IT was a long time coming, but Crickhowell finally they managed to chalk up their first win of the season at home last Saturday.

The win was even sweeter as it was against fellow strugglers and local rivals Glangrwyney. It doesn’t alter Crickhowell’s position at the foot of the table, but at least the local bragging rights are secure, until these two teams meet again next year, but alas, in Division Two.

The Crickhowell Castle Ground, again looked a picture, bathed in sunshine, but heavy rain earlier in the week meant the wicket was perhaps a little under cooked, and the outfield a little long in places with the ball likely to hold up in the deep.

A low scoring affair perhaps, with batting conditions a little bit tricky, could have been predicted, but as it was the track played well enough for those batsmen who were prepared apply themselves and bat with a bit of patience.

For Glangrwyney, it all started well enough, having been asked to bat first with Crickhowell winning the toss, as Devoy (14) and Sharpe (17) were moving along at four an over. However, Ben Bowker then removed Glangrwyney’s skipper, Devoy, as he mistimed a hook shot, with Bowen taking a good high catch at mid-wicket.

Ben Bowker (2 -24) also bowled Cole for eight, but Daniell (26) hung around, and ensured the scoring rate was healthy enough. It took a bit of slow, magical spin from Phill Bowker to confound Paul Daniell, who drove a catch to Cornock at short cover.

Glangrwyney’s Price (17) and Miller (14) then batted well, but Crickhowell’s Lloyd Francis (0 for 35) wasn’t having much luck and his father Nick Francis (0 for 11 off seven overs) had even worse misfortune with four catches dropped off his two spells.

But it was the introduction of Tim Price, which saw Glangrwyney’s rapid decline as he ripped through the heart of the visitors, taking five for 29 in his 10 over spell. He removed Miller thanks to another remarkable catch from Nick Francis in the slips and also bowled his namesake having earlier bowled opener Sharpe.

Griffiths was caught by Lloyd Francis for just one and Tim Price bagged his fifth wicket by trapping Holmes LBW for a duck. With Phill Bowker (3 - 30) mopping up the tail thanks to good catches from Kerrison in the deep to remove Howells for seven and another at close quarters from Cornock to remove Paton for four, it proved in the end, to be a poor showing for Glangrwyney, after a bright enough start, finishing on 131 all out with nearly 10 overs unused.

At tea, Crickhowell were confident enough to chase down what looked like a meager total even accounting for conditions, but history has proved that Crickhowell’s batting can be a bit ‘hit and miss’ at times, and often fragile under pressure.

Again Glangrwyney started well enough, this time with the ball, with Devoy (2 - 39) and Paton (2-34) making early inroads. Opener Bowen (11) looked solid enough until Devoy managed to get one to keep a bit low and then Kerrison was removed for nought to give Devoy his second scalp. Cornock (6) and Jones (1) then went cheaply giving Paton his two wickets and at 28 for four. Glangrwyney must have thought they were in with a shout of defending their mediocre score. But Nick Francis then joined Tew and both batted with the patience the wicket demanded and put the bad ball away with some aplomb. They put on a century partnership and took their side through to victory without loosing another wicket. Tew finished on 48 not out, with 38 coming in boundaries including five sixes and Francis finished unbeaten on 40 having hit one four and four sixes himself.

The tactics were simple enough and with Glangrwyney crumbling under the pressure it only took 25 overs for Crickhowell to notch up this victory and take 24 points from the game. Next week Crickhowell travel to Goodrich and then entertain Brockhampton at home the following week, on the last Saturday of the season.

DUE to the weather leading up to the weekend both Abergavenny First X1 and Second X1 were on the wrong side of low scoring games.

At Chepstow, Abergavenny First X1 were bowled out for just 115 as scoring runs was difficult. wickets fell at regular intervals with players unable to develop meaningful partnerships, the best they could do was three partnerships in the twenties.

Andrew Jones (23), Greg Fury (20), and Adam Harrison (21) all strived in vain as the Chepstow bowlers dominated.

Although Chepstow didn’t find it easy their opener Gareth Ansell managed to hold the innings together with a 50 punctuated with 10 boundaries. With the rest of the team chipping in they got over the line with four wickets in hand and 15 overs to spare.

David Clarke and Ben Davies took two wickets apiece.

At Avenue Road it was a similar story for the Second X1 against Pontypridd.

Batting first Pontypridd were bowled out for 131 in 41 overs with Huw Griffiths (3-21), Ben Morris (2-13), Andy Timpson (2-24), and a wicket each for Lewys Wilkes-McCarthy and Chai Sanapala. Abergavenny were quietly confident of victory, however it proved equally difficult for them, with only Tom Pipe (33) and Huw Griffiths (17) able to offer any resistance as they were all out in the 37th over for just 96. The Third X1 Fixture was called off.