Aber aim for top four finish (From Free Press Series)

Aber aim for top four finish

ABERGAVENNY player-coach Keith Newell says his side has every chance of pushing into the top four of the Premiership table though admitted his players will need to be at their best in their remaining four games to do it.

The Avenue Road side has just four matches left to play following Saturday's 28-run home win over Pontypridd starting with this weekend's Bank Holiday double header against Pentyrch and Penarth.

Two wins and Newell's men will be perfectly placed to beat third place St Fagans and sixth place Sudbrook in their final two games and hopefully push past fourth place Newport at the same time.

"It would be great for the club if we could finish inside the top four," said Newell. "I don't think anyone was expecting us to be in fifth position like we are. The likely prediction was we would finish mid-table, but we are chasing the top sides and exceeding everyone's expectations."

Performances like that against Pontypridd on Saturday are why Abergavenny are riding so high.

On a wet wicket last season's Division One champions looked a lot more assured following the previous week's defeat against Newport.

Fine innings from James Hrastelj 40 and James Schofield 24 edged them to 174 for nine on a day where not a single century was scored. Abergavenny's bowlers went about their work with fire in their bellies with seamer Kyle Holmes taking four for 26 and fast-bowler Gavin Heritage blasting three for 10 to dismiss Pontypridd for 146.

"We did everything right in regards of the game plan and what we had to do. We got a decent score and let our bowlers put them under pressure.

"It wasn't a free flowing game, but we batted a lot more sensibly. It was vital we won to keep the pressure on Newport above us," said Newell.

The former Glamorgan cricketer will be without Kyle Holmes and Alistair Fury for this weekend's games against Pentyrch and Penarth who both beat Abergavenny earlier in the season. Newell is hungry for revenge.

"We batted badly against them last time, but this time around I am confident we can rectify things," he said.

Abergavenny bat off at Pentyrch at 1pm on Saturday and play Penarth at home on Monday, again at 1pm.