USK CC's first team experienced a dent to their title aspirations as they lost at home to St Fagans but the seconds earned a narrow victory away to the same opponents to ease their relegation worries. Going into last Saturday's league match Usk were in third place and St Fagans top of the table. St Fagans batted first and posted an impressive 309-4 from their 50 overs. F. John was the star of the show with an unbeaten 134. For Usk the pick of the bowlers was Alex Ross, who took 3-46. Facing a stiff target, Usk were always going to have their work cut out. They fell someway short as they ended up on 210-9. Neil Perrett held the innings together with a fine 70 not out. Starting the day third from bottom, it was a happier tale down at St Fagans where the seconds batted first. They managed to reach 177 all out, mainly thanks to Arvind Aswani (85). Chasing such a low total St Fagans were unable to get going as no batsman ventured further than 28. With Ben Evans chipping in with three wickets for Usk, the hosts were dismissed for 176, leaving Usk victors by a solitary run! After a bad couple of weeks, the firsts will look to reignite their title bid as they travel to Pontypridd. Meanwhile the seconds will hope to build on last Saturday's victory when they entertain the same opponents. Both games begin at 1pm. On Sunday, the third team entertain Croesyceiliog. This match starts at 2pm.

A STEAMY hot day in Penarth had both captains desperate to win the toss and bat first, thankfully for Llanarth skipper Heath did exactly that. Lomax and Baxter were required to make hay but both offered an early opportunity to the keeper though only Lomax's nick was snaffled and A. Dewfield was in early to help see off the testing early bowling. Neither batsman seemed at ease on a dry pitch that was offering some variable bounce and Dewfield departed with the score at 64, clean bowled by a useful inswinger. Baxter (50) punished the bad ball to the tune of ten boundaries but was otherwise unconvincing and it was no surprise when he slashed a square drive to point. Shortly afterwards the in-form Nowell got a nasty ball that popped on him and his leading edge was gratefully pouched to leave the Trees delicately poised on 109-4 and some work for the middle order to do. Heath and C. Dewfield set about ensuring the Trees posted a good total, mixing quick running with the odd boundary, before the skipper perished with the 150 just having been raised. Then Powell in conjunction with C. Dewfield hammered an excellent 48 partnership at better than a run a ball, the former stroking 25 from just 17 balls that included some wonderful cover drives to which he offered his own commentary to the Penarth fielders before he departed attempting another biff. C. Dewfield had thus far been struggling for form this season but hard work in the nets allowed him to remain unbeaten on 43 at the close, a super knock full of hard hit positive strokeplay and rare timing that helped Llanarth post 206-6.  Following a fine tea the Trees set about defending their total, which all agreed was a pretty good one given the variable bounce on offer. Banaras (3-17) was handed the new ball and struck early by removing the ever-chirpy Davies with a beautiful in-swinging yorker that kissed the outside of the base of leg-stump. Banaras reaped further rewards in his sixth over picking up two wickets including the Penarth skipper first ball, to one that kept low, though he inexplicably delivered a wide with the hat-trick ball to earn a hat-trick avoidance fine. James (3-30) replaced Banaras and continued his own excellent form by ending the match as a contest in his second over by delivering a triple wicket maiden, firstly eliciting a miscued pull then castling two more batsmen with beauties as Penarth sank to 45-6. Baker (36) provided some late entertainment for all with some fantastic shots that were hit with tremendous power, mainly from Powell's (4-40) off-spin, but the Trees twirler had the last laugh by grabbing the last four wickets, including that of Baker to a super boundary catch by skipper Heath, to end the resistance at 108 all out. The victory gave Llanarth maximum points and a lift up to third in the table. 

ON a hot and humid day, Abergavenny Beavers took on Goodrich's second team. Goodrich made a good start to the innings after winning the toss, and hitting five fours in the opening two overs against bowlers Greg Spencer and Tom Griffiths. Both made strong comebacks putting pressure back on the batsmen as the Goodrich opener ran himself out after a slight misfield by Jon Morgan. Wickets then started to tumble on a regular basis with Spencer claiming 2-22 off eight overs. Morgan chipped in with 3-17 from his seven overs and Gwent Under 13 player Richard Monnington was the most successful bowler finishing with 4-17 from his five overs. Goodrich were bowled out for 89 in the 25th over with only two of them getting into double figures. With tea having not arrived at the ground Aber immediately went out to bat. Openers Nathan Holley and Steve Brown got the scoreboard going before Brown was caught in the slips for 15. Rain then arrived at Crickhowell so the tea interval was taken. When it finally eased Owain Bradley was bowled for one and Holley was lbw for 21 leaving the Beavers in a bit of trouble at 42-3. But the young pair of Morgan Bevans (17no) and James Aurelius (12no) both played superbly to see Aber home by seven wickets. Next up for the Beavers is their last away game of the season at Ledbury seconds