CRICKHOWELL headed off to their away game at Brockhampton on Saturday, with windscreen wipers on double time, so they imagined that it could all be a wasted journey, especially as a number of local games had already been cancelled.

The weather though, in east Herefordshire was more favourable, and Brockhampton had done well to get the ground into a playable state, following the torrential rain that most areas experienced on Friday.

Nonetheless it was a good toss to win, and Crickhowell called correctly and duly invited the home side to bat first. Joseph Bowker opened the bowling and was in a miserly mood, conceding only 14 runs off his 12 overs. He only took one wicket in his spell, but beat the bat, and the stumps, on many occasions.

Nick Francis, having replaced Joseph’s brother Ben, at the other end who was suffering from a calf strain, reaped the benefits and cashed in with four wickets.

Phill Bowker, had a welcome return after a month out with an arm injury, picking up three wickets, and Justin Francis replaced his brother Nick, to pick up two.

Brockhampton were only able to limp to a score of 131 all out with Holgate (41), David Glinos (39) and Alan Glinos (18) all playing the conditions patiently, but the home side could count themselves unlucky as Crickhowell took some spectacular catches at key times in the game. Wallace took two diving catches at the wicket only to be outdone by Ben Bowker, who took one diving catch at extra cover and an even better running catch, above his head, at deep long on. Justin Francis then took a smart return catch off his own bowling before Nick Francis took another running, diving catch, off the bowling of Phill Bowker to rap the innings up.

But the strangest catch of the lot though, earlier, saw Elwyn Jenkins ‘wear one’ for the team as the unlucky Joe Harding smashed a firm off drive to cover which hit Jenkins on the upper arm and chest where he was then able to bring his right hand around to hold on to the ball before it could spill out.

‘Catches win matches’ is the cliché, and this was certainly the case for Crickhowell, backed up with some good ground fielding with youngsters Callum Tew and Lloyd Francis featuring prominently.

With the wicket proving difficult to master though, and Brockhampton always fielding a side of ‘old heads’ and promising young talent Crickhowell perhaps could still face a tricky chase, especially as there was another heavy rain shower between innings.

In reply, Watts went early without troubling the scorers, so Wallace joined Parker and the pair built slowly but surely putting on 75 for the second wicket. Patience here was the key, as some of the Brockhampton bowlers were finding it very difficult to bowl a steady line with a wet ball to contend with as well, but in a low scoring game they couldn’t really afford to give so many extras away.

When Parker (21) fell to Evans, a few quick wickets followed with Jenkins (0) and Nick Francis (10) going cheaply before Joseph Bowker (11*) joined the experienced Wallace (37*) for the pair to see the side through to victory.

Brockhampton might have thought themselves unlucky when they batted with those seven spectacular catches, but with 43 extras, when they bowled, they only had themselves to blame. They should probably also have brought the young wrist spinner Skerett on earlier, who is clearly one to watch for the future.

For Crickhowell it was a good day with 23 points in the bag and Brockhampton joining Glangrwyney, who didn’t play, in the drop zone.

Crickhowell now have a bit of a cushion with 30 points separating them from the bottom two, but with only five games left they still have to play the other two sides below them, Dales and Woolhope, and three of the strong top four sides above them, so it’s not a time for complacency. From here on in, it’s unlikely that Crickhowell could break into the top four, but at this stage they would certainly settle for mid table mediocrity rather than dangerously flirting with relegation. Next week new league leaders Goodrich are the visitors to Crickhowell, and the home side will be hoping for a repeat of the upset they achieved when the then, league leaders Kington came and were well beaten.