FOR the first time this season both Usk first and second teams experienced victories on the same day in their respective showdowns with Pontarddulais.
On a glorious Saturday afternoon at the Athletic Club Ground, the visitors from Pontarddulais won the toss and elected to bat. This looked a wise move as the Pontarddulais top order got off to a sound start led by skipper, Gary Arrowsmith (57).
With the score at 143-2, Pontarddulais looked set for a decent total; however Arrowsmith fell to Travis Townsend, and the Pontarddulais middle order got bogged down.
After their allocated 50 overs, the visitors finished on 189-9. Townsend picked up a second wicket, whilst Neil Perrett captured three wickets.
Usk's reply got off to a poor start as early wickets fell. With the score at 81-5, it was the visitors who looked the more likely victors. This was as good as it got for Pontarddulais as Usk lost no further wickets. Travis Townsend (76*) and Tom Baker (52*) guided the hosts home with an unbroken, match winning stand of 110.
Meanwhile down in West Wales, Pontarddulais won the toss and inserted Usk. The visitors got off to a shaky start as they limped up to 100-5. This was mainly thanks to some sound batting from Jonathan Davies (32). The innings really got going when Richard Rees (55) came in and scored at more than a run a ball. When Rees departed it was left to Gavin Jones (67*) to hold the lower order together, whilst a quickfire 25* from Ali Waldron ensured Usk got up to a competitive 246-7 from their allocated 50 overs. For the hosts Rhys Samuel impressed with three wickets.
Pontarddulais' reply never took off as only two batsmen made double figures. Whilst Nigel Rogers (57) and Jason Evans (72) were at the crease, they were still in with a chance, but when Rogers fell with the score at 126-3 it was a procession as the hosts struggled up to 180 all out after 44.5 overs.
With the league season now halfway through, Usk's first team will be hoping that this result will act as a springboard for a more successful second half of the season. The second team are currently third in their division and will be looking to maintain their fine form.
Next week sees the first team travel to St Helen's to take on Swansea whilst the seconds entertain the same opponents. Both matches begin at 1:30pm. On Sunday, the U-17s league continues as Usk U17s host Blackwood U-17s. Play begins at 2:00pm.
MEANWHILE a brilliant 161 not out by opening batsman Greg Fury took Abergavenny to a comfortable seven wicket win at Penarth and avenged the early season defeat in the Welsh Cup.
Fury's total included 27 fours and three sixes and his second wicket stand with captain for the day, Ryan Watkins, was worth 138.
Earlier Watkins had returned figures of 3-18 and there were two wickets each for Nathan Byrne, Mike Baillon and Andy Timpson.,
At Avenue Road the second's reached 222-9 with notable contributions from Nick Kinman 60, Tom Viveash (50) and Dan Cooke (43) but the total was passed by Penarth despite a further sound all round performance by Dan Cooke who captured three wickets to complement his batting contribution.
Crickhowell experienced a home defeat against Luctonians despite a pulsating ton from Nick Francis and demonstrated once again that their bowling needs to be strengthened.