ROSS CC fell to a 10-wicket Forest Hundred League midweek loss at table-toppers Monmouth, who have made an impressive start to the new campaign with five successive victories.

Monmouth, sponsored by Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, finished top of the ladder last season, but lost in the knockout final to Cinderford St John’s.

The hosts’ skipper Ben Pilot was in scintillating form with the bat last Wednesday, hammering an unbeaten 71 from just 25 balls in the run chase, making him the league’s leading run-maker so far this season with 178 runs.

Earlier in the evening, Charlie Bowden scored 43 off 31 balls for Ross, including six fours, and captain Michael Willis an unbeaten 26, including two sixes, while opener Mudassir also contributed 17, including two fours and a six.

But in reply to the 118-6 target from 100 balls, Pilot laid into the visitors’ bowling in brutal fashion, crashing 11 fours and three sixes.

Sharing an unbroken opening stand with Matt Jones who scored 37 not out, the duo powered Monmouth to the target with 44 deliveries to spare.

Elsewhere, Newent’s midweek team won by two wickets away to Cooper’s Edge in the Gloucester Evening League, reaching 135-8 with two balls of their 20 overs left in reply to 134-7.

Will Trumper top-scored for Newent with 38 off 22 balls, backed by Luke Merchant with 26 and Simon Hartland 22.

The weather wrecked Saturday’s programme, although Aston Ingham managed to play their Herefordshire and Powys National Village Cup match on Sunday at Brockhampton.

But dismissed for 159 on the penultimate ball of their 40 overs, they were then beaten by five wickets as the hosts raced to 163-5 with six overs to spare.

Anthony James fired 62 for Aston, but he was the only big scorer.

Aston visit Lydney tonight (Wednesday, June 10) in the Forest Hundred, while Ross host Tintern Monks and Goodrich visit Cinderford.