ABERGAVENNY picked up their first victory of the season in an enthralling last over finish to their Welsh Cup tie at home to Llantwit Major Cavaliers.

Aber won the toss and elected to bowl, hoping to take advantage of any residual moisture in the surface and boosted by the return of opening bowler Nathan Byrne.

However, it appeared that captain James Schofield's decision might have been the wrong one as the Llantwit openers made largely untroubled progress against Byrne and Dan Cooke, advancing the score to 39-0 off the opening 10 overs. The introduction of Will Ford, and in particular Nick Francis slowed the scoring rate. Francis was extremely unlucky not to pick up a wicket in an excellent spell in which he beat the outside edge on numerous occasions. Eventually, Ford made the first breakthrough, catching Collins off his own bowling for 16. There followed a 51 run stand for the second wicket that took the score to 113-1 from 30 overs before Andy Timpson had Cousens caught by Colin Knight for a well made 66.

However, the momentum of the innings did not really swing until Cooke and Byrne were reintroduced for the final six overs, with the score on 152-2. Byrne in particular gave a lesson in how to bowl at the death and was rewarded for an excellent second spell with four wickets, to finish with 4-35. Cooke took two wickets at the other end to pick up 2-25 from his eight overs, and Llantwit finished on 176 all out.

The home side's reply began brightly as Schofield and Will Glenn put on 39 in good time, running well between the wickets, before Schofield perished for 20 to a superb catch in the gully. Glenn and Doug Spencer took the score to 69, and both will be the better in the upcoming league matches for having spent some time in the middle. Glenn was bowled for the second time in two days, this time for 25, before Nathan Holley and Francis fell in quick succession to leave the Beavers on 81-4 from 22 overs. At this point, and for the next 15 overs, the game remained in the balance as Llantwit kept a close rein on the innings. Cooke (21), Spencer (39) and Matt Knight (6) all fell to Snelson and Aber needed a further 46 from the final seven overs.

After a useful contribution from Colin Knight (10), the turning point came as Ford advanced down the track to his first ball and the stumping chance was missed. Thereafter, he supported the excellent Byrne well, the pair played sensibly and ran well, and the Cavaliers coughed up a few too many wides. Eventually, with nine needed for outright victory from the final over, Ford played a straight drive for two off the penultimate ball to seal victory for the home side. Byrne finished on a very composed 21 not out.

Aber will hope to use this victory as a catalyst to improve their league form, (which saw them collapse to a heavy defeat away at Pontypridd on Saturday), while looking forward to entertaining Barry in the next round of a competition that saw them reach the quarter-finals last year.

Abergavenny seconds entertained Pontypridd on a damp, overcast afternoon at Avenue Road and Gareth Owens, the visiting skipper, did not hesitate in asking the Beavers to bat after winning the toss.

Richie Morris and Nick Kinman compiled a steady opening partnership of 27 before the latter fell to the lively Bhaktar. Viveash and Morris worked hard against an accurate attack well led by the frugal Price. They both fell in quick succession, as did young Richie Roberts, bringing Will Morris to the crease to join Steve Brown who was making a welcome return to the ranks of the Beavers after a gap of two years.

These two added 40 for the fourth wicket with Brown growing in confidence, hitting the ball hard an taking full advantage of the short leg side boundary. The loss of Morris allowed veteran campaigner Ryland Wallace to put together a crucial stand of 65 with Brown for the fifth wicket. Brown, taking advantage of the chances given to him by a ragged fielding side, powered on towards his century which he reached with a six over square leg.

Following the loss of Wallace, the lower order managed to stay with Brown to allow him to remain undefeated for an excellent 112 n.o. as the Aber innings closed on a respectable 209 for nine.

In reply Pontypridd began well against Devoy and the impressive young Keane reaching 59 without loss. However, the introduction of spin from Will Morris and skipper Andy Timpson in the 13th over completely changed the course of the match and the visitors collapsed to 72 for six from 28 overs. After Timpson and Morris had finished their allocation [respectively four for 23 off 10 and two for 23 off 10] Devoy returned and he and the accurate Lewis Holley wrapped up the innings,dismissing the opposition for 118 in the 44th over. This was an excellent result for the Beavers after the disappointment of losing to Penarth last week. The fielding was markedly improved and all the bowlers were able to bowl to the fields set and fully capitalise on the good work of the batsmen