A SEVERELY depleted Abergavenny side suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of promotion chasing St Fagans on Saturday.

Asked to bat first, and already missing several top order batsmen, the visitors made a calamitous start as Will Glenn and Greg Fury both departed without troubling the scorers, to leave Aber on 7-2.

James Schofield and Alex Astley-Jones stabilised the innings somewhat as Schofield eschewed all risk in making a painstakingly turgid 18, while Astley-Jones grew in confidence as his innings progressed, striking several good shots over the infield.

However, with the score on 56, Schofield fell trying to loft the ball over mid off. Astley-Jones followed soon after for 35 and the innings stalled thereafter as a succession of batsmen came and went for single figure scores. Despite lasting 44 overs, Aber had made on 83 when they were finally dismissed, with Mansoor Tariq picking up 5-21 for St Fagans.

Despite this, Aber made the perfect start as Dan Cooke removed opposition skipper and opener Owain Hopkins to his first ball, with the score on just one. It proved a false dawn however, as Chris Lawlor and Freddie John took a heavy toll on the Aber attack in racing to their target inside 15 overs, John finishing on 52 not out.

Aber failed to pick up any points and they will have to ensure they address this failing in the games they do lose as every point could prove vital this season. They will hope to welcome back a number of key players and return to some sort of form for the very important games coming up against fellow lower table sides Rogerstone and Tondu.

AFTER three successive matches lost to the weather, Abergavenny seconds welcomed St Fagans to a blustery Avenue Rd where the threat of rain was never very far away.

The visitors won the toss and opted to bat on a firm surface. Tom Keane and Nick Francis opened the bowling for the Beavers and it was not long before Francis struck, removing opener Howe and then Lennon in an excellent opening spell of two for 10 off five overs.

Skipper Andy Timpson and off spinner Will Morris then took control, bowling 20 overs for 39 runs and four wickets, removing the entire middle order and reducing the visitors to 77 for six off 31 overs.

Morris bowled an excellent length and line to claim his three wickets for 18 runs. At this point the match took an unexpected turn after Lewis Holley and Gareth Thomas had each taken a wicket.

This brought Ghotra to the wicket to join Lansdown and these two scored freely, compiling a formidable partnership off the remaining overs, enabling St Fagans to finish on 230 for nine from their 50 overs.

In reply the Beavers struggled against against the opening attack of Lansdown and Ghotra, losing Doug Spencer and Morris cheaply. The stylish Lewis Holley then joined veteran Kinman at the crease and this pair added 49 for the third wicket before Hopkins removed each in quick succession.

With the loss of the fifth wicket, Francis entered the fray and immediately began to strike the ball with power and accuracy, racing to his 50 and taking the fight to the visiting bowlers as wickets fell at the other end. After taking Abergavenny past the 150 mark he was eventually last out for a wonderful knock of 68.