Aber beat yet another top team (From Free Press Series)

Aber beat yet another top team

ABERGAVENNY player-coach Keith Newell says he's not surprised in the slightest his men have beaten the Premiership top two sides - Sully and Cardiff - in consecutive weeks.

Two stylish wins and now Abergavenny are the in-form side everyone is looking to beat in South Wales' top flight cricket league.

With a consistent squad to chose from though for the reminder of the season - including predator batsman Andrew Jones - Newell reckons his side will cope well with the pressure of maintaining their blistering form.

"We are a good side and the other teams out there know we are a side who can beat anyone consistently and not just by fluke. We deserved the results against Sully and Cardiff," insisted the former Glamorgan batter.

Newell described Saturday's euphoric win as "even better than the one against Sully" praising his players for a focused, committed display that saw them roar past Cardiff's seemingly invincible score of 273 for four with the final ball of the game.

"It was a brilliant performance," enthused Newell who took a sterling four wickets for 49 runs.

"After an initial break through Cardiff did well and struck some good hits with the bat. Sometimes you have to stick by your guns and carry on trying to keep the score down as much as you can. Two hundred and seventy would have been a par score on that wicket so we just had to deal with as best we could, which we did.

"If we had a consistent line up from the start of the season there is no doubt where we would be. We can not put out the strongest side every week, which is a shame because if we could we would be challenging for the title.

"It is frustrating as a coach when you can't field your best team week-in week-out, but if that's the way things are there's not much you can do about it," said Newell.

The lynchpins behind Abergavenny's lofty innings were opening batters Andrew Jones and Alistair Fury who both laid the foundations for victory with a majestic display of batting.

As lethal as ever Jones blitzed his way to a magnificent 134, while the ever-impressive Fury notched-up a coolly hit century.

"Andrew and Alistair have come into their own," praised Newell. "Alistair went down to the seconds after a couple of poor games earlier in the season and has done exactly what was asked of him. He's taken it on the chin and turned his form around and is now averaging 50 runs a game with the first team. He's as good as made that opening place his own."

Abergavenny have rebuilt well since losing by six wickets to Usk earlier in the month particularly in the absence of key bowler Jonathan Newell who is out for the rest of the campaign with a broken wrist.

"The bowling has been slightly weakened without Jonathan, but players have come in and been counted and filled the void well. Batting we have been awesome and done some real damage out there," commented Newell.

Abergavenny can look forward to what should be a stroll in the park this Saturday - a trip to relegation certainties Chepstow who have won just one game this season. Confident of victory Newell was quick to warn his side they must remain focused.

"Chepstow are struggling this season, but the thing they have is Adrian Dale who is capable of that special something. I'm still expecting us to win at the end of the day though. All we need to do now is just keep winning," he said.

Abergavenny will be without Mark McKingly (calf) for this weekend's trip to Chepstow (1pm start) although they could welcome back Gavin Heritage from an Achilles injury.