GLAMORGAN and Monmouthshire Cricket League bosses are to investigate the cancellation of last week’s top-of-the-table clash between second-placed Abergavenny and leaders Newbridge.

The encounter at Abergavenny’s Avenue Road was called off early on Saturday morning but the leaders requested an inspection by an independent umpire. He deemed that the field was fit to play, however by that stage it was too late.

The matter will be discussed by the league’s executive next week and a points deduction is possible, although it may be taken into consideration that the grim weather would have made completion of the game unlikely.

The episode serves as a timely reminder to clubs across the divisions given that the league has bought into the England and Wales Cricket Board’s ‘Get the Game On’ initiative which aims to reduce the number of cancelled and conceded cricket games.

Newbridge’s bid for a seventh successive league victory was scuppered by the washout and this weekend they aim to keep their winning ways when they host Sudbrook, who have enjoyed success in the Macey Shield and Welsh Cup but sit seventh in the league with two victories and three losses.

Abergavenny have been going well with four wins on the spin since a loss to Croesyceiliog in week two.

They travel to face a Chepstow side on the up in the league and fresh from a five-wicket Macey Shield quarter-final win against Monmouth in which Tyler Morgan-Huggett hit an unbeaten 62.

Third-placed Blackwood will be keenly observing what happens regarding the Avenue Road washout.

They have made an excellent start to the season with just one loss – a thriller with Abergavenny – while they also inflicted a first defeat of the season on Newbridge in the Macey.

“We’ve got a good core of players and have had the same team for the last few seasons,” said captain Richard Matthews.

“It was massive to keep hold of (former Glamorgan spinner) Kyle Tudge and Dan Wilkinson has been in good form.

“We are playing with confidence and have enjoyed some good wins while we should have won at Abergavenny after setting up the chase perfectly.

“But they are a good side and Newbridge have started the season strongly so it’s looking quite open at the top.”

They will attempt to keep the heat on their rivals against travelling Usk, who were the only team to enjoy last Saturday thanks to a three-wicket win that earned 18 points against Malpas.

They improved their average to move up to fourth in the table and bid for a fourth successive league success.

Malpas are yet to get off the mark and were beaten by Usk last week despite Michael Fussell’s unbeaten 82 and four wickets for David Griffiths.

They will hope their luck changes when they welcome Croesyceiliog, who have lost their last three fixtures since a mid-May win against Sudbrook, to Bettws Lane Tomorrow’s other fixture sees Pontypridd make the trip down the A470 to Radyr.