Ross added to their run of recent successes with a first away win of the season in the picturesque surroundings of Crickhowell at the weekend.

The 24-point win against Abergavenny/Crickhowell CC takes Ross up to fifth in the league standings as the season nears the halfway point.

Ross were asked to bat first after Jack Donovan called incorrectly for the fourth away game on the trot and the new opening partnership of Richard Jeffryes and Jim Lewis was soon broken when Ben Bowker dismissed Jeffryes for a duck. Bowker quickly followed up by removing Stu Mair lbw before Lewis and Charlie Cole began to repair the damage from 16-2. The pair added 30 and saw off the opening attack before Lewis became the third lbw victim of the day when out for 20.

Cole was out shortly after, for 10, to give the home side hope of restricting Ross to a manageable total but an excellent 50 run partnership between the maturing Alex Springer and Donovan for the 5th wicket kept Ross ahead in the game. When Springer was out for his 1st XI best score of 33, Tom Edwards quickly picked up the run rate, adding 26 in his typical hard hitting manner.

Donovan eventually perished for a patient 49 then Alex Davies and Adam Davies pushed Ross along before Chloe Tingle’s 11 took the Ross total past 200 for the first time this season and the innings finally closed on 208-9.

After tea, Adam Davies and Chloe Tingle opened the bowling for Ross and Tingle struck with her first ball taking a return catch to dismiss Wallace, the host’s captain.

Davies soon followed with a wicket of his own, removing the other opener when Donovan took a catch at short extra cover. Donovan and Cameron Hill then took over the attack as Joseph Bowker made his intentions clear that he was going to attack the bowling at every opportunity.

Donovan removed Christie for 10 thanks to a good catch by Tom Edwards in the gully. Hill clean bowled Jenkins before Donovan claimed another, to leave the hosts at 80-5 but with Bowker smashing his way past 50, the hosts remained well up with the run rate.

Cameron Hill made a key breakthrough just before the drinks break when the experienced Greg Tew hit into the leg-side and Alex Springer took an excellent tumbling catch at mid-wicket. Chloe Tingle returned to the attack and clean bowled another Aber/Crick batsman to leave the home side on 105-7.

J Bowker was joined by brother Ben and after a few more hefty blows, an excellent pick up and throw by Adam Davies enabled Jim Lewis to whip off the bails and run out the latter.

Shortly after, Donovan won an lbw decision to take the ninth wicket before the final pairing teed off at every opportunity, cutting the deficit to 49 before last man Price (19) skied behind square and Charlie Cole ran around to complete a well-judged catch and wrap up the win for Ross.

Joseph Bowker’s unbeaten 87 could not prevent his side from slipping to defeat whilst for Ross, Donovan finished with 4-42, Hill 2-51, Tingle 2-35 and Davies 1-28 to complete a solid all round performance by the team.

A return to home comforts this weekend sees Ross entertain sixth placed Builth Wells at The Park.