Monmouth Cricket Club - First team report

MONMOUTH Cricket Club remain top of the Worcestershire County League Division 2 despicrashing to their first defeat of the season.

The Welshmen suffered a comprehensive five-wicket home reverse to mid-table Coombs Wood at the Sports Ground last Saturday.

Monmouth, sponsored by JD Wetherspoon, paid the penalty for a very poor fielding display in which they dropped five catches.

Monmouth, with 121 points, are joint top of the Division 2 table with Oldswinford, while Pedmore are third (117 points) and Burghill & Tillington, fourth (113 points).

Monmouth's Cole McConchie was in sparking form with the bat against Coombs Wood, striking a superb 93 in the hosts' 216 all out in 50 overs.

The 18-year-old Kiwi batsman elegantly drove a series of boundaries and served up a real treat for his mum and grandmother who had arrived from New Zealand.

The New Zealand Under-17 international almost struck his mum with one of his boundaries.

A brutal hook shot from McConchie bounced once before flashing narrowly past his mum who was sitting in the pavilion.

Monmouth slipped to 42-3 before McConchie and Wayne Etheridge (20) and repaired the innings with a 77-run stand for the fourth wicket.

McConchie was eventually dismissed just seven short of a maiden club century when, in trying to execute a sweep shot, the ball despairingly trickled on to his stumps.

Tej Saran blasted a quick-fire 40 not out, including two huge sixes into the trees off opening bowler Asif Iqbal (3-85), as Monmouth posted a respectable 216.

Spinner Venross (5-41 off 12) was the pick of the Coombs Wood bowling attack.

In reply, the Halesowen club took advantage of some wayward bowling and two early dropped catches from the Monmouth fielders.

Miles Langford (88) and Dave Moorcroft (38) put the visitors in control with a 95-run opening stand.

Jonathan Roberts held a magnificent one-handed diving catch off the bowling of Jonathan Jones but the visitors then reached 171 before the second wicket fell.

Skipper Paul Swingwood (2-27 off 7.1 overs) and Jody Roberts (2-24 off 7) both bowled with control and claimed wickets as Monmouth made a late rally.

Despite their wobble, Coombs Wood eventually reached their target, for a deserved victory, in 46.1 overs.

The match balls were sponsored by Peter Ingram and Richard Isaac dental surgeon.

Monmouth will be hoping to return to the winning trail on Saturday when they travel to struggling Feckenham, an unhappy venue for the team in recent years.