USK had a good weekend – while the weather lasted. On Saturday at the Athletic Club Ground, skipper Henry Lewis won the toss and elected to bat first against Chepstow. This proved a sound decision as Sam Morris and George Lewis posted 146 for the first wicket inside the first 30 overs, before George Lewis fell for 50. With a second wicket falling at 174, Ollie James joined Morris at the crease. The pair put on 121 in a little over 10 overs, before Morris fell with the score on 300. He had departed for a masterful 189, which included nine sixes and 20 fours. James (48*) guided Usk to 315-4 from their 50 overs. With a short shower, Chepstow's target was revised to 298 from 46 overs. Facing such an imposing target, the visitors needed to get off to an electric start. This never happened and Chepstow found themselves 77-4 in the 19th over. D. Teague (127) and D. Bennett (48) then mounted a partnership of 117 for the fifth wicket, but by the time Bennett departed with the score at 194, Chepstow required 104 from just 7 overs. Despite his fine century, Teague was the seventh and final Chepstow batsman to fall in the 43rd over, a fifth wicket for Tom Robinson. They finished on 232-7 a defeat by 65 runs under the D/L method. For Usk, Robinson finished with figures of 10-2-41-5. Meanwhile, over at Chepstow, captain Andy Evans won the toss and decided to field. All of Chepstow's top order made starts, though nobody went on to make a decisive score. Opener Tyler Morgan-Huggett (48) top scored for the hosts as they reached 215-6 from their 45 overs. Dominic Rees was the pick of the bowlers with 9-0-46-4. Usk's reply began solidly as Arvind Aswani (25) and Mark Tamplin (91) put on 59 for the first wicket. After Aswani departed, Tamplin and Richie Morris (65) then put on 139 for the second wicket to take Usk to the brink of victory. Both fell in quick succession leaving Usk requiring 15 from the last two overs. This was whittled down to six from the final over. Neil Perrett and Richie Rees held their nerve, with Rees striking the winning four. They guided Usk home with three balls and seven wickets to spare.

On Sunday, Usk took on a Mike Powell Invitation XI in a T20 friendly. Mike Powell, whose side included current and former Glamorgan players, as well as TV personality Phil Steele and rugby player Nicky Robinson, won the toss and batted first. Their score of 138-5 was mainly down to Glamorgan's Jim Allenby who scored 103*. Allenby's knock included five sixes and seven fours. Chasing 139 for victory, Usk's innings was more a team affair with Iain Clayton (33) and Gabriel Warwick (31*) the top scorers. For the second day running, Neil Perrett displayed nerves of steel as he was involved in a final over finish. Usk required six from the last over bowled by Mike Powell. It then boiled down to Usk needing two from the final ball with Perrett facing. Perrett scored the two required to guide Usk home by three wickets. Allenby again starred in taking 3-15 from his four overs. Usk first team will return to more serious business on Saturday when they travel to neighbours, Croesyceiliog. The seconds meanwhile host Miskin Manor. Both games begin at 1pm. On Sunday, the 3rd XI returns to action away to Newbridge. This game begins at 2pm.