ABERGAVENNY CC returned from Pentyrch disappointed after failing to defeat their nearest rivals in a basement battle. Despite the heavy rain of the previous evening the game started on time and Aber's Cooke and Bukhari were soon rewarded with a wicket each. Former Abergavenny and Glamorgan star Mike Powell, now player coach at Pentyrch, added 40 alongside Connor Brown, before Powell was LBW to Salman. Three balls later WIilcox was walking back to the pavilion. Captain Steve Matthews and Brown added 82 and then the skipper was deceived by the flight and young left arm spinner Scott Greaves gained his reward for some accurate bowling. The talented Brown was eventually bowled by Bukhari for 84 and the bowler grabbed another two wickets as his pace proved too much for the tail enders and after 50 overs the home side were 195-9. In bat the Beavers got off to a disastrous start with two smart catches at slip by Scott Matthews off the bowling of veteran Grossett accounting for Schofield and Cooke. Baloch and Bukhari slowly rebuilt the innings to 77 when Bukari was out trying to break the stranglehold that Brown had put on and as so often happens, in his next over, Baloch was also a Brown victim. Abergavenny tried to up the tempo with birthday boy Will Glenn scoring 27, Gillani and Salman hitting out, but all was in vain and the away side finished 29 runs short. This late in the season it is going to require some hard work for Abergavenny to maintain their League One status. They have the players capable to achieve this, but will they stand up and be counted when it matters most?

A DEPLETED Abergavenny Beavers made the long trip to Luctonians on Saturday with only 10 men due to some late dropouts. Beavers won the toss and decided to bat on a track which looked a belter. Aber lost early wickets with Nathan Holley, Tom Griffiths and Morgan Bevans all out before the score was on 30. Nick Kinman(17) and Mark Winstanley(40) got themselves in before departing with the score on 89-5 after 18 overs. Garin Price and Owain Bradley quickly rebuilt the innings with Price playing some elegant shots in his first game of the season. Bradley ticked over at the other end as the Beavers moved closer and closer to a competitive score. Both batsman were out in the dying overs with Price scoring 66 and Bradley 48 as the Beavers scored 206-8. Griffiths opened the bowling for the Beavers. He bowled the opposition captain after some good short balls which left him on his back foot. Bradley claimed one wicket which was beautifully caught by young Kevin Palmer at point but Luctonians were well up on the run rate. Palmer was then brought into the attack and he took two wickets. But with the lack of bowling the Beavers had, Luctonians comfortably won by six wickets with seven overs to go. Next Saturday sees Aber play Widemarsh Lads Club at Crickhowell where hopefully a few more experienced players will return to the team.