MONMOUTH Cricket Club’s under 15s held their nerve in a thrilling Gwent Cup final on Sunday 27th August at Monmouth against a strong Chepstow CC side to lift the trophy in the first time in the club’s history.

Monmouth, sponsored by Burkert Fluid Solutions, were hosting three Gwent Youth Cricket cup finals, with the under 15s featuring in the early morning game.

Having lost the toss, Monmouth were asked to bat first with Chepstow making the early breakthrough removing Sam Swingwood (2) strangled down the leg side by Ben Kellaway (1-20). Monmouth then had a rebuilding period as Wales under 14 all-rounder Harry Friend (17) was joined by Wales under 15 spinner Ben Davies (17) taking the score to 41 before Friend was removed by a good delivery from Matteo (1-18), followed shortly after by Davies off the bowling of Ollie Raynor (2-9) caught trying to play just one stroke too many. From then on Chepstow controlled the innings as wickets fell steadily and Monmouth were left in the precarious situation of 65-8 with four overs still remaining. However, young Wales under 12 captain Owen Harris (9 not out) and Hayden Morris (2 not out) batted sensibly and scrambled Monmouth up to some kind of a score as the side posted 80-8 from their allotted 20 overs.  

Knowing they were probably 20-30 runs short of a par score, Monmouth knew they would have to bowl and field out of their skin to stand any chance, and got off to the perfect start when Harry Friend, bowling with great pace and rhythm, removed the dangerous Ryan Scrivens (0) in the first over. However, a 50 run partnership between Monmouth schoolboy Tom Franklin (34) and Matteo Goddard (15) threatened to take the game away before a smart run out by Friend broke the partnership in the 12th over.

Monmouth’s bowlers did a remarkable job of keeping the run rate in check and there were outstanding spells from Friend (1-11), Ben Davies (0-12), captain Ben Pilot (1-15), and leg-spinner Sam Swingwood (1-14). However, it was the spell of man of the match Oliver Berry (2-8) which really turned the game as the young Monmouth school pupil held his nerve bowling at the end with Chepstow collapsing to 63-6 with just one over remaining.

With Gwent under 14 bowler Alfie Robinson bowling the final over and the game in the balance, Chepstow batsman Joe Truckel struck his first three balls for eight runs, but with three needed off the last ball, Robinson struck back with only a single taken to see Monmouth home by the tightest of margins and spark great scenes of celebration at the ground.

In the other two finals at the ground on Sunday Chepstow under 13s were victorious over Newport under 13s by nine wickets, and then in a reversal of fortunes Newport under 11s were 20-run victors over Chepstow under 11s to cap off a cracking day at the Sportsground. Anyone interested in junior cricket at Monmouth next summer should contact [email protected]