DESPITE an excellent opening stand of 102 between Will Glenn and a superb knock of 70 from Greg Fury, Aber went down to defeat to Penarth in their opening game of 2012.

After losing the toss, Aber surprisingly found themselves asked to bowl first, and made a steady start through Dan Cooke and Joe Hrastelj, and struck in the fifth over after a brilliant stumping by Fury, standing up to Cooke, to remove the dangerous Sidford.

Will Ford was given an early bowl and immediately found some turn on a helpful surface. However, a solid second wicket partnership was beginning to develop when skipper James Schofield struck in his third over, bowling Thomas through the gate.

Doug Spencer ran out Sam Docherty shortly afterwards with some sharp work at midwicket, and Schofield snared Aber old boy JJ Davies to leave Penarth 89-4 after 26 overs.

However, despite the dismissal of Rhys Morgan to leave Schofield with figures of 3-38, Aber couldn't remove the obdurate Nick Morgan, who made a very good 87 on a surface that required patience and watchfulness, before being trapped LBW by Ford. His innings set up a last over assault from James Docherty, who struck 20 from the final four balls of the innings from an otherwise assured Hrastelj, to guide Penarth to 227-7.

Aber made a superb start in reply, with Fury showing the benefits of regular nets over the winter in an innings that demonstrated the fluency and form he showed in the 2010 season that saw him named as League Player of the Year.

With Glenn, the pair led Abergavenny to the dominant position of 102 from 19 overs, before Glenn was caught in the deep. Shortly afterwards came the turning point of the match as Schofield ran out Fury, before being dismissed himself for just three.

From a position of strength, Aber suddenly stagnated as the Penarth spinners restricted them to just seven runs from eight overs. Spencer was eventually dismissed, shortly followed by youngster Lewis Holley.

However, the arrival of Cooke and the return of the seamers, Aber retained a chance, as the score moved to 163-5, requiring a further 64 from the last seven overs. Unfortunately Cooke was caught at mid-off and the innings subsided thereafter, and Aber were dismissed for 177.

So a disappointing start to the season for Aber, who will hope the rest of their batting order finds the sort of form showed by Fury and Glenn in order to build on the good work showed by the bowling and fielding unit and pick up their first victory away at Pontypridd next week

ABERGAVENNY'S second team also lifted the curtains on the 2012 season when they entertained Penarth at a sunny Avenue Rd.

Penarth won the toss and did not hesitate to insert the home side on a reasonably firm but slow surface. Nick Kinman and Colin Knight ensured a steady start before Kinman fell to a catch at mid off with the score on 28.

This brought John Viveash to the crease and he and Knight batted confidently to take the score to 70 off 21 overs before the latter fell for a solid 32. Thereafter wickets fell steadily as Viveash batted with increasing confidence on a surface which demanded patience.

Useful lower order runs from Ellis Jones (14) and debutant Tom Keane (15) helped to push the score to 174 before skipper Andy Timpson was run out off the final ball of the innings trying to secure the run which would have yielded a third batting point. Viveash finished with an excellent undefeated 68 to his name.

Mike Devoy and Keane opened the Aber attack and the youngster (Keane not Devoy) demonstrated very good control with just 10 runs from his first six overs. Penarth stuck to their task but and had accumulated 30 from the first 15 overs by which time Gary Thomas and Colin Knight had taken over the bowling duties.

Penarth progressed to 80 before a sharp piece of fielding by Keane and wicketkeeper Ellis Jones ran out opener Erasmus for 22. The introduction of Timpson and Owain Bradley could not halt the progress of Docherty and Jones and Penarth passed 150 without further loss. Devoy returned to the attack and claimed two late wickets as did the young Keane, trapping Akhtar LBW to produce the remarkable figures of one for 18 from his 10 overs.

Docherty eventually saw Penarth home in the 47th over with a diligent and effective 96 not out.

Abergavenny will need to demonstrate greater mobility in the field and penetration with their bowling if they are to avoid the difficulties of last season.