A MONMOUTH dentist combined business with cricket last week when he travelled to South Africa to deliver a specialist workshop.

Gareth Jones, who owns and runs Monmouth Dental Practice, was invited to SICON, an international conference organised by dental implant company, Southern Implants.

Gareth, along with his friend Dr Aly Virani, gave a fascinating lecture to delegates from across the world on a new protocol they’ve developed.

The pair’s dental implant protocol allows the placement of a special type of implant at the same time as a molar tooth is extracted.

This new technique is due to be published in a leading scientific journal later this month.

Gareth was also invited to judge a competition where 10 fellow dental professionals presented their research.

A keen member of Monmouth Cricket Club, where he plays in the first team alongside his eldest son Osian and coaches the women’s teams, Gareth took the opportunity to get some match practise ahead of the new season.

At the end of the academic programme of SICON, Gareth’s attention turned to a social cricket match at the stunning Somerset West club near Cape Town.

Wearing his white Monmouth club shirt with pride, Gareth took one wicket in three overs, endured five dropped catches off his bowling, and then blazed a quick-fire 20 not out.

It was a promising warm-up match for Gareth and rounded off fittingly with a post-game South African braai.

Now Gareth is looking forward to returning to work at his St James’ Square business, preparing for his vice-captaincy role in newly-promoted Monmouth’s upcoming South-East Wales Cricket League Division 6 campaign, and coaching the club’s women’s hardball and softball teams.

Recent club successes include: Three-time double winners of the Herefordshire Marches League and cup, runners up in Worcestershire County League Division 3, plus finishing 3rd in Division 2 in 2010 .