IN COMMON with cricket across South Wales, almost all matches in Gwent at the weekend had to be abandoned because of the rain which swept across from the west.

However, the Division One match between Abergavenny and second placed Sudbrook at Avenue Road was played and the outcome has a bearing on the championship.

Sudbrook won the toss and asked Abergavenny to bat and got the wickets of Alex Astley-Jones (0) and the dangerous Lewis Parfitt (5) cheaply.

Skipper James Schofield went for 15 but fourth batsman Gavin Heritage was solid from the start and went on to anchor the innings with 91 not out.

Support came from Asim Gillani (49), Mohammed Ali Bukari (19), Will Ford (16) and Dan Cooke (11) and Abergavenny reached 231-9 off their 50 overs.

Sudbrook’s bowling was: Jamie Watkins 8-0-46-4, Mark O’Leary 10-2-29-2, Carl Morgan 5-0-23-1, Jonathan Lewis 10-2-37-1 and Rhys Pescod 7-2-41-1.

Rain arrived at tea and brought the Duckworth Lewis Formula into operation which set Sudbrook a target of 172 in 30 overs.

Ross Lewis (16) and Matt Kinchin (35) gave them a good start and as all the batsmen were going for quick runs, so wickets began to fall.

Lewis Morgan made nine and Micky Martin propped it up with 29 not out.

Dave Wilson (19), O’Leary (6) and Carl Morgan (19) kept up the momentum and Greg Shaw (7no) joined Martin to complete the job by four wickets in 27.1 overs.

Abergavenny’s bowling was: James Hrastelj 7-0-38-2, Gillani 6.1-0-22-1, Will Ford 4-0-24-1, Bukari 6-0-25-1 and Cooke 2-0-31-1.

The win closes the gap on table topping Panteg, who didn’t play, but the sides play each other at the Deepweir on Bank Holiday Monday in a game which will decide the championship.

The other game to beat the rain was at Monmouth in Division Three where the home side won the toss and asked visitors Ponthir to bat.

They lost Gareth Burkitt (4) when the score was 12 but opener Lewis Spinetti (29) and Jack Norman moved it along to 49 when Spinetti was bowled by Charles Griffin.

Norman made the top score of 43 (seven fours) and helped Ponthir to reach 126-5 with help from Alan Burkitt (13) and Jordan Thomas (14).

John Price (35no) and Jamie Evans (17no) added 30 valuable runs for the eighth wicket and Ponthir closed on 187-7.

Jonathan Jones had 10-4-20-3 for Monmouth, Griffin 7-2-19-2, Ben Turner 4-0-22-1 and Alim Hansraj 10-2-24-1.

Monmouth made a miserable start, losing the wickets of Wayne Etheridge and Matthew Jones to Matt Dennehy, both for ducks.

Josh Grey and Turner (15) stopped the rot and Grey was in commanding form as he rebuilt the innings.

Support came from Matt Lovatt (35) and Paul Swingwood (35no) and when Grey was out for a match winning 91 (12 fours), the job had been done and Monmouth won by five wickets as the rain moved in.

Ponthir’s bowling was: Dennehy 10-0-38-2, Price 3-0-17-1, Jamie Evans 6-0-29-1 and Matthew Woodward 7-1-40-1.

Ebbw Vale reached 160-6 in 36 overs against Newport Fugitives at High Cross with Robson Blake making 81 not out (one six and nine fours), his half century coming off 34 balls in 46 minutes and Dave Windross got 31 but that was as far as they got.

It was the same story at the Deepweir where Sudbrook were on 164-8 from 45 overs when the Division One Second XI game was abandoned and at Lisvane in Division Two Second XI where Newport Fugitives were on 116-3 (Phil Meredith 46no and Olly Mason 29no) and looking good but the rain put paid to that.

In Division Three Second XI, Monmouth made 209-5 in their 45 overs at Ponthir with Ali Hay (60), Ian Morgan (40), Steve Morgan (36no), Martin Newell (21) and George Salmon (14) all contributing but the rain arrived at tea and Ponthir didn’t even start their innings.

Ponthir’s bowling was: Matt Hazelhurst 6-1-26-2, Brad Jones 8-0-41-2 and James Dennehy 3-0-23-1.