Monmouth Cricket Club will be in Gwalia Welsh Cup action against higher-graded Chepstow at the Sports Ground this Sunday (19th May).

Paul Swingwood's men face their higher-graded opponents in a second-round tie, starting at 1.30pm. It promises to be a good challenge for underdogs Monmouth, who play two divisions lower than Chepstow.

Chepstow have a strong batting line-up and are flying high in the top division of the Thomas Carroll Glamorgan and Monmouthshire League.

Monmouth will be hoping for dry weather this Saturday when they resume their Division Three campaign with a first-ever trip to Cardiff Gymkhana.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the wet weather had the final word in their home match last Saturday against Dinas Powys at the Sports Ground. The match was abandoned at the tea interval after Dinas had posted a useful 198-8 from 42 overs with Gordon Hannah making 50. Swingwood bagged 3-23 from six overs, while Andy Bowley took 2-27 from nine, and there were wickets from Alim Hansraj (1-40) and Ben Turner (1-40).

Richard Shaw, who instigated a run-out, also bowled tidily for Monmouth in a six-over spell costing just 19 runs. Dave Croudace, wicketkeeper Matthew Jones, Tej Saran and Turner all held catches for the hosts.

Monmouth Seconds are scheduled to host Cardiff Gymkhana Seconds in 2nd XI Division Three this Saturday after last weekend's trip to Dinas Powys Seconds was rained off.

Meanwhile Monmouth, sponsored by JD Wetherspoon, have made progress in the popular Friday night Macey Cup knockout competition.

Monmouth's young side won by 13 runs in a low-scoring preliminary round match at Ponthir and will now host Abergavenny or Ebbw Vale in the first-round proper. Swingwood (21), Saran (20), Martin Newell (16) and Matthew Jones (11) led Monmouth to 94-9 from 18 overs in a rain-hit match last Friday.

But Turner (3-16), Shaw (2-14), Swingwood (1-12), Bowley (1-16) and Saran (1-23) bowled well to dismiss Ponthir for 81 in 18 overs.

Gareth Burkitt top scored with 39 for Ponthir, while teenagers Ollie Vickers, Ali Hay and Callum Philpott were outstanding in the field for Monmouth.