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Harrison Allen – Who will win the Bowl this year?

Can Neyland upset The Town?

The simple answer to that question is ‘Of course they can!’ despite the fact that Haverfordwest start as 6 to 4 on favourites with most local bookies!

A look at the relative merits of Neyland and Haverfordwest is fascinating because both teams are packed with players adept at their role in the game, with no perceptible passengers or players who are just there for their fielding prowess. This is a final packed with quality, real run-making ability, varied bowling attacks and sharpness in the field – and could swing on one big performance in either side.

Will experience play a part?

The Town are clearly more experienced and this might play some part because some of their players have played in many finals whilst Neyland’s squad have an average of one final per man, that coming two seasons ago when they lost to Cresselly. It can play a part – ask Simon Holliday about that because the ace Haverfordwest batsman made his debut as a potential star in last season’s final and he had a duck and a rather slow 17!

Town edge the batting stakes

Holliday is in a rich vein of form after scoring 400-plus runs in his last four innings, whilst three of those were not out, and he will be joined by Karl Rhead, Ben Field, Dai Davies and Danny Potter as the stroke players, with potential ‘pinch hitters’ in Dan Field, Adam James, Nathan Banner and Jonathan Strawbridge as a major plus for The Town.

For Neyland, Paul Murray is their quality stroke-maker alongside Nick Koomen and Andrew Miller as their other major batsmen, whilst Gregg Miller, Sean and Patrick Hannon, Andrew Slark and Paul Miller are others who can score runs. Haverfordwest certainly look the stronger overall in this area and there is currently some debate about whether key young Neyland all-rounders Henry Durrant and Ashley Sutton will be available and if they can’t play it could be a decisive factor!

Parity on the bowling front

On the bowling front, Durrant’s left-arm pace stuff alongside the accuracy of Patrick Hannon often gives Neyland a good start, whilst Gary Lloyd is still one of the best spin bowlers in the county and he forms a very useful spin duo with skipper Andrew Miller, a proven wicket-taker, with Gregg Miller, Koomen, Sutton and 13 year old leg-spinner Scott Jones as other possible options.

Haverfordwest also have their ‘spin twins’ in Holliday’s left arm stuff and Clive Tucker’s canny off-spinners, which are frequently used at the start of the innings, whilst Adam James and Nathan Banner provide the pace stuff, both young and eager but sometimes conceding wide balls. Dai Davies and Jonathan Strawbridge provide further back up – but the bowling section leaves the teams looking on par with each other.

Neyland are great in the field

Neyland’s average age is far lower than Haverfordwest’s and they are rightly regarded as the best fielding team in the county, with Gregg Miller setting the tone. They play really well for each other and their throwing in from the boundary is excellent. Haverfordwest can also play it tight but will be looking to avoid dropping three catches in four balls, as they did in the semi-final! Sean Hannon has developed into an excellent keeper for Neyland whilst Huw Scriven is still rightly regarded as the best glove man in the county, with the ability to stand up to the stumps and get rid of key opponents with his glove speed.

Experienced skippers and nothing in it!

Both teams also have very good captains as Andrew Miller has now led Neyland for over a decade and Huw Scriven has been captain of Haverfordwest for three seasons. They can rally their troops well and certainly lead by example – and both would dearly love to raise the Bowl aloft on Saturday evening!

So in the final analysis it is easy to see why local cricketers feel that the result could be close and could be decided on a special moment or individual performance. There is no doubt that Haverfordwest have more ‘big match’ players but Neyland off-set that by their self-belief and eagerness to win something at last for the club. What is certain is that it should be a great day out at Cresselly and for once this particular old pundit is sitting firmly on the fence because I just cannot decide who will take the Harrison-Allen Bowl home with them!

 

As usual in our preview of the Harrison-Allen Bowl, we have asked a variety of people involved in local cricket for their views on who will be the 2011 winners of the coveted Bowl. Will it be Haverfordwest or Neyland? Most pundits and players seem to think Haverfordwest will end up as winners but all agree on two things – that both teams are packed with quality players and it should be a mighty close call!

Rob Williams (Lawrenny):
It’s going to be close, very close because it is a case of experience (Haverfordwest) against youth (Neyland). Both teams are packed with good batting but over two innings I think that Haverfordwest have more ‘big guns’. Players like Simon Holliday, Karl Rhead and Huw Scriven are big players for Haverfordwest currently firing well, and they could just swing it their way.

Lyn Richards (Cresselly):
I have to go for Haverfordwest because they are a little stronger overall, especially in the batting line ups. Neyland need to be ahead at the interval to have a real chance – but I think Haverfordwest will edge it because I can’t see them failing twice. I think it will be very close though and it should be a cracking final to watch.

Matthew Davies (Whitland):
I think Haverfordwest have definitely got the stronger batting order and Neyland rely a great deal on a few players but they are the much better fielding side and have more variety in their bowling. I have to pick Haverfordwest but I won’t be surprised if Neyland win!

Richard Merriman (Umpire)
On paper everything points to Haverfordwest but it’s all about who excels on the day. Simon Holliday is a big cog in the Haverfordwest machine so he is under added pressure and will face a Neyland side that are better in the field and are eager to taste success in this competition. It could easily go either way but I think Neyland are slightly better balanced as a team and if pushed I would pick them to cause a bit of a surprise!

Simon Cole (Cresselly):
I think it will be pretty close because they are both in form and eager to win. Neyland are sure to win something soon because they are very close-knit and support each other but might be without a couple of key players in this final. Simon Holliday is in top form for Haverfordwest and they have some very experienced players in the final – and I think it could just swing in Haverfordwest’s favour.

Marc Hughes (Narberth):
I’ll go for Haverfordwest because of their all-round batting strength but it could be very close. Neyland are the best fielding side we have met and they really play as a team under Andrew Miller. They will give 100% in all they do and could cause an upset – but my money would have to go on Haverfordwest.

David Gibbs (Local cricket pundit):
I think Neyland will win the 2011 Harrison-Allen Bowl. They are really together as a team under the captaincy of Andrew Miller and are excellent in the field. They showed their capabilities by beating Carew in the semi-final and although Haverfordwest are a strong team under the captaincy of Huw Scriven and with in-form batsmen like Simon Holliday, both teams look balanced with their batting and bowling so I think that Neyland might just edge it this season.

James Caine (Saundersfoot):
I think Haverfordwest will win because they are very strong in the batting line-up and over two innings will take some stopping. Neyland are a very good side but Haverfordwest are just that bit better balanced, as they proved when we lost to them in the final. Holliday and Co should win it for Haverfordwest!

Nick Scourfield (Carew):
It should be a good final but I think Haverfordwest just have that edge in the overall batting and experience. Both have useful bowling options, both using spin early on, but with Holliday in great batting form, supported by the likes of Danny Potter and Ben Field, I have to go for them as favourites.

Peter Bradshaw (St Ishmaels):
Haverfordwest must be favourites because of their batting power over two innings although Neyland will push them all the way. When we played at The Racecourse they literally batted us out of contention and still had the likes of Dai Davies, Danny Potter and the rest still to come in if we took more wickets. Paul Murray, Andrew Miller and Nick Koomen will need to score a heap of runs for Neyland – but I still think Haverfordwest will pass them to win!

 

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