Well, what a wonderful day was had at highfields as we welcomed Brecon to a splendid looking home ground. The track looked an absolute belter and with both teams missing some vital players, both skippers were keen to bat but it was the Nelster who seemed the more experienced tosser and elected to bat rather than be inserted (ouch).

Rogers opened up with Porky Evans who was making his first team debut this year. Brecon's opening bowler Sam Williams bowled beautifully from the top-end and guided young Reg Owens through his 1,000,000th first team game since making his debut against the Normans in 1067. He was extremely unlucky not to take a wicket in a lively opening spell of leg cutters with a tinge of bounce and pace.

Rogers and Evans played splendidly and managed to put on 78 for the first wicket before Evans decided to become a hooker (hmm) and got caught out (no jokes please) on the fine leg boundary for a well made 24. Rogers soon upped the pace and reached his half-century and by now was joined by Rob "Ron" Birch who had much to prove against Brecon after only gaining recognition up there for his ability to circumnavigate the tea table more than 20 times in ten minutes.

Even though Bircharello is in glorious form his first 20 balls were a complete disaster and he played and missed out more than Nipper on a Saturday night in Cardiff. However he soon found his range against the young Offy punishing him for too hefty sixes that brought the capacity crowd of 19 to their feet. Rogers continued relentlessly towards his 2nd century of the season and only gave once chance, a dolly at deep square leg but the Brecon outfielder could not quite manage to turn around and move one step to his right, all within around 10 seconds.

Rogers completed a well-deserved century and finally perished on a quite magnificent 144 and quite rightly got a standing ovation from the crowd which had now swelled to 21 due to his fine innings. Birchy recorded his third 50 in four knocks and with 5 overs left the Wood were 241-4. There was no respite for our travellers from the hills and FDV (Fat Danny Vettori) plundered 29 off just 13 balls and the Wood finished on an imposing 297-5 off 50 quite splendid overs.

Quite rightly the Brecon Skipper decided to go for it and sent out the dangerous Webber to open along with the steady, stoic influence of his goodself. Their Skipper unfortunately nicked a nice one from me and the Dr did the rest and he was quickly followed by the number three who had obvviously been promoted (from number 13???) to score some quick runs.

Unfortunately for Brecon their star all rounder Glyn "the Hitman" Harrhy who single-handedly destroyed the boys at Brecon pulled an hamstring and was forced to watch from the side, we wish him a speedy recovery by the time they play Chepstow (we might even pay for physio if necessary-just a joke-no bending of the rules). However credit must be given to a top-partnership between two of Brecon's crop of quality youngsters and they are sure to be a handful in the future.

FDV bowled miserly for 1-19 off 10 before "Fiery" Dicky Matthews mopped up the middle order in a nasty spell of medium pace bowling that was right up there with Derek Pringle in his prime. He picked up another three wickets and that left Brecon around 200-8. Enter Simon Davis, the young left-arm spinner, middle-order batsman ish who secured his first ever wicket with one that pitched, turned, gripped, spun, drifted and bamboozled the batsman and he was stumped by 19 feet. Grubby also snaffled one which bemused the batsman and rattled his off-stick.

Brecon finally finished on 219-9 which was good reward for a valiant chase. It was an excellent game played in fine spirits by two sides who has plenty of hard-earned respect for each other. Nineteen points in the bag and the dream is still alive with five more wins needed for immortality and the possiblity of an open-air bus ride around Blackwood city and the suburbs (Cefn Fforest etc). Also maybe the key to the city could end up in the Skipper's bag?? Come on Mayor man, realise your duties.

MOM: Rogers followed closely by Lyn for providing an absolute belter.

TFC: The Gingerbread men who were a pleasure to work with before the game.

A delighted, delectable and defined dude.