SOUTH WALES PREMIER
LEADERS Newport march on in South Wales Premier League Division One after a 51-run victory over thirdplaced Neath at the Gnoll. Visiting skipper Matthew Norris elected to bat first after winning the toss and he led from the front, finding the boundary rope 10 times in a knock of 64.
Zalmai Ahmadzai also chipped in with 49 as Newport were all out for 201 in 49.2 overs, with Kieran Bull picking up 3-38.
In reply, Neath were bowled out for 150, opener Steffan Roberts top scoring with 46.
Harry Powell took 3-28 while Ian Thomas and Charlie Stewart also bagged a couple of wickets as Newport picked up their fifth win of the campaign.
Meanwhile, nearest challengers St Fagans, having lost their unbeaten record against Cardiff last weekend, bounced back with a thumping 113-run home defeat of Pontarddulais.
Matthew Thompson smacked an unbeaten 120 for St Fagans, including 13 fours and sharing a 147-run partnership for the third wicket with Oscar Kolk (63) as they posted 270-5 from their allotted 50 overs.
Bont were then sent back for 157 in reply with the wickets shared around as Andrew Leering, Mujahid Ilyas, George Heidrich and Chris Kellard all bagged two wickets apiece.
Sam Pearce top scored for the visitors with 43.
There was a surprise result at Fforest Farm where reigning champions Cardiff went down to a six-wicket reverse at the hands of second-frombottom Port Talbot Town.
Opener Alex Milton returned to haunt his former side, hitting 93 and sharing a 169-run opening wicket stand with Anthony Thomas (83) as Port Talbot successfully chased down the 220 they had been set for victory with three balls to spare.
Earlier, Cardiff had put 219-9 on the scoreboard with a number of their batsman getting starts without any going on to make a big score.
Prem Sisodiya (39) and skipper Greg Holmes (34) were their leading run scorers, while Lewis Jones bagged three wickets.
It was a third defeat of their season already for the champions.
Elsewhere, Mumbles, who began the weekend bottom of the pile, made it back-to-back wins as they were victorious by five wickets against Ynysygerwn at Marespool.
Having been inserted, visitors Ynysygerwn were all out for just 82 in 33.1 overs. Anuerin Norman was in fine form as he took 5-18, while Ryan Aingworth and Jack Straw both picked up a couple of wickets.
The hosts lost five wickets in reply, with Nathan Davies bagging 3-17, but they knocked off the runs to back up last weekend’s win at Port Talbot Town having started the season with five straight defeats.
The other game in Division One resulted in a comprehensive ninerun victory for Ammanford at Bridgend Town.
Hosts Bridgend reached 176-9 off 50 after being put in, with Thomas Cogbill (57) hitting a half century while Dan Roberts took 4-24.
Ammanford then made light work of their run chase as, despite losing skipper Alun Evans for 23, cruised home with Ellis Richards 69 not out and Daniel Roberts also there at the end on 67.
In Division Two, leaders Ynystawe’s 100 per cent winning record has gone as they lost for the first time this season – by one wicket in a highscoring game at home against newlypromoted Malpas.
The home side, after being put in, racked up 307-7 with Tom Morgan (86) top scoring while Matt Blake made 65.
However, that total would not be enough as Malpas, led brilliantly by centurion Ryan Ward (119), squeezed home with just two balls to spare. James Francis also made 82. Elsewhere in Division Two, there were wins for Penarth, Panteg, Newport Fugitives and Carmarthen Wanderers.