Last Saturday was a day to forget for Usk as both the first and second teams lost to their counterparts from Abergavenny.

Over at Abergavenny, skipper for the day, Dougie Spencer won the toss and elected to field. Usk made a reasonable start as they picked up a wicket with the score on 35; however Andrew Jones (78) and William Glenn (54) then added 98 for the second wicket before Glenn fell. Abergavenny suffered a minor collapse as they went to 199-7, but a lower-middle order fight back ensured that the hosts posted a competitive total: 243-8 form their allocated 50 overs. For Usk, Pat Rodden took 3 wickets, and Alex Head and Matt Hancock each claimed a brace.

Usk’s reply got off to a dreadful start as they lost their first wicket with the score on 5.

The top order never really got going as Usk found themselves 73-5. The biggest stand Usk were able to put together was 40, and Spencer was top scorer with 38, as they finished on 158 all out from 44.4 overs; a defeat by 85 runs. For Abergavenny Matthew Knight picked up 4 wickets and David Clarke 3.

Meanwhile back at the Athletic Club Ground, captain, Neil Perrett, called correctly and chose to bat first. Perrett (119) and Matt Cook (103*) then dominated the Usk innings as they put on 240 for the first wicket.

Perrett was the only wicket as he fell in the 43rd over. The host finished on 256-1 from their 45 overs. Perrett’s innings included 16 fours, while Cook’s innings contained 17 fours and a six.

Abergavenny’s reply got off to a steady start as Gareth Powell (90) helped add 43 for their first wicket and 73 for the second.

After a loss of a few wickets, Tris Astley-Jones (50*) made sure that there would be no hiccups as he guided the visitors to their target, Abergavenny reaching 259-6 from 43.3 overs; a defeat for Usk by 4 wickets. Perrett capped a fine game by claiming 3 wickets; however he would have been disappointed that Usk gave away 40 wides.

This Saturday, Usk firsts entertain Chepstow, (a 50-over game with play beginning at 12:30pm); while the seconds travel to the same opponents (45 overs per side with play commencing at 1pm).

On Sunday, Usk play a friendly away to Panteg. Play starts at 2pm.