As we approach the half-way stage in this year’s Monmouthshire Building Society Youth Cricket League the frontrunners are beginning to establish themselves in most of the Divisions.

Seemingly unstoppable are Newport A who have opened up a ten-point lead over Monmouth, in the Under 11 Premier Division, after seven straight victories.

Meanwhile, Newport B have overtaken Newport Girls to take over the lead of the Under 11 First Division East, unbeaten in four matches. In the First Division West, there is now a three-way tie at the top between Blackwood B, Rogerstone and Pontymister with Newport Fugitives and Ebbw Vale just two points behind.

At Under 13, Sudbrook A stay at the top of the 20-Over Division after six straight wins with Abergavenny still in second place. In the Pairs East Division Newport Girls also remain in the lead, after five victories, ahead of Chepstow B. In the Pairs West Division, Rogerstone A, unbeaten after four games, have joined Cefn Fforest at the top.

At Under 15, Chepstow A have edged into first place in the Premier Division with Newport A, Ebbw Vale and Monmouth sharing second place. In the First Division, Sudbrook, unbeaten in three matches, share the lead with Usk with Rogerstone and Ponthir just two points behind. In the Pairs Division, Croesyceiliog B still head the table with Newport Girls in second place.

The individual performance of the week must surely be that of Ryan Avery who took 6 wickets for 6 runs and followed this up with 42no in Croesyceilog’s victory over Blackwood in the U15 Premier Division. Meanwhile, Lewys Jones (Chepstow) took 4 for 8 in the same Division. At Under 11, Olly Robson had three scores over 30 in his pair’s four overs. At Under 13, Richard Monnington (Abergavenny) scored a total of 88 in three innings without getting out and Toby Mayo (Pentwyn) took 4 wickets for 5 runs.

Under 11 Best Performances: (3+ wkts, 15+ runs not out, good fielding)

Blackwood James Chalk 2 catches & 1 stumping Crumlin Mason Rogers 3 - 12 Ebbw Vale Ieuan Taylor 15, Ellis Jones 3-7, Matthew Hall 15 Monmouth George Walker 15, Sam Uttley 3-7 Newport Muaaz Shahid 30, Ben Hope-Bell 28, Sam Protheroe 25, Ross Mohring 22, Matt Stewart 3-5 Rogerstone Olly Robson 34, 30 & 31, Owen Dilger 22, Ben Williams 20 Usk Jamie Jones 28

Under 13 20-Over Best Performances (Batters retire at 30): (3+ wkts, 30+ runs retired, 20+ runs not out, good fielding)

Abergavenny Richard Monnington 32 ret, 30ret & 26no, M Bevans 30ret & 32ret Blackwood Jack Thomas 31ret, Adam Lewis 30ret Brynmawr Danny Bevans 30ret, Robin Richards 32ret Chepstow H Pinchard 32ret, Thomas Franklin 33ret, George Bazley 31ret & 30ret, Ryan Scrivens 31ret, Thomas Franklyn 30ret Malpas N Martin 33ret, J Hinkley 30ret, Ellis James 3-0, L Turner 3-1 Monmouth Ben Pilot 31ret, Ben Davies 25no, Sam Williams 23no Newport Tom Evans 31ret Newport Fugitives Meirion Thomas 3-7, Jack Davies 28no Sudbrook Scott O’Leary 33ret & 3-6, Mark Shanley 31ret

Under 13 Pairs Best Performances: (3+ wkts, 20+ runs not out, good fielding)

Chepstow Thomas Franklin 28 Cross Keys K. Howells 3-4 Ebbw Vale Alfy Morgan 21, Ieuan Taylor 3-14 Llanarth Ben Baker 21 Newport Nathan Berry 30, Morgan Mohring 23 & 3-2, Will Bewley 21 Newport Girls Sophie Osborne 26, A Watson 21 Pentwyn Toby Mayo 4-5 Rogerstone Mitchell Ryall 33

Under 15 20-Over Best Performances: (3+ wkts, 30+ runs, good fielding)

Chepstow Lewys Jones 4-8 Croesyceiliog Ryan Avery 6-6 & 40no Machen Sam Clifford 45 Panteg Jack Boddenham 33 Ponthir Sam Harrison 35 Rogerstone Ella Reed 44 Sudbrook Elliot Thomas 41no, Ellis Ferriman 42no Usk Jack Turner 36

Under 15 Pairs Best Performances: (3+ wkts, 25+ runs not out, good fielding)

Croesyceiliog Derryn O’Rourke 25