THE start of the cricket season coupled with a Bank Holiday usually translates into a guaranteed Biblical deluge, instead a beautiful, warm sunny day was to be enjoyed by all at the LCG as Llantwit Fardre were the visitors for the opening match of the season.

Alas copious amounts rain in the weeks beforehand meant that the wicket was very wet, there was some debate as to whether a tennis ball would bounce on the surface, meaning the toss was vital. Dennis Heath lost it.

David Lomax (35) and Mark Baxter opened the innings together for the first time in 21 months, but there was to be no vintage collaboration as Baxter couldn’t ignore instinct and played back, when the only option was forward, to depart for a single. Tom Vaughan and Milo Thomas followed shortly afterwards and Llanarth found themselves needing a partnership.

Lomax defended watchfully and punished anything loose when it was on offer, he was joined by Chris Page (21) whose determined knock was just what the Trees needed. They progressed the score to 75-3 before Lomax mistimed a drive to be caught at mid-wicket. Then Fardre’s Stewart Clarke (5-17) played havoc with the middle and lower order with his accurate in-swing as Llanarth stumbled to 101-8.

That Llanarth had something useful to work with was helped by some lusty hitting by Chris Powell (25*) as the innings closed at 128 all out. A five star tea was then taken by all as the home side pondered whether they had enough.

The Trees needed early wickets and although Lomax (3-25) and Tom Heath (2-27) did bag a couple each Luke Benjamin (62) looked in ominous form. He seemed to be playing on a different wicket to everyone else and kept the score rattling along despite the regular loss of colleagues. Nevertheless at 48-4 Llanarth were well in it.

However Chris Garwood (17) batted solidly to keep Benjamin company, the latter’s sometimes glorious shots fired the score to 99-4 from just 18 overs and Fardre nearly over the finishing line. Then D Heath (2-24) enticed an error from Garwood and Benjamin panicked. Seemingly having no confidence in his lower order Benjamin decided he wanted to finish it of off Chris Powell but the spin maestro spun one past his swipe and it was game on again at 101-6.

An inspired move from skipper Heath saw him remove Powell from the attack and return to Lomax, to complete his quota, who rewarded the ingenuity with another scalp. Once Lomax was done Andrew Spencer (2-0) was introduced up the hill and struck with his fourth delivery.

The score was 118-9, it was a balmy sunny evening and a large crowd were enjoying a tense finish. Spencer thought he had his man when the entire field went up for a thunderous lbw shout. It was rejected. He was not to be thwarted though, as just a couple of deliveries later another raucous lbw appeal was upheld to cue some well deserved celebrations.

A terrific game of cricket on a traditional early season sticky-dog, played in fine spirits in lovely weather. A super start to the season.

Abergavenny started their 2018 season in Division One of the South East Wales Cricket League with a 30 run victory at Chepstow on Saturday.

After Abergavenny skipper Geraint Leach lost the toss, Aber were asked to bat first on a difficult wicket due to the midweek downpour and lost a wicket in the second over as Will Glenn was bowled for 0.

Morgan Bevans and Adam Harrison built a partnership of 56 against some accurate Chepstow bowilng before Bevans was stumped on the stroke of drinks. Harrison continued to bat and with the helpful contributions of the young Abergavenny batters they gradually pushed the score towards a competitive total. Harrison eventually fell for a fine 55 as Abergavenny completed their 50 overs on 154-8.

In reply Chepstow started well with Ansell in particular playing some aggressive strokes as Chepstow looked to make inroads into the Aber total. However after Harrison took the first wicket thanks to a steepling catch from new signing Ben Davies the Aber bowling attack started to tighten their grip on the game.

The introduction of left arm spinner Davies and leg spinner Sam Clarke saw the score slow down considerably as Clarke played a pivotal role claiming 3-21. Including the wicket of the dangerous Ansell for 26 and also a fantastic catch to get rid of Bennett also for 26 as Chepstow slumped to 90-5.

Last Year’s league young player of the year David Clarke then claimed another wicket before skipper Leach claimed two wickets as wickets fell and Chepstow edged closer towards the Aber total.

The score was 124 when Harrison returned to claim the final two Chepstow wickets to bundle them out for 124, and seal an Aber win by 30 runs.

Overall an exciting game of cricket and a very good performance from a young Abergavenny side which shone through in a disciplined display with bat, ball and some brilliant fielding.

Next week Abergavenny welcome Tondu to Avenue Road fro a 12:30pm start and on Sunday Pontypridd are the visitors in the First round of the Welsh Cup with a 1.30pm start.

After last week’s washout, Glangrwyney firsts travelled to Luctonians seconds for their opening fixture.

Put in to bat, Ryan Sharpe and Mike Devoy put on 45 for the first wicket in good time. Tim Jones joined Devoy and added 168 in 31 overs, and then added 108 with Geoff Holmes, the scoring rate increasing all the time. The total closed on 331-3, with Tim Jones remaining undefeated on an excellent 152.

Luctonian’s J.Simpson was the pick of their bowlers with 2-44, the rest suffering somewhat, probably with early season rustiness.

In reply, Glangrwyney’s bowlers displayed similar early season blues, for which Luctonian’s opening pair S.Powell, and D.Foreman took full advantage, both getting into the nineties and were threatening the target set. However, Glangrwyney’s unorthodox in match bowling practice paid dividends, a runout and Jules Hardwick dismissing both openers in quick succession.

Mike Devoy then picked up four wickets and Ryan Sharp picked up two to peg the home side back and see Glangrwyney to a 49 run victory.

Glangrwyney’s second team got off to a solid start last week.

Upon winning the toss, Brockhampton asked the home side to bat first on an usually warm day for this early in the season. A solid if unremarkable foundation was made by the openers who blunted the new ball in somewhat humid conditions as the visitors’ toiled without reward before the early drinks session. The rate picked up afterwards however but the loss of McIlroy for 29 to the persevering youngster Fergus Morris started a slide from 79 for 1 as the new batsmen struggled to come to terms with the sluggish pitch and the variations of the teenage wrist spinners Morris and James Pattison. Mark Keane continued on his way to a solid fifty but was out soon after with only new captain Jim Astle later making it into double figures. Glangrwyney batted out their forty overs allocation which represented progress over last season to make a respectable 156 for 8 where the early season pitch and a large outfield made for rare boundaries. Brockhampton’s bowling was notable as the majority of the overs were bowled by their teenagers who performed admirably and offer great prospects for the future.

Brockhampton’s innings after a sumptuous tea got off to a prompt start however, the introduction of the evergreen Haydn Davies and a rejuvenated Nicky Llewellyn started to rein them in. When Finn Morris was bowled by Llewellyn, this brought the captain Stephen Hunt to the crease and with the opener Robin Holgate took the score forward. Glangrwyney’s solid fielding performance was noted, especially that of the athletic Jack Peach who saved many runs, however one unfortunate chap dropped three catches. The increasing run rate brought about by shrewd captain Astle eventually accounted for both batsmen as they tried but failed to haul in the target with Holgate departing for an innings-defining 80. This brought the youngsters to the crease and although they took the game to the home team, even batting three yards outside their crease, the asking rate was too much and the visitors’ finished up seven runs short. Other notable bowling contributions were made by new man Graham Paton with returning veterans Glyn McAdam and John Parkinson also doing well. The match ended in a winning draw for the home team giving Glangrwyney a solid start to the season. Next week Glangrwyney Seconds travel to Kington.