Abergavenny continued their pre-season preparations with a fixture against Swansea at Avenue Road on Saturday.

After winning the toss, captain Geraint Leach asked Swansea to bat which proved a good decision as David Clarke and Will Glenn reduced the visitors to 42-3 with some probing bowling.

Swansea were indebted to Daniel Rowe, the former Leicestershire player carried the innings with a fine 89 and was ably supported by Dominic Evans who contributed 64 not out as Swansea finished their innings on 216-5.

For Abergavenny Will Glenn returned figures of 2-22, while new signing Adnan Ghori claimed 1-21, David Clarke took 1-43 and Matt Knight 1-45.

In reply Abergavenny openers Leach and Glenn started cautiously, putting on 30 before Glenn fell to a great return catch off the bowling of Swansea skipper Hayden.

A couple more wickets fell including Leach for 22 and Abergavenny were in some trouble at 68-4, but 15 year old David Clarke and Lee Fury combined with a partnership of 45 before Fury fell lbw for 22 and he was quickly followed by Clarke who was bowled for 20.

The young Abergavenny side could have folded but Matt Knight and the experienced Gareth Powell combined for an unbeaten partnership of 31 to see Abergavenny finish their innings 144-7, with Powell unbeaten on 30.

Although it was a defeat the result was irrelevant as a young Abergavenny side performed admirably against a side who play in South Wales Premier One.

On Sunday Abergavenny welcomed Birmingham & District Premier League side Brockhampton to Avenue Road for their final pre-season fixture.

After winning the toss, skipper Geraint Leach invited Brockhampton to bat first and the decision was vindicated with Brockhampton slipping to 61-5, with young opening bowler David Clarke claiming 2-3, while skipper Leach claimed 2-5.

Leach shared the bowling around amongst the young side and this showed as Brock’s first team skipper Nick Powell played plenty of shots on his way to a fine 73 not out as he helped Brockhampton recover to post 190-7 off their 40 overs.

In reply Lewis Holley and 13 year old Morgan Bevans started brightly with some nice shots and good running taking the score to 41 before Bevans fell to a catch at mid wicket.

Holley soon followed for a well made 30 again caught at mid wicket before skipper Leach and Powell combined for a 43 run partnership before Powell was stumped for 17 off the bowling of Brock’s overseas player Senuran Muthusamy.

Scoring became more difficult as Brock’s spinners bowled well and eventually Aber required 10 an over for the last seven overs.

At this stage Aber lost Will Glenn to a great bit of fielding on the boundary as he was run out for 14, while Leach fell for a well made 34.

It left young David Clarke and Ben Pike to see the overs out, with Aber finishing 149-6.

All in all it was a very positive performance by a young Abergavenny side which used 10 bowlers in the Brockhampton innings.

Hopefully they can build on this in the first match of the newly formed South East Wales Cricket League on May 7 against Chepstow at Avenue Road.