A MONMOUTH side featuring several debutants and some young faces slipped to defeat against an experienced visiting side from the Forest of Dean at Penallt this past Saturday in the CGF Division Two West league.

Captain Liam Stubbs won the toss and elected to bat, opening the batting with Tom Jones. Unfortunately, Jones was removed early on after edging a shot to the Parkend slip fielder before he could get off the mark.

It was left to Stubbs to anchor a difficult innings with a dogged and workmanlike 35 before succumbing to an LBW decision to the increasingly confident Parkend attack. The inexperienced Monmouth team found runs difficult to come by with Hadrian Noble and Tony Brennan doing their best to offer the skipper some support on the scoreboard. The home side finishing on 95 all out.

Parkend’s Andy Stoddart (4-18) and Monmouth School pupil Josh Middlecote (2-7) were amongst the wickets for the visitors.

In response, Tim Andrew scored a crisp 68 not out punctuated with some big hitting and regular boundaries as the visitors took control of the match and eased to victory within 20 overs. Some bright moments came from respectable bowling figures Brennan and Stubbs and a determined spell from Shannon Maguire.

In addition there were wickets for Stubbs (sending the off stump of Van Den Bergh flying) and a well earned leg before wicket for the returning Mark Morris after some confident bowling.

It was pleasing to see a committed display in the field from Monmouth U13 Junior cricketers Hayden Morris and Rhys Walters all making the step up to senior cricket in a very positive manner.

Monmouth Thirds sponsored by Ancre Hill Vineyards will look to get back to winning ways next Saturday when they travel to Ashleworth near Gloucester to take on the Woodpeckers Seconds and avenge an early season defeat.