LLANARTH'S build up to the Radyr fixture was overshadowed by a horrendous injury suffered by swing bowler Andy Spencer during mid-week training. As Spencer stooped to field a drive off his own bowling his thigh bone snapped clean in two in a barely believable occurrence. A Llanarth CC spokesperson told the Chronicle, "Perhaps the only comparable cricketing injury in memory was that of England bowler David 'Syd' Lawrence and those of us who saw that will not forget it. "Considering the injury Andy has remained in good spirit and has already undergone an operation to pin the femur, we wish him well in his rehab watching more of the World Cup than he would have anticipated. Back on the pitch, and after a frustrating defeat to Abertillery, the Trees were keen to nail a first victory of the season against a Radyr team who were runners-up to Llanarth's 2013 title winning team. Skipper Heath won the toss and inserted the hosts on a damp track with a lush outfield that would make boundary striking a premium. Banaras (1-26) and Lomax (2-19) took the new cherry and the former struck with just his seventh delivery to give the Trees a good start. Henceforth the Radyr top and middle order dug in preventing any collapse, scoring slowly but repelling an accurate seam attack, including Ed James (1-17), as a series of handy partnerships pushed the total along. A decent fielding display by Llanarth saw three run outs completed as the home side looked to increase the scoring rate and a tea time score of 172-9 represented a useful target. With Baxter's asthma ridden lungs forcing his withdrawal Lomax (67*) opened the innings with fellow former Newport batsman, Nowell (45), in a bid to exorcise the Abertillery demons. The pair's experience of batting together many times settled nerves as the partnership developed steadily. Nowell, in particular, looked in fine touch despite the stodgy wicket inhibiting more fluent strokeplay. That is until he was cruelly sawn off by an umpire either keen to make a game of it or not conversant in the LBW law that actually requires the ball to be hitting the wicket. The partnership ended at 97 in the 27th over. There was a short sharp knock from A Dewfield before Proctor walked to the wicket to assist Lomax in slowly edging the Trees closer to the target. Fingernails were chewed a little closer to the quick than perhaps is ideal as two quick wickets fell with less than 20 needed but Lomax remained undefeated and guided his team home with four deliveries to spare to claim a much needed, confidence boosting victory. Next up for Llanarth is a game against the formidable batting line up of Brynmawr at the LCG.