TREDEGAR proved the surprise package on the opening day of the season in Division One of the Thomas, Carroll Welsh Club Cricket Conference.

The newly promoted side faced the challenge of former champions Hopkinstown but scored a very good 249-4 going in first, thanks to Julian Herring (71), Lee Herring (53), Ian Pembrey (33) and Lewis Parfitt (33). Gareth Morgan took 2-43 for Hopkinstown Rhys Phillips scored 56 when Hopkinstown batted and Mark Price 51, but Dennis Morgan took 3-42 off 10 overs, Jacob Richards 2-34 and Parfitt 2-37 to get the visitors all out for 199.

Newbridge, who are ambitious for a return to the league, also started well at home to Lisvane who won the toss and put Newbridge in to bat.

David Fortune carried the innings with a very good 81 out of a total of 159 all out. Andy Lloyd took 3-38 for Lisvane, Rob Williams 2-13, skipper Wayne Watson 2-19 and Eswar 2-28.

Eswar managed a top score of 23 when Lisvane batted but the visitors collapsed to 93 all out as left arm spinner Gareth Jenkins took 5-29 and Tom Watkins 2-5.

Cardiff won narrowly at Abercynon but Cefn Fforest did not make an auspicious start after relegation from the league last season.

At home to Upper Rhondda, Fforest slumped to 61 all out with Craig Lowther their top scorer making 11.

Callum Davies did the damage with figures of 10-5-16-5 while David Moore had 6-2-7-2 and Steve Webb 9-1-16-2.

Upper Rhondda knocked off the runs for the loss of four wickets with Carl Spiller and Adam Moore both getting 17. Dave Morgan took 2-8 off three overs for Fforest.

In Division Two Cross Keys put visitors Great Western in first and the Railwaymen made 145-9 thanks to Clive Rees (52) and Kris Williams (34). Steve Gregory took 3-32 for Keys and Graham Davey 3-59.

Luke Armstrong then made a fine 82 and veteran Phil Jenkins got 34 as Keys reached 148-4. Tony Williams took 2-25 for Great Western.

Abercarn went to Dinas Powis but let the home side off the hook. They had Dinas Powis 53-4 but Geoff Colley (79 n.o) and Danny Zaman (32 n.o) built on a fine recovery started by Gareth Evans (29) and Dinas Powis reached 213-5. Gareth Chilton took 2-40 for Abercarn.

Abercarn started disastrously slumping from 1-3 to 19-5. Ian Hopkins anchored the innings with a superb 81 and was last man out for 81 when Abercarn were 131 all out.

Stuart Jones took 4-27 for Dinas Powis, Huw Marks 2-14 and Steve Bussell 2-15.

St Fagans III were put in by visitors Pontnewynydd and then dismissed for just 56 as Geraint Jones took 4-19, Joseph Matthews 3-7 and Owen Price 3-9.

Hywel Evans got 17 not out as Pontnewynydd replied with 57-2 while Huw Evans took 2-19 for St Fagans III.

Abertillery defeated Penarth III in Division Three while Gary Adlam scored 63 as Brynmawr totalled 170-9 at home to Pontllanfraith for whom Frank Loader took 4-36 off 10 overs.

Adlam then took 4-13 off 6.2 overs but was outdone by Chris Lewis whose figures of 4-1-6-4 included the season’s first hat-trick.

Newport III’s game at Blaengarw was cancelled and Llanarth just managed to pip Caerleon by 11 runs.

Cwmbran Woodlands celebrated a first ever win against Bedlinog in the Alliance Division One but it was a close call.

Dean Cadwallader got the top score of 24 as Bedlinog were dismissed for 99 with Mike Edwards taking 3-23 and Huw Kear bowling a mean 10 over spell for 1-16 helped by some exceptional fielding.

Kear made 20 and Peter Mason 16 as Woodlands cruised to 34 without loss. But they collapsed to 65-4 and that became 97-9 before they limped over the finishing line. Luke Roberts took 4-10 for Bedlinog and Ian Gladwyn added 18 for Woodlands.

Rhsy Mount (74) and Denny Wallace (64) helped Sudbrook III to a score of 175-4 at home to Panteg III.

Lewis Hyde got 44 not out in the Panteg III innings but Zac Shepherd took 4-8 and Rob Simmonds 3-27 to get them all out for 91.