Thomas, Carrol cricket preview

6:13pm Friday 16th May 2008

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NEWPORT found form with a vengeance last weekend to beat Sudbrook convincingly in the Premier Division of the Thomas, Carroll South Wales Cricket League and on Sunday, they thrashed Ebbw Vale in the WCA Gwalia Welsh Cup.

Captain Nathan Millichip explained: "We got a solid start against Sudbrook which is something we haven't been getting with Michael Clayden and Imran Hassan batting superbly.

"Sudbrook also got off to a good start and Chris Archer was in great form. But we missed some chances early on but our bowling was good and, suddenly, everything clicked.

"We carried on that form on Sunday against Ebbw Vale in the cup. Tom Roberts got a good century and I had a decent knock as well. After scoring at over seven an over, we were never going to lose."

Gary Wood takes over the captaincy for the visit of Tondu tomorrow because Millichip is unavailable and Rhys Harper comes in.

Croesyceiliog lifted the scalp of Cardiff for the first time since the league was formed which delighted skipper Mike Baillon: "Everything went well. We arrived early and prepared ourselves mentally so we went out very well prepared. I won the toss and though it was a tough call, I thought we could exploit any moisture that was there," he said.

"We got a couple of wickets but then Ryan Watkins showed his class and looked like building a good innings. But we managed to get him and then we were always on top. We held our catches and our ground fielding was good.

"When we went in, the wicket had turned a bit dusty and the ball was doing a bit. We got 35 to 40 for the first wicket and Will Bragg came in and played a quality innings and he and Mohammed Ali were a joy to watch."

For tomorrow's game at home to Sudbrook, Croesyceiliog will be pretty much at full strength.

Sudbrook captain Chris Archer has been in excellent form so far but as he said: "It was nice to keep my own form going but it didn't count for very much.

"But two wins out of three isn't a bad start for us even against Newport because they are a very good side. I know Croesyceiliog are in good form but I think we have the team to beat them."

Sudbrook will be without Ross Lewis who is unavailable but otherwise will be much as before.

Panteg will be stronger for the visit of Cardiff with Blane Harris and Steve Outerbridge back and James Reid fit to keep wicket again.

Match secretary Gareth Meredith admitted: "In the game at Sully, we gave away about 50 extras and dropped five catches so we didn't really help our own cause.

"But we did the double over Cardiff last season and I think we are a bit of a bogey side for them so we're expecting to do a bit better this weekend."

Usk felt they should have done better at St Fagans as captain Neil Perrett explained: "We really should have kept them down to 140/150 but we gave away too many extras and dropped a couple of catches as well.

"Huw Waters dropped out on Saturday morning which caused a late reshuffle but we were about 83-5 after 25 overs but then kept on losing wickets."

Waters returns for the home game against Bridgend Town tomorrow while Mark Tamplin returns from injury and Tom Robinson is back after completing his finals. Usk will be without schoolboys Ollie James and Tom Lee however.

Rogerstone and Chepstow are on top of Division One and should maintain their unbeaten records at home to Miskin Manor and Barry respectively.

Newport Fugitives go to Blackwood with James Didcot back but without both Mike Lewis and Rhydian James who are away.

Spokesman Martin James said: "We were disappointed not to be able to play last week because of the overnight storm. But we will be boosted by our Welsh Cup win over Pontypridd on Sunday which was very satisfying."

Malpas are unbeaten in Division Two and are away at Ponthir tomorrow while Pontymister will be glad just to play their game at Cefn Fforest after two cancelled games.

Ebbw Vale and Machen hope to break their duck at home to Ton Pentre & Porth and Hoovers respectively.

League fixtures:

Premier Division - Croesyceiliog v Sudbrook Newport v Tondu Panteg v Cardiff Penarth v Pentyrch St Fagans v Sully Usk v Bridgend Town Division One Abergavenny v Pontypridd Blackwood v Newport Fugitives Brecon v Radyr Chepstow v Barry Rogerstone v Miskin Manor Division Two Cefn Fforest v Pontymister Ebbw Vale v Ton Pentre & Porth Machen v Hoovers Ponthir v Malpas Vale v Welsh Asians Premier Division Second XI Bridgend Town v Usk Cardiff v Abergavenny Miskin Manor v Newport Pentyrch v Penarth Sudbrook v Chepstow Division One Second XI Barry v Croesyceiliog Hoovers v Machen Newport Fugitives v Blackwood Pontypridd v Panteg Tondu v Ponthir Division Two Second XI Malpas v Rogerstone Pontymister v Cefn Fforest Radyr v Brecon Ton Pentre & Porth v Ebbw Vale Welsh Asians v Vale Sunday Division Third XI Brecon v Criegiau Cardiff v Barry Machen v Usk Malpas v Pentyrch B Panteg A v Aberdare Pentyrch A v Ponthir Tondu v Panteg B Upper Rhondda v Pentywn

Conference fixtures:

Division One - Abercynon v Upper Rhondda Cardiff III v Llantwit Fardre Cardiff Gymkhana v St Fagans III Hopkinstown v Lisvane Whitchurch Heath v Creigau Division Two Abertillery v Pontnewynydd Blaengarw v Abercarn Cross Keys v Tredegar Newbridge v Great Western Pentwyn v Pencoed Division Three Barry Wanderers v Llanwtit Major Cavaliers Brynmawr v Dinas Powis Christchurch v Caerleon Llanarth v Penarth III Pontllanfraith v Caerphilly & Bedwas Division Four Bridgend Town III v Mountain Ash Lisvane III v Chepstow III Monkswood v Blaina Sully v Crumlin Whitchurch Heath III v Girlings-Croesyceiliog Alliance Division One Cynon Valley v Maesycwmmer Hirwaun v Undy & Magor Panteg III v Wenvoe Sudbrook III v Cwmbran Woodlands Tonyrefail & Edmunds town v Bedlinog Alliance Division Two Blackwood III v Vale III Llanhilleth v Radyr III Malpas III v Miskin Manor III Monkswood III v St Peters Pontypridd III v St Fagans V Senghenydd v Panteg IV Division One Second XI Llantwit Fardre v Cardiff IV Division Three Second XI Penarth IV v Bridgend Town IV Pontnewynydd v Lisvane IV Division Four Second XI Chepstow IV v Brynmawr