USK'S weekend got off to a poor start on Friday, when they were eliminated from the Macey Cup at the first hurdle, away to Chepstow.
On a hot and breezy evening the hosts batted first and scored a competitive 141-7 from their 20 overs. For Usk, skipper, Tom Robinson, and Neil Perrett each bagged a brace.
In reply Usk got off to a flier as the top order took the attack to Chepstow.
With seven overs of their innings left, Usk required a further 48 with eight wickets in hand – in normal circumstances a very attainable ask.
Unfortunately after top scorer, Mark Tamplin (44), departed, Usk's middle order got bogged down as wickets regularly fell.
Requiring 18 from the final over, it was beyond the visitors, who fell nine short of their target.
However there was a happier outcome for the first team on Saturday.
On a sublime day at the Athletic Club Ground, captain Tom Robinson won the toss and elected to field.
Cardiff's innings was solid if unspectacular. However, Cardiff's top order had provided an excellent platform from which to launch as they brought up the 200 in the 43rd over with six wickets still in hand.
It was at this point that Mike Read and Huw Waters took control as they each snapped up three wickets to skittle the lower order and bowl out the visitors for 222 in the 48th over.
Usk's chase got off to a laborious start as they struggled to 43-4 after 17 overs. Huw Waters (33) and Shaun Moore (69) then put on 66 for the fifth wicket to get Usk back in the game. After a couple of quick wickets, Moore then added 101 in a little over 14 overs with Owen Watkins (61*) to put the home side on the brink of victory.
With skipper Robinson striding to the crease and blasting a couple of boundaries, Usk won with 3.4 overs and three wickets to spare.
Meanwhile, down at the Diamond Ground in Cardiff, Mike Kear won the toss for Usk's second eleven and elected to bat.
This proved a good decision as Kear (54) and Sion Francis (25) posted 50 for the first wicket. After Francis's departure Neil Perrett (24) joined Kear and helped take the score onto 118 in the 25th over before he fell.
With Kear falling soon afterwards, Sanjay Thapan (29) was forced to try to hold the middle order together whilst wickets tumbled around him.
After a promising start Usk's innings petered out to 198 all out after 46 overs.
Defending a below par total, Usk's bowlers and fielders tried manfully to pull things around. Despite a couple of run outs and Francis' bowling beautifully in capturing figures of 10-1-37-3, Cardiff kept ahead of the game and managed to achieve victory with five overs and three wickets to spare.
Arguably Usk's game of the weekend was on Sunday, as the third eleven, led by Gavin Pugh, won a last ball thriller at the Athletic Club Ground.
Ystrad Fellte won the toss and elected to bat on a sweltering day. In this 40-over friendly the visitors got off to an excellent start as the openers posted 82 for the first wicket off just 14 overs.
With Usk finding wickets hard to come by Ystrad Fellte continued to make hay while the sun shined, finishing on 234-4. M Roberts top scored for the visitors with 86, whilst the pick of Usk's bowlers was Charlie Watkins who captured two wickets.
Facing such a daunting target all of Usk's top order managed to get into double figures, with Richie Morris (65) and Richie Rees (61) proving the standout contributors.
Rees was present at the beginning of the final over from which Usk required 10 runs to win. This was whittled down to two from the final ball to win, though Rees had sacrificed his wicket in the process.
Alex Head was the man facing (his first ball). He slapped the delivery through midwicket, whilst Dave Bond scurried back at the non-strikers end as Usk won this thrilling match by three wickets.
This weekend the first team will look to continue their impressive start to the season when they visit St Fagans; whilst the seconds entertain the same opponents back at the Athletic Club Ground.
Sunday through to Tuesday, Usk plays host to three-day Minor Counties Championship match between Wales and Wiltshire.