NEWPORT head back to fortress Rodney Parade hoping to narrow the gap further on South Wales Premier League leaders Bridgend.

Skipper Michael Clayden’s side are in rude health, the absence of their captain last week due to work commitments at the Ashes Test in Cardiff not dampening their recent hot streak.

Newport hammered home their status as the premier challengers in the Premier division by claiming a victory over Pontarddulais, an impressive effort after losing the toss.

The visitors batted first and scored 216-9 off their 50 overs with Owen Morgan top scoring with 51 which included seven fours and Matthew Carey contributed 41 and James Hendrickson 37.

Imran Hassan took 3-40 while Matthew Jones, Darnell Taylor-Wood and James Coles each took two wickets.

Newport then knocked off the runs for the loss of six wickets with seven balls to spare.

Opening batsman Matthew Norris was the star scoring an unbeaten 95 off 130 balls- he hit nine fours and one six. Sujeewa Seranthne contributed a useful 30 before being run out.

Mumbles are the visitors to Spytty Park this weekend with an order of ‘same again’ being the message from their skipper.

“I was unavailable last weekend, tied up with work commitments, but the boys did me proud,” skipper Clayden explained.

“Matt Norris anchored the innings superbly; he’s an experienced player and showed the boys exactly how to get it done with the bat.

“We can’t do anything about the status at the top of the division; it’s not in our hands. All we can do is play positive cricket and try to keep winning.

“We didn’t expect Bridgend to slip-up at the weekend, but they did. So we’ll keep battling.”

In Division Two, Panteg also maintained the pressure at the top of the table with another crushing victory ahead of their biggest clash of the campaign.

Batting first Panteg scored 242 with Lloyd Smith smacking a magnificent 106. Captain Ian Bird weighed in with 29 and James Reed hit 20.

The Wanderers were never at the races and they struggled to 109 with no batsman making a worthwhile contribution. But Jack Mayers was brilliant with the ball taking 4-20 in a sensational spell. Dan Fowler took three wickets.

And it was a weekend of double delight for Panteg as league leaders Swansea were held to a draw at Penarth.

There will be no hiding place this weekend at the top of the table, with Panteg heading to Swansea knowing that they have to beat the pace-setters to reignite their own title aspirations.

“I guess you could say it is our biggest game of the season,” said skipper Ian Bird.

“We certainly lost our initiative at the start of the season by beginning poorly, but things have really improved.

“We have got a young side and they have got better and better as the season has gone on.

“Lloyd Smith scored some great runs for us, he was terrific and so were our spin bowlers, Dan Fowler and Jack Mayers.

“We have nothing to lose at Swansea really. They want promotion, so do we, but we are just trying to improve and develop the club.

“All the pressure is on Swansea, so we can enjoy the challenge.”

In the Glamorgan and Monmouthshire League, Blackwood will look to maintain their vice like grip at the top of the table when they travel to bottom-placed Radyr.

Blackwood did their title aspirations the power of good last weekend, winning Gwent bragging rights and the battle of first versus second when they overcame Chepstow.

Centuries from Daniel Wilkinson (103) and Rhodri Evans (104) – his top score of the season – helped Blackwood to 291-9 off their 50 overs with Kyle Tudge chipping in with 47. Spinner Mike Harris stood out with the ball for the visitors as he took 5-28.

Chepstow had a good go at chasing down the 292 winning target in reply but, despite a maiden half-century for Oliver Thornhill (65) and 45 from David Monk, they fell short on 257-8 with paceman Robert Matthews (5-42) doing the damage with the ball for the leaders.

Chepstow, now fourth in the division, will hope to get back to winning ways in another Gwent derby this weekend, this time against Newbridge, now up to second in the table.

The visitors have endured a real Jekyll and Hyde campaign, having won their opening six fixtures before losing two on the spin, but they got back to winning ways at the weekend, beating Usk by 13 runs.

Seventh-placed Usk host Pontypridd, while Croesyceiliog (third) entertain Abergavenny (fifth) while Sudbrook (sixth) travel to second-from-bottom Malpas.

Sudbrook head into the contest after a crushing 113-run home win over Radyr.

Ross Lewis and Michael Martin both smashed centuries in a mammoth 231-run opening stand as Sudbrook eventually posted 303-4 off 50 overs.