LLANARTH opened the season with three victories but after slumping to consecutive defeats they travelled to unbeaten Undy and Magor (U&M) knowing a win was a must.

The last time the Trees visited U&M opening bats Lomax and Baxter battered their hosts for a club record 317 for the first wicket, but after multiple promotions this was a different, young and vocal U&M team.

How different was established immediately as Ryan Hudson steamed in, bowling some handily paced outswing on a hard deck with a 7-2 field, and it was everything that Trees openers, Sam Michell (51) and Mark Baxter (45) could do to keep him out. Llanarth were content to be 95-0 from 22 overs at drinks.

After a welcome squash break disaster struck, Baxter annihilated a delivery from off-spinner Price who somehow stuck out a left-hand in self preservation and caught a "worldy", then Michell followed lbw quickly afterwards leaving David Lomax and Allan Dewfield to revive the innings. There was the beginnings of a partnership as each batsman made it to the teens but in quick succession Lomax dragged one onto his stumps and Llanarth all-time record run scorer, Dewfield, skied a bunt as U&M turned the screw.

Wickets fell regularly thereon with U&M showing why they were a decent team, having been under the kosh it took a bit of magic to get a breakthrough and now they were ruthlessly working through the Trees batting as Richard Hudson (3-29) and Olly Smith (3-31) ripped through the lower order. Only captain Dennis Heath (21*) was able to ensure Llanarth got up to 186 all out, a collapse from 103-0 that left the Trees thinking their total was a few runs short on a good pitch with a rapid outfield.

Llanarth needed a good start after tea and Tom Heath and Lomax (2-14) bowled with skill and accuracy, the latter peppering opener James (31), striking gloves on numerous occasions but without luck. So at 30-0 from 12 overs it was time for some twirl in the persona of Chris Powell, and step up to the plate he did. A wicket in each of his opening two overs raised hopes.

Powell’s third wicket owed much to luck in an unusual dismissal. James moved down the wicket whilst dead batting defensively and as keeper Michell swooped to try to flick the ball onto the stumps James regained his ground, but Michell had missed the ball as the spin on it took it back towards the stumps where it dislodged a bail. The batsman being, bizarrely, bowled a full two seconds after he had actually struck the ball. Next ball Richard Hudson had a horrible heave and quite rightly lost his middle stump, U&M were 57-4 and Powell had the lot.

A fine counter-attacking partnership of hard hitting and rapid running between Price (38) and Farley took U&M to three figures and back into the contest. Then Price, inexplicably, put his pad straight down the line of the stumps and intercepted another Powell offering to be palpably lbw. When U&M skipper, Ryan Hudson, then edged behind Powell’s 6-39 had eviscerated the U&M line-up in a super display of off-spin guile.

Andrew Spencer (2-30) and the returning Lomax administered the last rites with each of them striking the timbers once and their other wickets via a calm catch at point by Tom Vaughan and an outstanding diving catch by the skipper. The U&M innings closed at 138 all out giving the Trees an excellent victory over a confident, well-drilled team that had grown used to winning.

Crickhowell’s poor form continued at home last Saturday, losing to a youthful looking Ross team by 49 runs.

Crickhowell were without their skipper Nick Francis, so veteran Ryland Wallace took the reins, won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first.

The Bowker brothers opened up the bowling for Crickhowell and it was Ben that got the early breakthrough, grabbing two quick wickets. Ross’s middle order fought back and played some good counter-attacking cricket with Springer (33), Edwards (26) and their captain Donovan (49) all prominent.

Ross finished on 208 for 9, which should have been a very ‘getable’ score for the hosts. Alas, when your form is poor, lady luck also tends to frown on you too, and so it was for the experienced Ryland Wallace who had his second golden duck in as many weeks.

The lady concerned this time was young Chloe Tingle, not yet 16 years of age, but opening the bowling for Ross. Her first ball to Wallace seemed to be a gentle full toss, but the veteran, old enough to be her grandfather, managed to stab at it and offered a return catch, which the youngster gleefully took.

Only Phil Christie (10) and last man Tim price (19) were able to hit double figures. Run rate here though was not an issue, and Crickhowell’s ineptitude at managing their game, surfaced again with the team all out for 159 with Bowker stranded on 87 not out. This tragedy of Shakespearean proportions, was played out in a little over 30 overs.

Ross went home, pleased with themselves. Crickhowell trudged off to take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror. Next week they are away to Dales, another team near the foot of the table, and if they don’t start winning quickly, relegation will be inevitable.

Abergavenny First X1 were home to Newbridge on Saturday. Batting first Abergavenny posted 257 for six in their 50 Overs. A big improvement on recent batting performances. This was thanks to a magnificent century (119) by Will Glenn who opened the batting.

Glenn was fourth man out with the score on 232 and was well supported by Morgan Bevans (34), Lewis Holley (26) and Dan Cooke (25).

Ironically three former Abergavenny players, Lewis Parfitt (4-62), Ryan Watkins (1-39) and Chris Hartland shared the six Abergavenny wickets that fell.

In reply it was Ryan Watkins (91) and Lewis Parfitt (97) who ensured Newbridge reached their target (290-6) with two overs to spare. The star bowler for Abergavenny was David Clarke.