CRICKETERS are oiling their bats and limbering up their bowling arms ahead of the new season, with hopes that the sun keeps shining.

Usk CC 1st XI finished third in South Wales Premier One last season, ahead of the likes of Cardiff CC and Swansea CC, and will be looking to push on again.

First up this Saturday (April 12) is a 1st XI friendly at home to Malpas, followed on the Sunday by the Friendly XI hosting Miskin Manor.

Saturday, April 26, then sees the 1st XI travel over the border to just the other side of Ross to face last year's Village Knock Out quarter-finalists Aston Ingham, while the Friendly XI host Bridgend Town.

The Midweek XI then host Newport Royals on Thursday, May 1, in a Newport Big Smash clash, before the 1st XI launch their league campaign with a derby at home to newly-promoted Abergavenny.

Monmouth CC 1st XI launch their 2025 season with a friendly away to Foresters Huntley on Saturday, April 19, before their first South East Wales Seven league match at Abercarn on May 3, followed on Wednesday, May 7, with a trip to Parkend in the Forest Hundred League.

Then they host Taw CC in the SEW the following Saturday (May 10).

Chepstow 1sts host Hawkesbury Upton in a friendly this Saturday, followed by home friendlies on successive Saturdays against Malpas (April 19) and Rogerstone Welfare (April 26), with their SEW One campaign starting at home to derby neighbours Sudbrook on May 3.

Llanarth 1st XI face Abergavenny 2nds away in their SEW 5 opener on May 3, while Penallt & Redbrook are away to Gloucester 3rds in their Gloucestershire League 8A opener the same day.