PANTEG captain Ian Bird will be looking to see how his players react after their batting collapse against Tata Steel cost them a first win since the second weekend of the season.

Fourth-placed Panteg are just 10 points adrift of top spot in Division Two of the South Wales Premier League, despite only claiming two outright victories this term.

However, Bird and his troops know they should have beaten Tata last Saturday, rather than folding from 113-1 to 181 all out and falling six runs short of victory.

Panteg have the chance to get back on track tomorrow when they host Newport Fugitives.

“To collapse the way we did last Saturday was bitterly disappointing,” said Bird.

“We put ourselves in a position to cruise home and should have won the game from the position we were in.

“There was some good bowling from Tata but some of our shot selection was poor, particularly from the senior players, myself included.

“We’ve had an indifferent start to the season and want to bounce back from the last loss, and I’ll be looking to see how some of the players react tomorrow.”

The Fugies, beaten by five wickets at Swansea last time out, sit just one point off Tata and St Fagans at the summit.

And Bird has not been surprised by the Fugies’ start to the summer following their promotion from the South East Wales League.

“They obviously did very well to win the league and get promoted last year,” he added.

“Given that some of their players have been at other clubs we’ve played against over the years, I’m not surprised they’ve done so well.”

Panteg top order batsmen John Glover and Callum Reid will return to the fold for the game.

In Division One, Newport emerged triumphant from their top-of-the-table clash with Cardiff at Spytty Park to close the gap on the leaders to six points.

Matt Norris and his charges will fancy their chances of getting another win on the board tomorrow when bottom side Ynysygerwn travel to Gwent.

The Neath outfit are yet to win this term but are just a point adrift at the foot of the table.

Blackwood go to Brecon tomorrow in the South East Wales League Division One having finally broken their duck.

After being on the end of five defeats and an abandonment, skipper Callum Herring guided them to a 171-run crushing of Croesyceiliog.

They remain at the bottom of the division but at least have something to build on.

Leaders Newbridge take their seven-game unbeaten record into a home encounter with second-placed Chepstow.

Next best Sudbrook go to Croesy, Malpas entertain Pontypridd and Usk go to Pentyrch.