AT the third time of asking Penarth finally picked up their first league win of the season with a comfortable victory over Newport Fugitives.

Having battled to a pretty reasonable 235 for 6 an impressive display with the ball ensured the Fugitives were never in the hunt as Penarth wrapped up a 95 run victory.

After electing to bat, Scott Matthews and Jamie Hitchen once again got the Penarth innings off to a solid start with some positive stroke play and although Hitchen fell for 34 in the 13th over the batting team were well on top.

Tom Sidford helped Penarth to reach three figures from just 18 overs but once Matthews departed for a well made 49 Penarth lost their way badly, losing Ryan Sylvester for 1, Richard Skone first ball and then Sidford for 39 as Fugitives fought back at 131 for 5.

The previously likely high score now seemed a long way off but after an edgy start Nick Morgan and Jack Thomas reasserted Penarth's position despite some tight bowling.

They took the score along to 188 before Thomas was stumped off Muralidhar but Morgan Humphreys brisk 17 not out helped Penarth to bag 42 runs from the last 6 overs with Nick Morgan finishing unbeaten on a fine 60. Gavin Rodway was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 42.

Penarth's new ball spell almost wrapped the result up in the first few overs of the Fugitives reply. Sidford bagged the wickets of Richard Jones and Nathan Millichip without scoring in the opening over before Sylvester picked up 2 of his own to leave the visitors reeling at 24 for 4.

Although Louis Tovey and Matthew Evans rebuilt slightly the batting team were well behind the required rate when the latter fell to Will Skone before Mark Thomas dismissed Robert Williams for a brisk 29. Richard Skone then trapped Tovey for 31 before Sidford (3 for 27) and Sylvester (4 for 21) returned to the attack to finish off the job and leave the Fugitives all out for 140.

The club would like to thank Steve and Jan Sidford for their match ball sponsorship. The first team travel to the current league leaders Gorseinon this week.

The seconds got back to action after a week off with a comprehensive victory at Cardiff.

With several regulars unavailable, Penarth elected to bowl first and although wickets were hard to come by the visitors enjoyed a good deal of control with young new ball pair Rhys McGowan and Zac Essenhigh on top.

A slightly fortuitous run out enabled Penarth to get the wicket of Richard Meggitt backing up, before change bowlers Nathan Piddock and Tim Miller got among the wickets with 2 apiece. Cardiff were under real pressure and only Dale Boorman showed any real resistance with a well made 32 as Neil Stephens worked his magic for 4 for 15.

Young Matthew Jones dug deep for 20 hard earned runs but his team's 155 was always under par.

A solid start of 35 settled the visitors reply before the wicket of Matthew Slugg, before Piddock provided an entertaining 22 before edging behind off Isaacs. As a few chances came and went Essenhigh made serene progress to his maiden 2nd XI 50 and he and Greg Cross, just 14 and 16 respectively, gave a glimpse of the future with an excellent partnership to ensure victory.

Although Cross fell for 39 and a coup!e of other wickets followed Essenhigh remained unbeaten and victory was confirmed by 5 wickets with 7 overs to spare.

The 3rds took on Blaengarw at home. Invited to bat first they made steady progress but lost wickets regularly with no batsman going on to make a big score. Captain Dan Thacker led way with 39 and they finished in 159 all out. Despite some tight bowling from Mark Frost and Andy Graveson Penarth couldn’t take enough wickets to stem the flow of runs from the Blaengarw batsmen, who reached their target with one over to spare winning by 4 wickets.

The Fourths travelled to Cynon Valley and after a quick start from the opposition managed to drag things back with tight spells from Julien Humphreys (3-19), Andy Prickett (2-14) and Angus McInnes (2-25). Cynon Valley finished on 151-9 off their 40 overs. An opening stand of 116 between Dai Carter 57 and Geoff Thomas 45 not out put Penarth in a strong position.

However, after a calamitous run out a collapse ensued and a routine victory became anything but routine. Penarth finally scraped home with only two wickets to spare in the penultimate over.

This weekend the seconds host Newport Fugitives and the Fourths host Sudbrook. The thirds make the short trip down the cost to Barry