THE female players at Monmouth Cricket Club begin their 2026 season in South Wales Women’s Hardball League Division 1 with a trip to Vale a week on Sunday (April 26, noon).

The team, captained by Ashley Burdett, travel to Corntown near Bridgend for their opener, in a strong-looking division that also includes Abergavenny, Sudbrook, Malpas and Newport Fugitives.

Monmouth’s second league fixture of the campaign is a derby against Abergavenny at the Sports Ground on Sunday May 10 (noon).

And as well as meeting local teams, Monmouth will also be facing Cardiff 2nds, Neath, Penarth, Cardiff-based Sapphires, and Western Steel 2nds, a partnership between two clubs in Carmarthenshire and South-West Wales.

It promises to be an exciting challenge for Monmouth’s women who have been training hard during pre-season under the guidance of coach Gareth Jones.

In addition to her hardball duties, Burdett will be skippering Monmouth in the South-East Softball League Division 3 (Tier 2), where they open their league account at the Sports Ground on Sunday, May 3, with fixtures against Newbridge 2nds (11am) and Malpas (3pm).

In their second round of matches in the six-team division, Monmouth will travel to Newbridge on Sunday, May 31 , to face the host club’s 2nds (11am) and Llanarth (1pm).

Meanwhile, Monmouth’s senior team are preparing for their South-East Wales League Division 6 bow with a friendly at neighbouring Llanarth this Saturday (April 18).

Just 24 hours later, Monmouth are then scheduled to travel to Huntley near Newent for their second warm-up fixture (Sunday, April 19).

Their third warm-up match is away to Undy & Magor a week on Saturday (April 25).

Anyone interested in joining Monmouth Cricket Club this season can contact club chairman Mike Maguire on [email protected] or for specific information on women's and girls' cricket, email [email protected]