WITH the South Wales Premier League ‘pulling up stumps’ it was left to the South East Wales League to provide competitive cricket for clubs in the shortened season, writes Lyn Hall.

Newport suffered a huge 151-run defeat against Bridgend at Newbridge Fields on first weekend of the 40-over competition.

Home captain Tom Baker, from Blackwood, led the way with 111 not out and he was well supported towards the end of their allocated overs by Jack Davies with 36 hard hit runs to post 260 for 7.

The visitors lost their captain, Mike Clayden, early on and with wickets falling at regular intervals were all out for a disappointing 109.

In the other game in Newport’s group featuring Premier League Division One teams, St Fagans took the honours in their local derby with Cardiff posting 231 for 5 against which their visitors could only tot up 190.

In Pool One, Newbridge were grateful to newcomer Nathan Millichip for holding their innings together as they totalled 163, which seemed a reasonable target for Malpas to chase.

However, bowler Mathew Williams had different ideas taking five wickets for just eight runs, the best bowling performance of the day, so Malpas were a paltry 66 all out.

In Pool Two, Newport Fugitives played out an exciting affair at High Cross with Sudbrook scoring 222 for 6 with the ever reliable Ross Lewis hitting 101.

In reply David Adams and the returning Richard Jones got the Fugies off to a good start but it was Louis Tovey who got the vital runs with an unbeaten 74.

Put into bat, Panteg reached 193 for 7 with Callum Reid top scoring with 40. It was not enough to prevent a five-wicket victory for Pentyrch however as Glamorgan youngster Connor Brown saw them home with an unbeaten 104.

At Usk the home team inserted the visitors and, despite being 18 for 3 at one stage, Chepstow recovered with middle order runs from Oliver Thornhil(42), David Bennett(36) and David Monk (35) seeing them to 179 as Olly Robson took four wickets for his team.

In reply, no Usk batter got on top of the bowling and they were dismissed for 156, leaving Chepstow winners by 23 runs.

In Pool Three, Blackwood rarely looked liked reaching their target of 230 which saw Lisvane victorious by 85 runs.

Abergavenny bowlers shared wickets at Radyr, who were dismissed for 126 which was never enough as near veteran Andrew Jones hit 80 runs off 106 balls to see his side home by eight wickets.

In Pool Five both Pontymister/Cross Keys & Crumlin recorded comfortable victories by five wickets against Sully Centurians and The Vale respectively.