IWAN Jones fired a superb 105 for Usk 1sts as they racked up an imposing 278-7 off their 50 overs away to Pontarddulais.

But it wasn't enough to prevent a fifth straight Premier One loss as they were leapfrogged by their opponents for the second week running, slipping to seventh with one game left.

Jones' 118-ball knock included 14 fours and a six, plus a 99-run fourth-wicket stand with John Newington-Bridges who agonisingly holed out one shy of his half century.

Matthew Williams also contributed with an unbeaten 25, alongside Hugo Caldicott with 24 and Tamoor Zafar with 20.

But an opening stand of 105 gave the west Wales side a solid start in reply, and they reached 204-3 with wickets in hand.

And a 76-run whirlwind unbeaten stand saw the hosts reach 280 without further loss in another seven overs, Will Smale, Zafar and Williams sharing the hard-earned wickets.

The 2nds were also involved in another tight game but secured victory, dismissing Rogerstone Welfare 1sts eight short of the 218-3 target with just over an over left.

Skipper opener Jamie Rayner fired 88, sharing a 97-run second wicket partnership Matthew Marriott who scored 47, backed by Joe Peacock with 21 and Ryan Jones 17 not out.

Neil Perrett then took a magnificent 5-21 off nine overs before Marriott bowled five balls and took two wickets to end the Welfare innings, all out for 210.

It proved another close game for the 3rds, who were pipped by three wickets with 1.2 overs to play at home to Ponthir 2nds, and must win their last game this Saturday to have any hope of climbing out of the drop zone.

Sam Rodden scored 57 off 60 balls and Evan Wynne 29 as Usk reached 212-9 off 40 overs.

Ross Price then took 4-35 and Dan Cordell 2-35, but scores of 67 and 54 by opener Jac Hardman and No 3 Ben Davies respectively put the visitors within sight of victory, which they clinched scoring 213-7.

Elsewhere, Llanarth scored a huge 351-9 off 45 overs at home to Pontypridd 2nds, but still lost in a game of 722 runs.

The Trees saw off one of the openers for a duck only for the next pairing to fire 201 runs, with Ethan Brown scoring 111 and Ali Saeed 99.

It proved a hard day in the field for Llanarth, who dismissed the visitors on the very last ball, but faced a mammoth 371 target.

It's to their credit that they made such a chase of it, only falling 20 runs short after 101 from Will Heath, 92 from Paul Gittins and 90 from Chris Bridges.

Indeed, at 310-3 an improbable victory looked on, but then wickets began to tumble stalling the momentum and they fell fractionally short.

The 2nds also lost by 47 runs away to Chepstow 2nds, all out for 175 chasing 222-7 off 40 overs.

Jamie George took three wickets and Anthony Norris two before the latter top-scored with 39 backed by Garry Stentiford with 28 and Adam Gilchrist 21.

Fixtures this Saturday (August 29) in the final round of league games include – Usk 1sts v Carmarthen Wanderers 1sts, Miskin Manor 1sts v Usk 2nds, Friends Union 1sts v Usk 3rds, Llandaff 3rds v Llanarth 1sts, Llanarth 2nds v Croesyceiliog 3rds.