Records are there to be broken and one individual landmark is certainly looking under threat at Monmouth Cricket Club this summer writes Ian Morgan.

Opener Matt Jones has been in superb form since returning to the club, cracking 603 league runs so far as the first-team top the table in South-East Wales League Division 7.

With five league fixtures remaining this term, ‘Pup’ is well-placed to eclipse the record for the most first-team league runs scored by a Monmouth batter in a season. The current individual record is held by all-rounder Adam Roberts, who made 886 league runs in 2016, while Josh Grey is second on the list with 858 runs in 2015.

New Zealand overseas star Cole McConchie, who hit 806 league runs in 2010 and the prolific David Teague, who smashed 793 runs in his first season at Monmouth in 2004, are also listed.

Back in May, Jones achieved the fifth highest individual score by a Monmouth batter in a first team fixture when he blasted 155 not out against Sudbrook Seconds. Josh Grey holds the record for the highest individual total by a Monmouth batter in competitive cricket for his 202 against Machen in September 2015.

Fraser Kilgour is second on the list for his 167 against Kidderminster in July 2011, while joint third are David Teague and Rob Prewett, who both hit 164 not out.

Grey was also heavily involved in Monmouth’s record first-team total in league cricket as they piled up 386-5 against Creigiau in June 2022.

On the bowling front, Simon Owens holds the long-standing record for Monmouth’s best-ever first-team figures in a league match, taking 8-38 against Burghill & Tillington in May 1996.

Second on the list is Dave Wilding, who snapped up 8-63 against Llanarth in a Gwent Premier League derby in July 1984.

South African left-arm spinner Mark Temple holds the modern-day record for the most first-team league wickets in a season for Monmouth, snapping up 46 in 2007.

Seam bowler Jonathan Roberts came close to matching Temple’s tally, taking 43 wickets in 2008, while youngster Ben Davies, another left-arm spinner, bagged 36 in 2015.

On the first-team fielding front, Dan Head still leads the way with a record tally of 31 victims in the 2007 season, including 21 stumpings off Temple’s bowling.

Simon Owens, meanwhile, also holds the best bowling figures for Monmouth’s Second team in league cricket for his 8-26 against Builth Wells Seconds in August 1994.

Life-member Idris Leonard, who took 58 league wickets and Ian Morgan, who scored 814 league runs, set the seasonal bowling and batting records respectively for the second team in 2006. Graham Hyde, who now plays his cricket with Penallt, achieved the highest individual score for a Monmouth second team batter in league cricket for his 166 not out at Builth Wells in May 2005.

David Teague is second on the list after slamming a match-winning 139 not out in a rare second team outing, at Woolhope, in Marches League Division 2 in June 2005. Former chairman Martin Newell is third for his 139 against Crickhowell Seconds in July 2003, while Jonathan Roberts is fourth for 138 against Crumlin Seconds in June 2023.

The second team’s highest-ever league total remains their 306-4 against Crickhowell Seconds - the match in which Newell struck his maiden century.

David Teague also leads the way for the highest third team individual score, hitting 152 not out against Usk Thirds in May 2021. Grant Pendleton’s 123 lifted the thirds to their highest-ever team total – 314-9 at Sully Spartans in June 2018. Eddie Atkinson (6-14) recorded the best third-team bowling figures against Glangrwyney Seconds in August 2023, closely followed by Neil Saunders’ 6-29 against Newent Thirds in June 2017.

For the Sunday team, Dan MacDonald cracked 149 against Tintern in July 2005, with Tej Saran bagging 7-30 against Twyford in 2007.