Newbridge look to be back in the title picture
LAST season’s runners-up Newbridge look like being Thomas Carroll South East Wales League Division One title contenders again as they made it two straight wins with a 35-run defeat of Pentyrch.
After losing opener Travis Morgan for a duck, skipper James Morgan (78) and Ryan Watkins (48) then put on 105 for the second wicket, while Will Davey also struck a 50 in a total of 241-9 for Newbridge off 50 overs having been inserted.
Todd Wilcox took 4-46.
Then with the ball for Newbridge, Ben Wellington (3-26) stood out while James Morgan and Tomos Kinsey both bagged themselves a couple of wickets as the visitors were all out for 206 in reply, that despite a defiant 58 from number eight Sam Ewen.
Newly-promoted Abergavenny also made it back-to-back wins as they beat Tondu by 14 runs.
Last season’s Division Two champions won the toss and elected to bat and were helped along by half centuries from opener Morgan Bevans (51) and Adam Harrison (62).
They went on to post a total of 1925 off their 50 overs before restricting their visitors to 178-9 in reply once the overs ran out.
Scott Thornton top scored for Tondu with 51 but they would ultimately fall just short. David Clarke, Harrison and Geraint Leach all took two wickets apiece.
Chepstow, meanwhile, picked up their first victory of the campaign, winning by four wickets at Usk.
After Usk had put a total of 141-9 on the scoreboard from their 50 overs Chepstow – runners-up two years ago – managed to knock off the runs with eight overs to spare.
Stuart Roden smacked 129 not out for Croesyceiliog, but it would be in vain as his side lost by 26 runs against newly-promoted Cardiff Gymkhana.
Elsewhere in Division One, there were wins for Pontypridd and Miskin Manor over Brecon and Sudbrook respectively.