CRICKET followers in the area will be converging on Monmouth Sports Ground for the prestigious Macey Shield final on Sunday 9th August.

Croesyceiliog, from Cwmbran, and Risca outfit Pontymister will be battling it out at Monmouth Cricket Club for the top prize in the annual 20-overs-a-side competition.

Croesyceiliog have never won the Macey Shield and Pontymister registered their sole success in 1986.

Monmouthshire Cricket Association run the knockout competition and it involves the top senior clubs in the region.

Croesyceiliog booked their place in the final after overcoming Chepstow, while Pontymister defeated Sudbrook in their last-four tie.

Macey Sports, from Newport, has sponsored the competition since 1981 and it has been won by 12 different clubs.

Monmouth reached the quarter-final stage of this season’s event after beating Ponthir but bowed out after a five-wicket loss at Chepstow.

Sudbrook are the most successful club in the history of the Macey Shield, having won it six times.

Newport and Usk have both clinched the trophy on five occasions.

Other clubs who have their names the trophy are: Chepstow (4), Abergavenny (4), Panteg (3), Llanarth (2), Malpas (1), St Fagans (1), Llanwern (1), Blackwood (1).

Monmouth Cricket Club is proud to be hosting the final for the first time this century, with a good turn out expected after around 300 people watched Blackwood win the county final last season.

The match starts at 3pm and Monmouth will be opening the bar from 1.30pm, organising a barbecue and running a raffle for CLIC Sargent – a charity that supports children and young people with cancer.