As we move into the second half of the season the League has just ten teams with an unbeaten record. Abercarn has gone seven matches without a loss in the Under 11 Division 1 West and Croesyceiliog eight in the Under 11 Division 1 West. Meanwhile, at Under 13, Llanarth A and Newport A have recorded eighteen wins between them in the 20-Over East Division but have yet to play each other. The Llanarth B team is also undefeated in the Pairs Reserve Division as are Abertillery and Pontnewynydd in the Pairs First Division. At Under 15, Newport A, Abercarn A and Newbridge are also yet to record a loss but have only played a relatively few number of games.

There has been some hard-hitting in the League this week led by Ponthir’s Aled Burkitt and David Hutchins of Abertillery who were both not out in the eighties. Incidentally, Burkitt’s innings of 85 included 76 in boundaries and most of it came in an unbeaten partnership of 101. Meanwhile, Marc McKay (Ponhir) hit 30 in four overs at Under 11 while, at Under 13, Matthew Doyle (Llanarth) hit 36 and Herbie Bone (Usk) made 33 each in four overs. Also, Harriet Coates scored 25 for Gwent Girls in the U13 Reserve Division. The pick of the bowlers was Dafydd Doolan (Abertillery) who took 5 wickets while Bryn Evans (Chepstow), J Westwood (Panteg) and Ethan Shide (Blackwood) each took 4.

There was a change at the top of just one of the twelve Divisions of the League this week.  In the U13 20-Over West Division, Newbridge A’s victory over Ebbw Vale A sees them overtake them at the top.  Also, there have been a few important results such as Pentwyn’s first defeat, at the hands of Panteg, in the Under 11 Division 1 East.

The game of the week was surely the Under 15 Division 1 West match between Brynmawr which saw a total of 387 runs scored in 40 overs. Brynmawr amassed 222 for 1 thanks to Richard Miles with 82no who was well supported by Nathan Davies (47no) and Ryan White (42). In reply, Owen Davies led the reply for Pontllanfraith with an unbeaten 95 but despite assistance from Ben Johnson (31) they came up well short on 165 for 3.

This week’s bowling honours go to 10-year old Ieuan Jones who took four wickets on his debut for the Newbridge U13 20-over side. James Simkins also took a four-wicket haul for Newport Fugitives in the Pairs Division.

Under 11 – Rhys Thomas (Ebbw Vale) 29, Scott O’Leary (Sudbrook) 24, Robbie Clarke (Newport) 22, Ethan Phillips (Usk) 21, Joel Mahoney (Pentwyn) 19 & 16, Adam Turner (Pentwyn) 18, D Thomas (Machen) 18, Tane Basham (Pentwyn) 16, Joe Breen (Pentwyn) 15, Lewis Daniels (Pontnewynydd) 15, Rhys Hereford (Sudbrook) 15, Nicole Reid (Croesyceiliog) 15

Under 13 Pairs – Tom Keane (Abergavenny) 33, Gethin Price (Abergavenny) 32, Sam Smith (Panteg) 29, Duncan Havemann (Chepstow) 28, Scott Greaves (Abertillery) 23, Huw Morris (Newport) 21, Luke Rees (Abertillery) 22, Daffyd Myson (Abertillery) 21, James Griffith (Abergavenny) 20

Under 15 – Owen Davies (Pontllanfraith) 95no, Hywel Evans (Panteg) 83no, Richard Miles (Brynmawr) 82no, Scott Davies (Usk) 51, Nathan Davies (Brynmawr) 47no, Jack Farrant (Chepstow) 46no, Ryan White (Brynmawr) 42, Rhys Jacob (Panteg) 38no, Dafydd Read (Blackwood) 36, Matt Botting (Abergavenny) 34no, Tomas Williams (Ebbw Vale) 33, Jake Smith (Usk) 31no, Ben Johnson (Pontllanfraith) 31

Under 11 – Nicole Reid (Croesyceiliog) 3-7, Dylan Scarborough (Creoesyceiliog) 3-20,

Under 13 Pairs – James Simkins (Newport Fugitives) 4-7, Gethin Price (Abergavenny) 3-4, Harry Johnstone (Chepstow) 3-16, James Griffith (Abergavenny) 3-19

There have only been changes at the top of five of the twelve Divisions of the League, despite over 30 games being played over the last week. In the Under 11 Division 1 East, Ponthir have taken a narrow one-point lead over Pentwyn although the latter are still unbeaten and have played one game less. At Under 13, Newport A have joined Llanarth A at the top of the 20-Over East Division, both being unbeaten after six matches. In the Pairs First Division, Pontnewynydd chalked up their sixth consecutive win to move ahead of Abercarn. At Under 15, Ebbw Vale A have taken a one-point lead over Croesyceiliog A in the Premier Division while Ponthir join Sudbrook at the top of Division 1 East with both having identical records.

A look at the Best Performances shows how much the long dry spell is favouring the batters. This week’s particularly noteable performances include Chepstow’s Dan Taylor with 31 in his four overs at Under 11. At Under 13, Aaron Lambert retired on 30 twice and Jamie Harris was top scorer at Under 15 with 86. The most remarkable performance of the week, however, was surely by Ponthir’s Aled Burkitt in the U15 Division 1 East. With his team set just 67 runs for victory, he scored 54 of them with 48 coming in boundaries! The best team performance was undoubtedly Sudbrook A’s 170 for 0 in a 74-run victory in the 20-Over East Division while the closest match was Rogerstone’s two-run victory over Newport Fugitives in the U13 Pairs Reserve Division.

Under 11 – Dan Taylor (Chepstow) 31, Joseph Cobb (Malpas) 23, Scott O’Leary (Sudbrook) 22, Ben Lander (Llanarth) 22, Dewi Thomas (Machen) 22, George Bazley (Chepstow) 22, Tom Simkiss (Ponthir) 20, Harrison Rall (Chepstow) 19, Michael Benjamin (Sudbrook) 19, Rhys Bowen (Abercarn) 17, Harry Morris (Usk) 17, Marc McKay (Ponthir) 17 & 15, Rod Thomas (Ebbw Vale) 15

Under 13 Pairs – James Griffiths (Abergavenny) 24, Tom Keane (Abergavenny) 24, M Roberts (Rogerstone) 23, Gethin Price (Abergavenny) 23, Gareth Potts (Newport Fugitives) 22, Marcus Roberts (Rogerstone) 21, Samual Clarke (Pontnewynydd) 20, S Smith (Panteg) 20

Under 15 – Jamie Harris (Rogerstone) 86, Ieuan Veall (Crumlin) 69 & 30, Tom Haines (Newport Fugitives) 61, Aled Burkitt (Ponthir) 54no, Luke Pentney (Pontnewynydd) 54, George Young (Rogerstone) 50, Ieuan Jones (Croesyceiliog) 49no, Josh Malson (Pontnewynydd) 36, Lewis Turley (Crumlin) 40, Kurt Smith (Abercarn) 35no, Jordan Bachelor (Newport) 34, J Lewis (Ebbw Vale) 31, Jack Farrant (Chepstow) 30no

Under 11 – Dion Molyneaux (Newbridge) 4-2, Alex Palmer (Newbridge) 3-2

Under 13 Pairs – Gareth Potts (Newport Fugitives) 3-7, Barry Meredith (Abergavenny) 3-12, Gethin Price (Abergavenny) 3-18,

Newport A and Sudbrook A are still locked together at the top of U11 Premier Division having played each other twice in the last week and won one game each. Also at U11, Pentwyn and Croesyceiliog B remain unbeaten at the top of Division 1 East and the Reserve Division respectively. In Division 1 West, Abercarn are now unbeaten in five matches, having inflicted the first defeat on second-place Blackwood.

At Under 13, Llanarth A and Newport A remain undefeated in the 20-Over East Division while Newbridge move into second place in the 20-Over West Division, just one point below Ebbw Vale A. In the Pairs Division, Abercarn remain top but have lost their unbeaten record after a one-run defeat by Abertillery, who are still unbeaten in third as are Pontnewynydd in second. Llanarth B are unbeaten in seven games in the Pairs Reserve Division with Chepstow B remaining in second place.

At Under 15, Croesyceiliog A retain the leadership of the Premier Division despite going down to their first defeat at the hands of Ebbw Vale A. Chepstow B still head the Reserve Division with Abercarn B jumping two places to runners-up spot. Sudbrook and Brynmawr lead the way in Divisions 1 East and West.

The performance of the week must surely be Luke Challenger’s contribution to Brynmawr’s ten-wicket win over Abertillery. He contributed 92no to his team’s total of 123, finishing the game with a six! Then there was the Ponthir partnership of 134 between Angus O’Brien (70no) and Aled Burkitt (60no) in their victory over Undy & Magor. The pick of the younger batters was Pontnewynydd’s Joshua Malson who totalled 53 in eight overs at U13. Two bowlers, Newport’s Huw Morris and M Hodgson (Rogerstone) took 4 wickets in a game while Martin Evans (Blackwood) took three wickets twice. Mention should also be made of two of our Gwent Girls. Ffion Wynne made 36 for Newport at U15 and Rogerstone’s Christina Shaw scored 16 at U11. There were also some good fielding displays by a number of players with Elis Black (Pontnewynydd), Tom Simkiss (Ponthir) and George Jones (Ponthir) each being involved in four dismissals in a match.