Crosskeys felt a total of 180 would be a good score to set and with the short boundaries it did not seem unreasonable.

However, with the ball going sky-bound, wickets fell steadily and after 20 overs the score was 108-4.

C. Jones (53) was the only batsman striving to accumulate runs and shared a 75 run partnership with D. Bhatt (34).

A quick flurry from Davey (29 from 13 balls) took the score to 193-6 but the remaining batsmen gradually departed leaving Crosskeys on 220 all out.

Andrew Spencer (5-31) and Chris Powell (3-31) aided by some excellent catching and fielding did the damage for Llanarth.

In reply, Llanarth's openers Mark Baxter and 16-year-old Will Glenn picked up where they left off last season. Forging a tremendous opening partnership of 186, and neither looking as if they would ever be out.

But, unfortunately, Glenn was first to go having scored 99, just short of his maiden century in the 30th over.

Simon 'to cold to bat properly' Wharton joined Baxter and hit a quick 18, leaving skipper Gareth Powell and Baxter to score the required eight runs, which they duly did to win by eight wickets with seven overs still remaining, and Baker undefeated on 87 not out.

Whilst this was only the first match, it was a very encouraging start for Llanarth, with everyone contributing.

The bowling was generally good, batting excellent and the ground fielding and catching, showed the hard work carried out during winter training.

A depleted Llanarth second team did not get off to such a bright start when they were beaten by Monkswood.

Llanarth won the toss and decided to put Monkswood in on a gloomy day that threatened rain.

Monkswood got off to a solid opening with evergreen Ian Kilmister batting sensibly for 43. Captain Mark Tucker hit a powerful 32 and there were contributions from Andy Hancock with 35 not out and Glyn Watkins, 27 not out.

Monkswood finished on 223 for seven off their 45 overs. Llanarth's Rhys Willborne took two wickets.

Llanarth began their reply and were well placed after 12 overs, having lost no wickets and hitting boundaries on a regular basis.

The game was then changed completely with a piece of brilliance from 13-year-old Adam Malson making his debut for the second team.

Llanarth's opening batsman, Heath, hit the ball powerfully towards the boundary and must have been confident that his score was about to increase by four.

However, Malson took the ball just off the floor to take an astonishing catch to the great delight of the Monkswood players.

Once Llanarth's openers were out, Monkswood's bowlers took wickets regularly and Llanarth finished on 113 all out.

All the Monkswood bowlers performed well the pick of them being John Jenkins and the amazing John Storey.

Overall, it was a game played in a tremendous spirit and enjoyed by all who took part.