Usk have weekend to forget

After the previous weekend’s successes, Usk’s sides lost out to their Swansea counterparts in the latest round of matches; both the first an seconds team losing comfortably

On a sunny Saturday afternoon at the St Helen’s Ground, Swansea first team captain Mark Payne won the toss and chose to insert the visitors from Usk. It was Swansea who made the better start as Usk lost both of their openers with only 10 on the board. After this pitiful start Usk were rescued by Travis Townsend (107*) and Ollie James (58), who posted 147 for the third wicket. Unfortunately this was the only partnership worth writing home about. After James fell, only two other batsmen made double figures and Usk limped up to 222-9 from their allocated 50 overs. For Swansea, Dwayne Batchelor and Josh Hughes each picked up three wickets.

Swansea’s reply got off to a sound start as Jack Sheppard (107*) and Rhodri Evans (43) put on 95 for the first wicket fell to Travis Townsend. Townsend then captured another quick wicket to get Usk back in the game; however, this was as good as it got for Usk as Rhodri Lloyd (56*) helped Sheppard guide the hosts home with 8 wickets and almost 13 overs to spare.

Meanwhile back at the Athletic Club Ground in Usk, Usk seconds skipper, Sanjay Thapan, won the toss and elected to bat first. It was the visitors from Swansea however, who made the better start. Usk’s top order struggled badly as only Sion Francis (30) got to grips with the Swansea bowling. Usk were reeling at 68-5. Richard Rees (21) and Gavin Jones (15*) did mount something of a recovery as they guided the hosts to 101-5, but as soon as Rees fell, the wicket tumbled and Usk were all out for 121 in the 37th over. The star of the show for Swansea was Adam Morris, who finished with the impressive figures of 7-0-37-5.

To have any chance Usk needed to strike early, and they did just that as Jack Stedman took an early scalp. With only further wicket falling though, Swansea skipper, Ceri James (61*), and Keri Chahal (32*) easily guided the visitors home in the 33rd over with 8 wickets to spare.

Usk will be hoping to return to winning ways this Saturday, when the firsts entertain Sully and the seconds travel to take on the same opponents. Both games begin at 1:30pm. On Sunday the Usk U-17s play at home to Rogerstone U-17s. This match begins at 2:00pm.