IT didn’t take long for Newport to find their rhythm in this season’s South Wales Premier League, and captain Michael Clayden is hoping his side can back up their opening day win when they go to Swansea tomorrow.

Imran Hassan’s 111 off 132 deliveries paved the way for Clayden’s men to post 261-8 against Ammanford at Spytty Park last weekend, with new signing Gareth Ansell also making a half-century on his debut.

All six of Newport’s bowlers chipped in with wickets during Ammanford’s reply of 144, as the hosts eased to a 117-run success in Division One.

Hassan and Ansell featured for the Glamorgan second XI this week alongside spinner Dean Cosker, the county star who is attached to Newport this summer.

“I was really happy,” said Clayden when reflecting on the Ammanford triumph. “We put in a good performance on a slow wicket.

“We got a good score on the board and then bowled pretty well too, but there is always room for improvement.

“On another day we might have bowled them out for a bit less, but I can’t complain because we picked up 22 points and that was our target.”

And as for Newport’s trip to St Helen’s tomorrow, he added: “I don’t think we have ever lost there and we generally play alright against them.

“Swansea have got some good players and we know we’ll have to play well to beat them, but I’d like to think that they will have to play well to beat us.

“If we are in the right frame of mind and bat like we did last Saturday then we’ve got every chance.”

A back injury means Harry Powell misses the match and he is replaced by Zalmai Ahmadzai.

Ahmadzai took 2-9 in 10 overs as Newport’s second XI, who host Penarth tomorrow, lost to Tondu last weekend.

Panteg thrashed Aberdare by 10 wickets on matchday one, with Adam Harrison taking 4-28 and Chris Mee 3-10.

Ian Bird’s side can secure another win this weekend when they host St Fagans.

GOING one better than last year is the aim for Croesyceiliog skipper Stewart Roden and his team this summer.

Croesy surprised many in 2015 when they finished runners-up behind Chepstow in Glamorgan & Monmouthshire League Division One.

And although the competition is now known as the South East Wales League – the Glamorgan & Monmouthshire Cricket League merged with the Welsh Club Cricket Conference – Roden remains confident of another successful campaign.

He has strengthened his squad with the arrivals of wicketkeeper-batsman James Reid, all-rounder Josh Harris and bowler Jonathan Lamb from Panteg, Pentwyn and Pontnewynydd respectively.

All three will be involved when Croesy host Radyr in Division One tomorrow, though Connor Miles is still at university.

“Chepstow ran away with it last year in the end but if one result had gone our way we might have been able to push them,” he said.

“Last season was a bit of a surprise, I don’t think we thought we would be as good as we were.

“The expectations will be higher this season and it will be interesting to see how we cope with the pressure of that, rather than being underdogs.

“Two years ago we finished in the bottom half so it was a massive achievement for the club to finish second last season.”

As for Chepstow, they get their campaign up and running with a trip to Abergavenny.

ALSO in Division One, Blackwood entertain Sudbrook in their first game after merging with Pontllanfraith to form the biggest cricket club in the Caerphilly borough.

Had captain Richard Matthews not lost the services of a handful of key players towards the business end of last season then they could have done a lot better than sixth place.

“We’re hoping to perform better than we did last season,” he said. “We were top until the second weekend in August but then the summer holidays came and that derailed us as three or four of our top players went away.

“The merger with Pontllanfraith means we’ve gone from having two teams to four and we didn’t really feel the need to bring in any extra players.

“The aim is to win the league – we just have to make sure no-one books any holidays for August!”

Meanwhile, Newport Fugitives go to Pontypridd and Usk host Newbridge.

In Division Two, Malpas and Rogerstone visit Brecon and Lisvane respectively while Ebbw Vale entertain Cardiff Gymkhana.