GWENT’S top two cricketing sides will return to action this weekend after suffering vastly different fortunes last time out.

It’s so far been a fine start to the campaign for Michael Clayden’s Newport, who have taken full advantage of a fine pre-season that saw them undefeated and churning out runs.

After a rain-affected opening fortnight in the South Wales Premier League, Newport really returned to full form at the weekend, blasting their way to a nerve-jangling 15 run victory.

Clayden’s men set their hosts Mumbles a target of 200 after finishing 199-8 from their allocated overs in the Premier League, Division One clash, Clayden keeping his composure amid a tough spell from home bowler Dan Roberts who took 5-32.

Newport’s hopes of restricting the hosts weren’t helped by a splendid knock from opener Aneurin Donald, who fired 118 of the 200 his side needed, yet still ended up vanquished.

Mumbles simply failed to back-up their centurion and Newport were able to bowl them all out for 184 with Kamau Leverock taking 4-41.

Skipper Clayden is happy with the start his charges have made this term, believing they’ve all benefitted from a pre-season where they won four of their five matches.

“It has been a faster start this season, we were all very annoyed about our display in the Pontarddulais match, we were chasing a low total and got complacent and it bit us in the backside,” he said.

“So it was a great response to come back with a win, we waited a long time last season to get off the mark.

“On Saturday it was all credit to the bowlers really. We didn’t fire again with the bat, I got 70-odd and managed to nudge us to 200, but it was the bowlers who deserve the most credit.

“We had to deal with a young Glamorgan prospect (Donald) who smashed 100, but we tried to tie him down, spread the field to him and stopped him scoring when we could and managed to take the wickets we needed.

“I think we took great confidence from our pre-season. We got some runs, some good wins and it has helped with confidence.”

Next up for Newport is a return to Spytty Park and a clash with St Fagans, another outfit, like Mumbles, who are yet to get off the mark with a win this term.

And Clayden admits there will be more pressure on his charges this weekend as they bid to make it a back-to-back success.

“This is definitely a win game for us, we’d have to look at it that way, if we play to our capabilities then we should have a really good chance.

“We have good strength in depth with the second XI guys pushing as well and everyone knows they have to perform to keep their spots.

In Division Two of the South Wales Premier, Panteg will search for a first victory of the campaign away at Tata Steel, another outfit yet to find that winning feeling this term.

Ian Bird’s men haven’t won in their opening three clashes in the revamped division and were soundly defeated last weekend at home to Swansea, the visitors bowling them all out for 142 after winning an absolutely vital toss.

And while it took them 38 overs to chase the modest target, Swansea were able to do so for the loss of just two wickets.

Panteg skipper Bird admits it has been a tough start to the campaign for his charges.

“If we are summarising it honestly, we just aren’t firing at the moment, we can’t quite get to our best,” he said.

“But even though we don’t want to be making excuses, it really was a vital toss to win because the pitch was very wet when we went in to bat.

“The sun was out and batting was a lot more enjoyable when Swansea got in, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes.

“And Swansea are also one of the strongest sides in the division, so it was always likely to be tough.”

James Reid (43) again provided the best resistance with the bat, the Panteg wicket-keeper in fine form throughout the campaign so far.

And he’ll get his reward next weekend when he skippers the side in the absence of Bird, a sports agent who will be in London as his client Nathan Cleverly fights on the bill at the 02 Arena.

“I might have to have a big knock this weekend to keep my place,” Bird quipped.

There are three Gwent derbies this weekend in the Glamorgan and Monmouthshire League, with Abergavenny (fifth) entertaining Usk (sixth) and Newbridge (third) squaring off against Malpas (third from bottom). Sudbrook also host Pontypridd and Chepstow entertain Radyr.

However, game of the day from a Gwent perspective is Blackwood, the early league leaders, entertaining second placed Croesyceiliog, the two sides currently separated by just .5 of a point.