Glamorgan and Monmouthshire League Division 3

Monmouth Cricket Club 1st XI’s promotion aspirations were dealt a hammer blow on Saturday as they were comprehensively beaten by fellow title and promotion chasers Ebbw Vale. The result is remarkably similar to last seasons defeat for Monmouth away at Ponthir which was also the penultimate game of the season and ultimately cost Monmouth promotion.

Monmouth lost the toss at Ebbw Vale and were asked to bat first on a decent looking wicket, but with a wet and slow outfield following heavy rain during the week. Unfortunately the occasion seemed to get the better of the visitors, as some loose stroke play coupled with excellent tight bowling saw them crash to 46-4 early on, as the home sides Mark Thomas (3-12) and Gwent U15 captain David Clarke (2-31) offered little in the way of loose deliveries, whilst maximising the conditions.

With the bat Monmouth failed to apply themselves and build any partnerships, and despite starts for J.Grey (17), M.Jones (12), H.Breeze (19), G.Hughes (12) and R.Shaw (10), no-one was able to go on and make a meaningful score. In fact, only 4 boundaries in total were hit in the entire innings as Monmouth capitulated to a disappointing 109 all out in the 44th over with leg spinner Sam Clarke (2-26) and Ben Evans (3-19) ripping through the lower middle order.

After tea, Monmouth knew that early wickets and faultless fielding would be required to pull off an unlikely victory, but openers Nick Pepper Jnr (11) and the hard hitting Robson Blake (67) took the score to 53 before Pepper fell to a catch by Matt Jones off the bowling of Richie Shaw (1-13). From then on Blake imposed himself on the Monmouth attack, with his boundary-laden innings consisting of 7 fours and 3 mighty sixes as Ebbw Vale knocked off the required runs with little trouble in just the 19th over for the loss of just 2 wickets. The result, coupled with Cardiff Gymkhana’s match at Pentwyn being rained off, sees Monmouth drop from 1st to 3rd place. With Monmouth currently sitting outside of the promotion places, matters are now out of their hands with just one match remaining. 

Monmouth go into Saturday knowing only a slip up from either Ebbw Vale away at Pentwyn, or Cardiff Gymkhana at home to Monkswood, along with a good win themselves away at Machen, will see them achieving a top two finish.