NEWPORT may be sitting top of the South Wales Premier League after a perfect start to the season in Division One but that doesn’t necessarily equate to an easy life for skipper Michael Clayden.

With a talented pool of players at his disposal, captain Clayden, whose side host Pontarddulais at Spytty Park tomorrow, faces a tough balancing act trying to keep everyone happy.

After two victories from their opening two fixtures, Clayden is obviously hesitant to change a winning team, but he knows individuals are pushing hard to be involved in first-team action.

Matthew Jones (150) and Pravin De Silva (101) were both in scintillating form for the second XI last Saturday, although so to was Matt Norris (110no), who carried his bat during the firsts’ 115-run triumph at Swansea.

“We are very strong at the moment and unfortunately I’m having to disappoint people who find themselves in the second team,” said Clayden. “But that’s the reality of life as a captain.

“We’ve won two from two and I don’t want to mess with a winning team too much.

“Matthew Jones hit 150 for the seconds so he might come in, he might not, but Harry Powell does come back after injury.”

Newport head Division One by eight points from Mumbles and face a Pontarddulais outfit still looking for their first win of the season.

“We couldn’t have got any more points,” added Clayden. “But we can’t rest on our laurels.

“The wicket this weekend will be different to last Saturday so we have to be up for the battle.”

Panteg captain Ian Bird takes his men to Clydach in Division Two tomorrow on the back of an abandoned clash with St Fagans.

The rain denied Bird’s charges from building on their opening day thrashing of Aberdare, but he is pleased with how his side have started the new campaign.

Promising youngster Tom Smith joined the club from Chepstow in the close season and promotion is very much the goal for Bird this term.

“You go into every season with the aim of winning as many games as you can,” he said.

“We’re hoping to do as well as we did last year, and if we do that I’ve got no doubt we will be in the mix come the end of the season.

“We’ve been in the Premier League before and we would like to be a Premier League club again.”

After a narrow defeat to Usk, Newbridge will look to bounce back against Pontypridd tomorrow in their first home fixture of the season in Division One of the new South East Wales League.

“It was a disappointing start,” said captain James Morgan of his side’s opening day 14-run loss. “We did well to contain Usk and limit them to 189, especially on their ground, and we were in the driving seat until it rained.

“Pontypridd are not a bad side and always difficult to beat. They have a few ex-Glamorgan players and if we are not up for it then it will be tough.”

Gavin Heritage and Scott Greaves arrived from Abergavenny ahead of the new season and Morgan is hoping they can help his team push for a top-three finish.

It was an even closer margin of defeat for Blackwood last weekend as they fell to Sudbrook by nine runs.

Skipper Richard Matthews (94) and his brother Robert (67) almost pulled off a miraculous victory, putting on 150 for the ninth wicket before falling just short.

“We were 118-8 at one stage and it looked like it was going to be a disaster on the first day,” said the captain. “But me and Rob put on 150 and we should have won it.

“It was a much better changing room afterwards than it might have been if we’d been bowled out for 120.

“The way we finished means the guys will be confident going to Radyr tomorrow.”

Elsewhere in Division One tomorrow, Chepstow host Croesyceiliog, Newport Fugitives entertain Abergavenny and Usk go to Sudbrook.