AFTER losing to a side below them in the league, promotion looks increasingly like a bridge too far for Abergavenny CC this season.

Batting first Abergavenny got off to a disastrous start losing Morgan Bevans to the second ball of the match. Things didn’t improve and despite the Croesyceliog bowlers giving away many wides, Abergavenny found themselves at 98 for five.

Despite batting with the tail, who between them only mustered 18 runs, Dan Cooke dominated the bowling and was last man out off the final ball of the 50 overs for a magnificent 98.

He deserved a century and was understandably bereft to finish two short.

Cooke’s 98 came off 114 balls and he marshalled the tail to enable Abergavenny to post 243 for nine. Extras was second top scorer with 54. Other notables were Greg Fury (29), Lewis Holley (22), and Adam Harrison (22).

Croesyceiliog got off to a flyer and were 36 for one of just three overs. They were forced to knock things down a gear thanks to an excellent spell from young Ben Davies who bowled 10 overs, two Maidens and took one for 29. Abergavenny were just as generous with the extras as Croesyceilog, conceding 50 in total. Slowly but surely Croesyceiliog got on top and from 168-6, put together partnerships that secured victory in the 49th over.

The pick of the Aber bunch were David Clarke (2-54), James Watkins (1-38), and Dylan Beaumont-Welsh (1-22).

Abergavenny’s Second XI were away at Rogerstone and maintained their good form with another emphatic victory.

Rogerstone were bowled out for 136, with Ben Morris, 1-26, Skipper Steve Brown, 2-16, Gavin Nash, 3-11, and one wicket each for Lewys Wilkes-McCarthy and Tom Pipe.

Abergavenny won in the 17th over by seven wickets. Gareth Powell (21), Tom Pipe (11), Lee Fury (38), Hugo Caldicott (27 Not Out), Richie Roberts (30 Not Out).

The Thirds were even more emphatic - bowling Monmouth out for just 18 runs and knocking them off from five deliveries to win by 10 wickets.

Crickhowell’s home game against fellow strugglers Cleobury Mortimer the previous week had to be called off because the visitors were unable to raise a side, so Crickhowell made the daunting away trip, this week, to title challengers Garnons.

Crickhowell did well early on, in the sweltering heat, on Garnons’ picturesque ground where the fast outfield and short boundaries always give good value for shots.

After 30 overs, though, Garnons only had 150 on the board, which Crickhowell were reasonably happy with, but crucially Garnons also had lots of wickets in hand, so were able to double their score in the last third of the game and reach a creditable 305 for five wickets in their 45 overs. Nick Francis was the pick of the bowlers, taking four for 49 off his 10 overs, and son Lloyd took the other wicket to fall, bowling opener Debenham for 111. This was a very good innings by Debenham, with a solid start and acceleration towards the latter stages with support from Stockdale (32), Jones (44) and Williams who remained not out on 75.

With an extended tea break agreed, so that those who were interested, could keep track of the soccer, Crickhowell finally got their innings underway with openers Kinman and Kerrison looking to dig in and give their side a good start. Thomas James though had other ideas and bowled a very testing spell removing Kinman without scoring, and finishing on one for 33 off his 10 overs. Alan Jones also bowled tightly taking two for 15 and Carl Lewis dismissed Kerrison the other opener to finish with one for 30 off his 10 overs. This now looked like the old familiar story with Crickhowell in danger of being skittled out for a low score, but Elwyn Jenkins (32) and skipper Francis (109 not out) rallied to the cause.

Crickhowell though, never really looked like challenging the 305 posted by Garnons, but there were still five batting points on offer and the possibility of another two if the side could bat their full 45 overs.

Francis, well supported by Wallace and young Callum Tew at the end, managed his innings superbly and was only two shots away from seeing his side through to five batting points. Crickhowell eventually finished on 214 for five and took a useful eight points from what was, technically, a loosing draw. Garnons took 22 points from the game to keep their title challenge alive in third place on 201 points overall, with Goodrich still setting the pace with 228. Kington, having beaten last year’s champions Luctonians on the weekend, are now second on 204 with Luctonians slipping back to fourth with 194.

As it stands Crickhowell are now fourth from bottom on 92 points with Ross above them on 98. Other sides below them though have games in hand, but next week there should be more of an even match-up when Crickhowell entertain Brockhampton at home.

The season now beyond the halfway point Llanarth travelled to Llantwit Fardre for the return fixture of the opening match which the Trees had won.

With the home team now languishing at the bottom of the table Llanarth were hoping for a more comfortable victory this time around.

On a searingly hot day that comfort could be directly linked to the toss and, knowing this, skipper Dennis Heath took a tactical delay on his arrival forcing vice-captain Chris Powell to do the honours. He called incorrectly causing much cursing in the away dressing room as Llanarth had to field first.

David Lomax and Tom Heath (3-23) took the new cherry and both bowled with accuracy and guile, beating the bat on countless occasions. Heath made the first incisions with a double strike in the eighth over by removing both openers. He first forced the opposite skipper into a hurried pull stroke that looped to Chris Page at mid-on, then won the plumbest of plumb lbw decisions. At 10-2 Llanarth were hoping their fielding stint would be shorter than anticipated.

However Stuart Clarke and Alex Langford (29) had other ideas, the former looked solid, in text book fashion, whereas the latter began in an ungainly fashion but was soon striking the ball with power and precision. The spin of Powell (4-19) was introduced and Langford greeted him with a sumptuous on-drive, then threaded a drive between cover and extra-cover where, seemingly, no gap existed. Suddenly the sun was feeling a little hotter on the backs of the Trees fielders.

Heath, showing great stamina in bowling his spell straight through, had one final present for his team mates. Pitching the ball up he drew Langford into a drive that took a thick outside edge that was gratefully pouched by Andrew Spencer in the gully. Dan Moseley (2-24) replaced Heath and struck immediately, after fizzing a beautiful leggie past the outside edge a flustered Clarke could then only prod a drive to Powell at short extra. At 64-4, from 20 overs, the top order was gone.

The middle and lower order had no answer to the spin twins of Powell and Moseley. Runs reduced to a trickle and batsmen walked to and from the pavilion with great regularity, Powell hitting the stumps three times and claiming an lbw. Spencer replaced Powell and also struck the timbers, but it was Moseley who ended the innings courtesy of a fine running, over the shoulder, catch by D Heath. The Trees retreated to the shade delighted with their afternoons work, that conceded only 89 runs and claimed all 10 wickets.

After a leisurely tea with much focus on the football on the telly Llanarth began their reply. Sam Michell and Mark Baxter (39) took advantage of some initial loose bowling to speed to 36-0 from four overs before Michell feathered behind trying to run a ball to third man. Lomax (27*) joined Baxter in the middle and together the pair picked off the bad balls ruthlessly as they marched inexorably towards the target.

With just two runs needed for victory and a juicy, medium-paced full toss offered up Baxter, somehow, managed to get a leading edge in the process of clubbing it and was caught at point. Lomax slapped the next ball he faced to the boundary giving Llanarth victory by eight wickets.