N an enthralling encounter at Avenue Road, Abergavenny's title challenge suffered a wobble as St Fagans ran out winners by 13 runs.

St Fagans won the toss and elected to bat first. Opening bowlers Ryan Watkins and Jon Denning immediately posed the St Fagans batsmen problems, with Denning in particular shaping the ball back into the bat beautifully.

However, after the early removal of Williams for one, Abergavenny did not make the further breakthroughs that were perhaps anticipated as Hopkins and John built a solid if unspectacular partnership.

Yet, as the sun came out and the shine came off the ball, they gradually accelerated, reaching 107-1 at the drinks break.

Dan Cooke bowled a good spell and was unlucky to have a caught behind decision turned down. Tom Watkins' initial spell, along with those of Will Ford and Gavin Heritage were also fruitless and Aber were desperate for a wicket to change the game.

Skipper James Schofield turned to Denning for a quick burst from one end, while introducing Mike Devoy from the Brook End.

The pair immediately created pressure through some tight bowling, and although neither bowler made the breakthrough, Hopkins was run out for a fine 62, and Aber had the breakthrough they were looking for, leaving St Fagans 137-2.

After Denning's short spell, Schofield turned to his other main strike bowler, and Ryan Watkins also delivered, removing John, caught behind by Greg Fury for a well made 60.

With Devoy going well, picking up a deserved wicket and Tom Watkins' second spell proving successful with another two wickets, Abergavenny really reined the visitors in and restricted them to a final score of 235-7, which at one stage had looked set to be a great deal more.

Aber set out on their run chase at a rate of knots, as Andrew Jones and Fury flayed the opening bowlers to all parts with a stream of sumptuous shots, the pick being Fury's pick up over square leg which sailed into the clubhouse garden for six.

When Jones was dismissed, caught behind for 35, Aber were 84-1 off 14 overs, and ahead of the game. Fury followed shortly after for an explosive 44, caught on the deep midwicket boundary.

The home side were now looking for a period of consolidation and steady accumulation from the middle order.

Ryan Watkins started well, but unfortunately Heritage and Will Glenn's recent poor form continued, and both were dismissed cheaply with the Beavers at 130-4 on the stroke of drinks.

Schofield joined Watkins and the pair continued the assault on the target with an assured partnership, which ended with Watkins bowled by Lansdown for 43, looking to take advantage of the vacant deep midwicket.

Denning joined forces with Schofield and took the score to 184 before being caught behind. Abergavenny were still well in contention and up with the rate but were steadily losing wickets, and another followed shortly afterwards as Cooke departed for seven after an assured start. With the lower order for company, and the required rate climbing to six runs an over, Schofield chanced his arm one time too many and departed, caught at midwicket for 34.

The hopes of a win were effectively over, but Devoy, Ford and Watkins ensured Aber gained extra points for being within 20 runs and not being bowled out.

An excellent game of cricket ended with Abergavenny on the wrong end of the result, with none of the top six going on to make a really telling contribution, something of a drawback on occasions this season.

Nevertheless, with Usk and Panteg also coming unstuck, Aber didn't lose too much ground, though they can ill afford any more slip-ups as they chase their dreams of the title.