ADAM Roberts blasted 85 for Monmouth 1st XI and skipper Gareth Jones 55 as part of a 119-run stand in pursuit of Sully Centurions' 231 all out on Saturday.

But the seaside hosts held them off by 33 runs in the South East Wales Division 7 clash, with the visitors having to settle for 10 losing points from the competitive contest.

Monmouth had Sully at 74-4, but a 51-run fifth-wicket partnership set Sully on course for a decent target.

Ben Pilot took 3-50 off eight overs and Eddie Atkinson 2-39-8, backed by single wickets for Gareth Jones, David Teague and Adam Roberts, with the latter also securing a catch and a run out, and Sully all out in the 39th over.

Monmouth were soon 37-3, but Roberts and Jones then set to work taking the score past the 50, 100 and 150 marks before the skipper fell for a swashbuckling 55 off 52 balls that included three sixes and five fours (156-4).

Skipper Gareth Jones scored 63 to help Monmouth to victory
Skipper Gareth Jones scored 56. Photo: Monmouth CC (Monmouth CC)

But with 75 needed from 12 overs, that strong position then evaporated, as David Teague went without scoring two balls later (156-5), followed in the 32nd over by main man Roberts, caught 15 short of his ton after a 102-ball knock that included 14 fours (171-6).

With 60 needed, Peter Keay added 21, but the tail failed to wag and Monmouth were all out for 198 in the 40th over.

The 2nds got back to winning ways though at home to Blackwood 3rds in SEW 12E, winning by six wickets in a low-scoring match.

Tight bowling from Monmouth limited the visitors to just 109-4 off 40 overs, with only two batsmen making double figures, Osian Jones taking 4-24-8, backed by Tony Brennan with 2-9-8, Joe Walton 2-22-8 and Aled Jones 1-20-8.

The hosts then knocked off 105-4 in 23.1 overs to take the win, Andrew Dobbie firing 33 not out and Walton 22.

Andrew Dobbie scored 33 to guide Monmouth 2nds home
Andrew Dobbie scored 33 to guide Monmouth 2nds home (Monmouth CC)

The 3rds' trip to play Glangrwyney 2nds was cancelled owing to the weather.

But elsewhere, Paul Gittins cracked 85 off 81 balls for Llanarth 1sts at home to Ponthir in SEW 5, hitting 12 fours and a six.

Despite reaching 133-2 though, they fell 23 runs short of the 215-6 30-over target, finishing on 192-9.

Glen Hamilton and Gary Holley took wicket braces for the hosts, backed by Sean Edwards and Dan Moseley with single strikes.

But while Llanarth opener Will Heath also scored 24 and third man Sean Edwards 27 in reply, only Gary Holley with 11 could add double figures lower down the order.

Penallt & Redbrook's Saturday trip to play Upton St Leonards in Cheltenham/Gloucester/Forest One West was scuppered by the rain.

But scheduled fixtures on Saturday (July 13) include – Monmouth 1sts v Undy & Magor 1sts, Newport Fugitives 3rds v Monmouth 2nds, Lisvane 5ths v Monmouth 3rds, Llanarth 1sts v Tondu 2nds, Abergavenny 4ths v Llanarth 2nds, Penallt & Redbrook 1sts v Huntley 1sts.