USK's ship failed to come in on Saturday after they lost narrowly at home to Port Talbot.
Port Talbot skipper, Dan Cherry, won the toss and decided to field first. This looked a good move as Usk lost two early wickets to paceman Chris Ashling. At 26-2 Oliver James was joined by Travis Townsend and the pair added 50 before James fell. Townsend (59) then held the middle order together, before Huw Waters (26) and Jake Roderick (23*) ensured that Usk's bowlers would at least have something to bowl at, as they reached 173-3 from their 50 overs. For Port Talbot, Ashling finished with the impressive figures of 12-1-34-3.
Despite the loss of an early wicket, Port Talbot looked comfortable as they reached 129-2, requiring just a further 45 for victory. Wickets began to tumble though including that of top scorer Cherry (67), as Usk scented an opportunity. At 169-8 it was anyone's game, before a series of wides enabled Port Talbot to scrape over the finish line. For Usk Huw Waters finished with the equally impressive figures of 12-2-27-3.
The following day Usk beat Kent based touring team the Lobsters in a friendly.
The Lobsters won the toss and elected to bat. Despite Jack Stedman removing both the openers, the visitors' top order made a competent start as they reached 110-2. At this stage though the Lobsters lost two quick wickets including that of top scorer, L Morgan (47). No one else was able to get going as the middle order got bogged down against the spin of Neil Perrett and Tony Kear, who captured six wickets between them. Perrett finished with the impressive figures of 8-0-29-4, as the Lobsters limped up to 198 all out.
Usk's reply got off to a solid start as Mike Kear (28) and Mark Tamplin (39) put on 85 for the first wicket. Usk then suffered a dramatic collapse as four wickets fell on this score; however, Richard Catchpole (64*) and Neil Perrett (28) guided the hosts to he brink of victory, before Tony Kear helped Usk over the line for a five wicket win. For the Lobsters D. Patching captured three wickets.
On Monday Usk played another touring team, East Anglian side, Castor and Ailsworth - but this time just fell short.
Usk won the toss and chose to bat. Usk's innings was dominated by Mark Tamplin, who scored a magnificent 102*, which included 15 fours. With Henry Hazell (17), Tamplin posted 98 for the first wicket, but with nobody else from Usk getting in on the act, the run rate was slow and the hosts finished on 159-6 from their 40 overs. For the visitors, J Fountain took two wickets.
The tourists' reply run rate was little better than Usk's effort, but they were lucky in that four batsmen made contributions to the run chase, then most significant of these coming from J Fountain (79*), who this time shone with the bat. For Usk, Travis Townsend picked up three wickets.
Next weekend is another busy one for Usk. On Friday evening at Croesyceiliog CC, Usk take on Newport in the Macey Cup final. On Saturday, Usk returns to league action as the firsts travel to fellow strugglers, St Fagans and the seconds entertain the same opponents. Both these games commence at 1:30pm. On Sunday, Usk take part in the Twenty20 Finals Day at the SWALEC Stadium. Their semi-final against Sully starts at 10:30am.
JON Denning turned on the style with a five-wicket haul as Tondu were beaten by nine wickets at Avenue Road on Saturday.
In overcast conditions, Abergavenny won the toss and bowled first. With opening bowlers Nathan Byrne and Denning bowling well, Tondu struggled, before Denning went through the top order to leave Tondu on 38-4 in the twelfth over.
Tim Woolls and Craig Townsend fashioned a sixth wicket partnership of 53, including some attractive driving from both players.
However, Ryan Watkins picked up the wicket of Woolls just before the drinks break, giving Greg Fury his third catch of the innings. Watkins then broke the back of the Tondu middle order by picking up two further wickets in the over immediately after the break.
Gavin Heritage also bowled extremely well without much luck, but was eventually rewarded with the wicket of Wadlan, leaving Tondu on 106-8.
Denning was reintroduced for his final two overs to see if he could pick up his fifth wicket. He was aided and abetted by an excellent one handed diving catch by Will Morris, fielding close in at short square leg, and finished with magnificent figures of 5-29.
Will Morris then capped an exemplary display in the field with a good run-out to finish the innings with Tondu having scored 114.
The game was unfolding in a similar manner to the game when Aber vanquished Sudbrook two weeks previously.
Leading runscorer Fury again fell relatively early for 14, but this time Aber managed to pick up maximum batting points as they chased down the target for the loss of that solitary wicket. Jones and Watkins carried on from their hundreds last week, and scored 42* and 48* respectively, both playing some great shots to finish the runchase on 118-1 at the end of the twentieth over.
Aber are on a real roll at the moment and will fancy another good win at home to Blackwood next week, before a huge game that could have a massive influence on the destination of the title as they take on Bridgend away the week after.