Monmouth in bid for double glory (From Free Press Series)

Monmouth in bid for double glory

MARCHES League champions Monmouth Cricket Club will be aiming to complete a League and Cup Double when they face Herefordshire rivals Garnons at Goodrich this Sunday, in the final of the Advantage Business Supplies Marches League Knockout Cup (2pm start).

Skipper Paul Swingwood and his Monmouth team will be striving to round off a memorable campaign, after capturing the Flint & Cook Marches League Division 1 title a fortnight ago - their first trophy at first team level since 1990.

Monmouth have never lifted the Marches League Knockout Cup, but have twice finished runners-up in the 40-overs-a-side competition, after losing narrowly to Brecon in 1996 and then to Talgarth in 1997.

Monmouth will start the match as hot favourites, having won 22 and lost just three of 25 league and cup matches played since the end of June last year.

But Monmouth will need to strike top form to overcome former winners Garnons - opponents whom they have beaten just twice at first team level since joining the Marches League set-up in 1993.

Although Garnons were relegated from the top flight last season and have finished mid-table in Division 2 this term, they still possess the bulk of the squad that made them such a formidable force in the 1990s.

And, as well as the Marches Knockout Cup being at stake, £100 prize money will be handed to the winning club, and £50 to the runners-up.

Monmouth have reached the final following wins over Woolhope, Wormelow and Bartestree & Lugwardine, while Garnons have beaten Burghill & Tillington, Glangrwyney and Shobdon.

Meanwhile, an under-strength Monmouth completed their historic Marches League Division 1 title-winning campaign, with a disappointing nine-wicket home defeat last Saturday against runners-up Talgarth.

In fact, it was only Monmouth's second league defeat of the season - their first since June - and their first reverse at the Sports Ground since losing to Bulmers on June 15 last year.

Monmouth, who are sponsored by Misbah Tandoori Restaurant, were put in to bat on a drying pitch and were bowled out for 110 in 42.3 overs.

With Mon-mouth being crowned league champions the previous week, their final match had something of the 'after the Lord Mayor's Show' fell about, with only stand-in captain Chris Richards (62 not out) and Dan Head (20) making contributions in a Monmouth innings which contained six ducks.

Jonathan Roberts (1-37) then claimed an early Talgarth wicket, but Des Parry (48 not out) and Lee Pugh (47 not out) steered the visitors to a comprehensive win in the 21st over.

The match balls were sponsored by DS Smith Tri-Wall Ltd and club president John Wigmore.