Crickhowell’s poor run of form continued this week as they were again soundly beaten, this time away at Kington, by 9 wickets.

With the holiday period kicking in Crickhowell had a number of key players absent and were forced to include several players carrying injuries. Winning the toss, Crickhowell decided to bat first on a good wicket, but again a number of wickets fell early and there were few substantial partnerships to give the batting any real backbone.

Lilley again looked good until he offered a sharp chance behind which was well taken, and Cornock [18] and Joseph Bowker [35] threatened briefly to build a useful total until they both hit the ball in the air and were caught in the deep.

Kington were bowling tightly and looked lively in the field and held nearly every chance that was offered. With a fragile tail, which included a number of new faces, Crickhowell stuttered along to 143 all out, and it was only some typically tenacious hitting from Price (pictured) for the last wicket, which saw them through to some respectability.

Defending such a low total on a good wicket was always going to be difficult and Crickhowell needed all the luck and good fortune going, but as is the case in cricket, when you’re down your luck is often low too.

In stark contrast to Kington earlier, who seemed to take every catch offered and were awarded every LBW shout asked for, Crickhowell managed to drop 7 catches and were denied every LBW request sought.

In truth, some of the catches would have been spectacular, but earlier in the season these were being held and Crickhowell were finding ways to win from poor positions, but the Kington openers rode their luck very well and in between, played some very good cricket to see their side through to a winning position.

Morgan [62 not out] and Protheroe [55] put on a century stand for the first wicket and although the Bowker brothers and Stuart Beaty bowled well at times there were enough scoring opportunities for Kington to coast to victory especially with the side spilling all the half chances offered. With Tim Price not able to bowl of his normal run, he strolled in and tried a bit of leg break bowling and a return catch, of his own bowling, was the only success of the day.

Crickhowell traipsed home with their tails between their legs and only 1 point to show for their afternoon’s work. Kington have now replaced them in third position in the league and Crickhowell have dropped down to 5th. Things don’t get any easier for Crickhowell though, as next week they are at home, but they entertain run away leaders, and Champions elect, Luctonians. However, they can look forward to some respite on Sunday when they meet Wormelow in the T20 Cup competition, again at home.