A lovely spring day at the LCG greeted Llanarth and Newport as they looked to get their league campaign, in a restructured WCCC, off to a flying start.

Llanarth lost the toss and were inserted on an excellent track with good pace and bounce and an outfield that ensured batsmen would obtain full value for their shots.

The first task for the home batters was to negate the new ball threat of Nagre, who ripped through the top order in the 2012 league fixture and threatened to do similar damage here when trapping K Spencer and Proctor lbw.

Willbourn joined Baxter at the crease and the pair began to rebuild the innings, nudging the score to 56 before Willbourne lost his off peg. Home skipper Heath strode to the crease and he and Baxter increased the tempo as the Trees looked to post a competitive total.

After a partnership of 71 in 13 overs the pair fell in quick succession. Francis and Griffiths then took over the mantle in a vital seventh wicket partnership. The latter, plucked from the golf course on the morning of the match, unfurled a couple of delicious strokes that suggested intensive winter netting, a back foot cover drive for four that no fielder moved for being the pick. The innings closed on a useful 190-6.

Following sarnies, quiche and cakes the Llanarth bowlers set about defending the total through Baxter and Bisson. An unfit Baxter delivered some passable medium dob from the Road End, while Bisson was far more threatening with his accurate wobblers.

The first wicket was via a run out when A Spencer took advantage of some Newport hesitation to throw down the wicket with a direct hit.

This brought Nagre to the crease to join his captain, Thompson, in the key partnership that the Trees had to break quickly. C Powell and A Spencer (3-20) were introduced into the attack and a good contest between bat and ball ensued before Spencer, steaming down the hill, ended it with the last ball before drinks by clean bowling Nagre.

Spencer followed this up by handing out the same medicine to the next two batsmen and when Powell struck too the Newport innings was subsiding at 105-5.

Llanarth thought the match clinching blow was struck by Whistance when his Akram-like left-arm round reverse swing induced a false stroke from dangerman Thompson (64), the offering being smartly taken by Francis.

Alas, for the Trees, Newport hadn't given up hope as Salman and Davies batted sensibly to inch their team back into the match with a good partnership.

With Willbourn bowling well Baxter was recalled to the attack to bowl out from the Road End and try to close out the game.

Eighteen runs were required from two overs when Willbourn delivered a fantastic penultimate over conceding just four and picking up the wicket of Davies to boot.

Just three came from the first three balls and with Newport desperately requiring a boundary Salman sliced a swipe vertically allowing Baxter to clasp a return catch to end the innings at 180 all out and victory for Llanarth by 10 runs.