JOE Monk starred with five wickets as Newtown maintained their strong end to the season with a 52 run victory at Knockin

Town struggled for runs with openers John Anthony (10) and Aaron Knight (7) falling cheaply to Daniel Morris (2-15) before Ricky Davies and Sam Cooke combined in a 25 run third wicket stand.

However Cooke’s departure to Lawrence Hitchen (1-16) sparked a middle order wobble as Davies (16) fell to Hugh Morris and Tom Anderson caught by Marcus Williams off Lloyd Edwards (1-21) for six to leave Town 67-5.

Monk and David Anthony steadied the ship with a 54 run sixth wicket guiding Town to 121 when Monk was trapped LBW by Robert Ford for 20.

Ford completed his 2-25 with Bryant Galpin caught and bowled for a duck while Hugh Morris (4-28) celebrated the wicket of Anthony, stumped by Rhys Williams for a top scoring 26 to leave Newtown all out for 140.

Anthony drew first blood in reply, bowling Hitchen for 11 before Anderson (1-20) dislodged Seth Bradbury (6).

Jak Jones (16) proved Monk’s first victim of the day with Rhys Williams also caught by Cooke for four and Jonny Evans bowled for a duck to reduce Knockin to 46-5.

Lloyd Edwards and Tom Dix combined in a 29 run sixth wicket stand before the latter snared LBW by Galpin (1-11) for four.

John Anthony celebrated the key wicket of Edwards for a top scoring 24 and completed his 2-8 with Ford caught by brother David for a duck.

Man of the match Monk polished off the tail end resistance to complete his 5-18 and Knockin’s dismissal for just 88 in the 26th over.