Newbridge seal thumping win to knock Croesy off top spot

It was a first defeat of the summer for visitors Croesy, who lost top spot in the table to Newport Fugitives.

The Newbridge batting line-up really clicked with Jim Morgan (56), Ryan Watkins (53), Jake Watkins (61) and Kyle Jones (53no) all whacking half centuries as the hosts put 308-8 on the scoreboard.

Tom Kinsey and Scott Graves then stood out with the ball, taking three wickets apiece as the visitors were bowled out for 197 in reply despite a defiant 76 from opener Tom Kear.

Newport Fugitives’ excellent start continued as they went top with a nine-wicket home win over Blackwood Town.

Huw Wilcox and Naz Ahmed both took three-wicket hauls as Blackwood were bowled out for 150 batting first, with only Callum Herring (51) offering any real resistance.

Then unbeaten half centuries from opener Tom Cleeve (60no) and number three Nathan Millichip (51no) saw the Fugitives comfortably reach their target in 21.5 overs.

It was a third win from three completed matches for the Fugitives – who were promoted from the old Glamorgan & Monmouthshire League Division Two at the end of last term – while they their only other game so far was abandoned because of the weather.

Chepstow, who won the old Glamorgan & Monmouthshire League Division One title last season, edged Sudbrook by just one run in a thriller to move up to third.

David Teague hit 93 while Tyler Morgan-Huggett scored 71 as Chepstow scored 249-7 off their 50 overs batting first. Sudbrook then fell agonisingly short with Micky Martin and Matt Kinchin both notching 50s but they were on 248-9 when the overs ran out – as Tudor Morgan-Huggett took three wickets for the hosts.

Elsewhere, Abergavenny are the only side in the division still without a win as they went down by seven wickets at Pontypridd – who themselves move up to second.

The hosts’ win was inspired by an unbroken 138-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Andrew Collins and Glen Williams. Chasing 149 to win, the hosts were 14-3 when the pair came together but Collins (79no) and Williams (55no) saw them cruise to victory.

Meanwhile, Pat Rodden’s five-wicket haul still could not inspire Usk to victory as they went down by 51 runs at Radyr.

Rodden (5-25) was the standout performer as Radyr were bowled out for 166 batting first – although the visitors could only muster 115 in reply with Neil Perrett (33) top scoring.

In Division Two, Malpas are second after they recorded a 31-run victory over Rogerstone.

James Francis (96) fell just short of this century as Malpas hit 235-9 off their 50 overs with Luke Harris collecting 3-49.

David Griffiths (5-39) then picked up his first five-wicket haul of the season as the visitors fell short on 204-8 with Alec Holdaway striking 62 for them.

Ponthir are fourth in the division after a comprehensive 105-run victory at home against winless Sully Centurions.

Opener Lewis Spinetti struck seven boundaries in his 53 as Ponthir posted 238-6 before Matthew Dennehy’s 4-26 helped bowl out the visitors for 133 in reply.

Barry Athletic, who beat Welsh Asians, are top of the Division Two table. Simon Veall’s stunning individual performance with both bat and ball inspired Crumlin to a 33-run victory over Division Three leaders Monmouth at Rhiw Farm.

Prolific run scorer Veall smashed 19 fours and 12 sixes in a mammoth 202 – his maiden double century – as Crumlin posted 308-8 after being put in to bat. But Veall wasn’t done there as he also starred with the ball, taking a brilliant hat-trick with his slow medium-pacers and his 4-45 helped tear through the Monmouth batting as they finished short on 275-8 – despite a defiant century from Adam Roberts (112). It was also Veall’s batting that led Crumlin to the old Welsh Club Cricket Conference Division One title last term when he scored almost 1,000 runs. Monmouth’s defeat saw them slip below Creigiau – who inflicted a heavy 10-wicket defeat on Machen.

A number of Machen batsman got starts with Stephen Kripalani’s 29 the best of them as the hosts were bowled out for 163.

Creigiau openers Ben Taylor (73no) and Dewi Williams (60no) then made light work of the run chase to wrap up a crushing win. Monkswood recorded their first win of the campaign as they saw off Vale by three wickets.

Gareth Trumper was the star of the show for the hosts, taking 5-11 to help Bowl Vale out for 110 before the home side reached their target for the loss of seven wickets.

Meanwhile, in Division Four, there was an agonising 14-run defeat for Abercarn at Cardiff thirds.

Having been set 303 to win, Abercarn looked to be on their way to victory but fell just short despite knocks from Rhys Williams (93) and an unbeaten 98 from Andrew Mills.

Williams smashed 12 fours and a six while Mills stuck 10 fours and a maximum.

They were replying to Cardiff’s 302-3, which was led by 14-year-old opener Richard Sen’s 89 not out and he was ably supported by David Herbert (53), Russ Mably (60) and Matt Phillips (63).

Abertillery lost by 39 runs at home against Hopkinstown despite 60 from Gareth Price while visitors Hopkinstown were inspired Simon Pember (87) and 5-32 with the ball from Greg Deane.

In Division Five, Cefn Fforest & Maesycwmmer lead the way after a five-wicket home win over Welsh Asians thirds.

Joe Bal, David Griffiths and Lawrence Pritchard all took three wickets apiece as the visitors were all out for 80 before 44 from Jaz Bal helped Cefn to victory for the loss of five wickets.

Blaina went down by four wickets at home by Ton Pentre while Pontymister & Cross Keys seconds were crushed at Penarth thirds by 163 runs.

Conrad Adams struck 72 for the hosts – who were inspired by standout performances by two of their younger players.

Steff Crimp, aged 12, also contributed 36 in Penarth’s 246-5 while 13-year-old off-spinner Will Skone took 3-18 as Pontymister were skittled out for just 83 in reply as Matthew Birch also picked up 3-7.

Elsewhere, Graeme Hughes hit 50 for Newport thirds in their 25-run home win over Pontnewynydd. Jack Rogers and Raghav Narine picked up three wickets apiece for Pontnewynydd, who were set 180 to win but, despite decent efforts from openers Joseph Matthews (55) and Geraint Jones (49), the visitors were bowled out for 154.

Alex Davies took 4-21 for Newport. In Division Six, Undy and Magor were five-wicket home winners over Lisvane thirds.

Father-and-son bowling combination Richard Hudson and Ryan Hudson both took three wickets as Lisvane were bowled out for 140 – before Rhys Willis hit 61 in reply for Undy – a knock which included nine fours and two sixes – as they reached their victory target in 30.4 overs. In Division Seven, James Smith (5-23) and Dewi Jury (4-11) ripped through the batting of Newport fourths as they were beaten at Pencoed by three wickets. Newport were bowled out for just 82 although they did give the hosts a scare – picking up seven wickets in the run chase – but they had left themselves too much to do.

Panteg thirds, meanwhile, beat their Miskin Manor counterparts by 16 runs.

In Division Eight, Newbridge thirds went down by 122 runs at home against Cynon Valley – for whom Ieuan Haines (68) stood out. Abercarn seconds picked up a 13-run home victory over Christchurch seconds with Mel Martin taking four wickets for Abercarn and Carl Hughes three. Brynmawr seconds were bowled out for just 80 as they were defeated comprehensively by nine wickets at Sully Spartans. In Division Nine, Cefn Fforest & Maesycwmmer CC were eight-wicket winners at Whitchurch Heath fourths while Roger Edwards picked up a four-wicket haul to help Monkwood thirds to a seven-wicket victory over Sully Spartans seconds.

Croesyceiliog thirds were defeated by 53 runs at home by Penarth fourths.

In Division One 2nd XI, Sudbrook picked up their first win of the campaign in emphatic fashion as they downed Chepstow by 113 runs.

Karl Stephens top scored with 69 as Sudbrook posted 206 all out in 44.5 overs – before bowling their visitors out for just 93 in reply, with spinner Dan Wallace (4-12) and Rob Simmonds (3-23) doing most of the damage.

Abergavenny are still looking for their first win of the campaign as they were hammered at home by 115 runs against Pontypridd – despite 61 with the bat for the hosts.

Lisvane still top the table although they were defeated by four runs at home against Newport Fugitives.

Gareth Taylor (70) top scored for the Fugitives in their 230-7 off 45 overs and, despite an unbeaten 85 from Johnlee Yella, the hosts were bowled out for 226 in reply.

Elsewhere Usk beat Radyr by nine wickets while Newbridge went down by four wickets at Welsh Asians as Muhammad Rehman took four wickets for the home side on their way to victory.

In 2nd XI Division Two, Alex Jones hit a four off the last ball of the match to earn a three-wicket victory for Malpas at Rogerstone.

Having been put in to bat, Jamie Harris finished unbeaten on 55 as Rogerstone put 185-7 on the scoreboard before Nick Jones (56) and Alex Jones – with the only ball he faced – secured a dramatic win for the visitors.

Ponthir were eight-wicket winners at Sully Centurions.

Tom Jarvis collected 5-19 as hosts Sully were all out for 105 before an unbeaten 65 from Declan Sims saw the visitors home.

Elsewhere John Lewis (92) and Ryan Avery (58) were the stars for Croesyceiliog as they recorded a 14-run home win over Barry Athletic while Blackwood – despite 78 from Jamie Johnston – were beaten by 56 runs at home by Cardiff Gymkhana.

Monkswood lead the way the way in 2nd XI Division Three after their eight-wicket win at winless Vale.

Mark Bleazard took 6-13 to rip through the Vale batting – with Jon Webb and Jack Bryant also picking up two victims apiece – as the hosts were skittled out for just 42.

Visitors Monkswood lost two wickets in their run chase but cruised to victory in seven overs.

Crumlin picked up their first win of the season and did so in some style as they crushed Monmouth by 162 runs.

Opener Gareth Davies notched 71 for visitors Crumlin in their 262-5 off 40 overs while the hosts bowled out for 100 in reply.

Lee Parker led the way with three wickets while Ryan Hayward and Andrew Gibbs bagged braces.

Machen, meanwhile, went down by 93 runs at Creigiau – who were inspired by half centuries form Priten Solanki (52) and Hywel Nicholls (60no).

Elsewhere, Jack Powell’s five-wicket haul could not inspire Ebbw Vale to victory as they lost by three wickets at Brecon.

Visitors Ebbw were put 121-9 on the scoreboard batting first with only Nick Pepper (36) really troubling the scorers as John Cooke took 3-16.

Powell then put in a marvellous performance with the ball in reply to try and salvage the situation, as he took 5-22 off an eight-over spell which also included three maidens.

But it was the hosts who would ultimately ended victorious, reaching their target in 35.3 overs as Gwyn Price (37) top scored.