NEWBRIDGE won their derby game against Abertillery in Division Two of the Thomas, Carroll Welsh Club Cricket Conference to go top of the table, but it was a close call.

James Horton got a fine 58, Lee Tyler 28 and Chris James 27 as Newbridge totalled 184 all out going in first. Matthew Rossiter took 2-9 for Abertillery, Gareth Price 2-19, Jeff Allen 2-31 and Mike Doel 2-39.

Price (32), Steve Flay (24), Andy Poole (23) and Mark Seymour (37 n.o) all kept Abertillery up with the run rate.

But wickets were falling as well and the last one went with Abertillery still 11 runs short of the Newbridge score.

Gareth Jenkins took 3-29 for Newbridge, John Barrett 2-17, Ryan Hawkins 2-36 and Tyler 2-50.

Third-placed Cross Keys batted first against Great Western at Bridgend but only managed 172-9 with Lee Armstrong getting 37 and Mark Baker 23.

Kevin Williams took 4-20 for the Railwaymen and Matthew Davies 2-33.

Kristian Tobin got 66 not out in the Great Western reply, Kris Williams 35 and Mark Evans (25 n.o) was in with Tobin when they got the runs for the loss of three wickets.

Table-topping Abercarn continued their fall from grace as they were badly beaten at Pencoed.

Only Lee Goodall (22) made much impression as they were whipped out for only 79 by Layton Williams (6-22 off 10 overs and two maidens) and Dean Oram (3-28 off eight overs).

They got the dangerous Richard J Gregory for a duck when Pencoed went in but Oram (31) and captain Chris Cole (23 n.o) added the necessary 77 for the second wicket.

Pentwyn thrashed bottom side Blaengarw for their first win of the campaign after four cancelled games.

Sam Saunders made 48 and captain John-Paul Rosser got 44 as they set a target of 216-8, with Lee John taking 4-39 for Blaengarw.

Greg Sinnott (28) was the only Blaengarw batsman to get any runs as fast bowler Lee Jones took 5-21 off 10 overs and off-spinner Dave Harris 3-9 off five and the visitors collapsed to 65 all out and remain without a win to their credit.

Pontnewynydd went in first at home to Tredegar and scored 156-5 in their 45 overs.

Hywel Evans anchored the innings with 43 not out and Gary Matthews made 39.

For Tredegar, Scott Quirke captured 4-29, Lewis Parfitt 3-29 and Dennis Morgan 2-18. Ian Pembrey went for 43.

And Lee Herring made a superb 89 not out to lead Tredegar to an eight-wicket win.

Caerleon, formed by the amalgamation of the Isca Crows and St Cadocs clubs, scored 231 all out at home to Penarth III in Division Three.

T Azim made 58, K Khan 35 and John Neale 32.

John Collins took 2-36 off 10 overs for the visitors, Zia had 2-50 off 9.4 and Peter Hardwick 2-52 off 10.

Robert Crimp defied the odds to make a fine 75 when Penarth III replied but that was the only bright note as Jamie Evans took 4-56 off 10 overs and Khan 3-14 off four to reduce them to 177-9 at the close.

Ferndale's Christchurch totalled 226-8 at home to Llanarth with Justin Jones scoring 56.

Keith Thomas made 39, while Ross Edwards scored 37 and Anthony Bowen 33 not out.

Andy Hilditch took 3-49 off nine overs for Llanarth and Chris Powell 2-54.

Gareth Powell (60 n.o) and Mark Baxter (51) looked like they might help Llanarth to win but Andrew Riddiford took 2-33 and Jarred Howells 2-44 to hold them up and they were 214-7 at the end.

The top-of-the-table battle between leaders Dinas Powys and Llantwit Major Cavaliers went the way of the Cavaliers.

Their captain Mike Wood hit 30 not out to help his team get 21 off the last three overs.

Third-placed Division Four side Blaina rattled up 258-6 at home to Mountain Ash.

Alan Cooper continued his amazing form with a magnificent 145 taking his season's tally over the 400-run mark in just four matches.

Darryl Davies got 42 and Gavin Griffiths 26 as well while Mark Payne took 3-51 for the Old Firm.

It was a very useful total but Owen Roberts, who always gets runs against Blaina, it seems, smashed 106.

Chris Jones made 40 and Gareth Cooper 34 and they made it on 262-8.

Alan Barber took 3-59 for Blaina.

Lowly Chepstow III batted first at home to leaders Crumlin and made 234-7.

Dan Chiu cracked a superb 98 not out and Mel Jones getting 49.

Richard Evans (1-29) and Simon Veal (1-9) had a wicket each for Crumlin.

The in-form Josh Steer then made 97 not out and Geth Patterson got 57 as Crumlin replied with 237-3 to win.

Bridgend Town III scored 229-7 at Girlings-Croesyceiliog, with Ian Henry making 68 and Alex Frew 50 while Andy Donovan took 4-5 for the home side.

But Girlings-Croesyceiliog collapsed to 89 all out in their reply as Liam Weller took 4-13 off 10 overs and Jonathan Thomas 3-27 off seven.

Bottom team Whitchurch Heath III totalled 157 all out against Newport III with Dwayne Reynolds scoring 44 and K Asseeli 44.

Phil MacLean took 3-22 off 10 overs for Newport III and Tom Hamer 2-32 off 10.

Skipper Dave Nowell departed for 28 but Tom Josham was still there on 36 not out when Newport III reached 158-6.

Terry Short took 2-35 off seven overs for Heath.

Cwmbran Woodlands maintained their perfect record in the Alliance Division One when they got third-placed Tonyrefail & Edmundstown all out for 76.

Chris Watkins took 4-28, Mike Edwards 2-10 and Huw Kear 2-12.

Kear (38 n.o) and Watkins (30 n.o) then led Woodlands to a nine-wicket victory.

Peter Smith (3-5), Huw Jones (3-13) and Brent Mundy (3-13) dismissed Panteg III for just 84 against Undy & Magor and John Turner got 27 not out as they broke their duck with an eight-wicket win.

Leaders Sudbrook III made it six wins out of six when they got Wenvoe all out for 113.

David Tame was top scorer with 22, while Tim Bond took 4-31 for Sudbrook III.

Zac Waite then made 35 not out as Sudbrook III just made it by one wicket while Stephen Bradley took 4-17 off 10 overs for Wenvoe.

There's no stopping Llanhilleth at the top of the Alliance Division Two as they swept aside the challenge of Vale III in a game reduced to 40 overs.

Shane Jones scored 63 not out and Gareth Hawkins 62 in the Llanhilleth total of 228-5. Andrew Yates took 2-55 for the visitors.

Matthew Bunt made a brave 50 but Vale III slumped to 101 all out with Darren Protheroe taking 2-15 off five overs for Llanhilleth.

Malpas III were on the wrong end of a thumping at home to St Peter's, who smashed 313-6 off 45 overs.

Anthony Lewis made 73, while Owen Clancy scored 54 and Gareth Jones 47.

John Hall (1-54) and Lee Thompson (1-41 off seven overs) got a wicket each for Malpas III.

Andy Dass scored 60 and David Pritchard 25 when Malpas III went in but John Corsi took 3-8 off 4.2 overs and Paul Backhouse 3-51 off 10 to get them all out well short of the Rocks' score.

James Soames scored 41 not out and Gareth Bale got 20 as Miskin Manor III reached 156-7 at home to Panteg IV for whom Nick Mee took 2-24 and Chris James 2-27.

Steve Jones scored 38 in the Panteg IV innings and Dave Millership 23. But they fell for only 91 as David Peters took 3-10 for Miskin, Dave Burr 2-6, Keith Thomas 2-10 and Matthew Freeman 2-17.