Alec Colley Cup – First round:

 

Haverfordwest and Llangwm move into second round

 
The Alec Colley Cup got off to a gentle start with two of the three first round games getting under way – with Haverfordwest 2nds overcoming their counterparts from Neyland and a makeshift Llangwm Seconds beating a Llanrhian side boosted by three first-team regulars who hadn’t played in the Harrison-Allen Bowl.
 
Sadly, the game at Pill Parks was marred by a nasty facial injury to popular local sports journalist Fraser Watson, who was skipper of the visiting side and received a blow to the face from an unkindly bounce of the ball when he had the gloves on – and had to attend hospital and will require further dental treatment. Our thoughts go out to Fraser and we wish him a speedy return to action.
 
 

Johnston leads The Town into the second round

 

Neyland 2nds (170 for 7) lost to Haverfordwest 2nds (185 for 4) by 15 runs

 
Umpires: Chris Stapleton & Steve Williams
Scorers: Sarah Arran & Natalie Thomas
 
A sparkling innings of 86 by opener Doug Johnston took Haverfordwest into the second round, with James ‘Tacky’ Marchant giving great support before Neyland skipper Steve Morray led the home team’s comeback  but he departed at a key time and they lost just a little momentum.
 
Johnston had five big sixes and several fours in his aggressive knock before he was caught on the boundary, with Marchant falling in the inevitable late surge for runs just one short of a half century – and their large total was further helped by the gift of 24 from ‘Mr Extras;.
 
Jamie Smith defied a nasty finger injury to lead the Neyland attack with 2 for 26, assisted as Ashley Watkins (2 for 23) but errors in the field, allied to some interesting field settings, certainly helped The Town’s cause!
 
Talented youngsters Dylan James (20) and Watkins (18) helped Neyland on the way before Murray slammed four sixes in his score of 61 as Sam Laugharne (29) and another talented teenager in Corey Riley (16 not out) took the home side within striking range but useful bowling from Finley Atyeo (1 for 44), Jack Peters (3 for 41) and Marchant (2 for 25) helped The Town into round two, where they face an even tougher challenge with a trip to face a very strong Carew Seconds’ side!
 
 
 

‘Stumpy’ steers Llangwm to a high-scoring win at Pill parks

 

Llangwm 2nds (175 for 5) beat Llanrhian 2nds (174 for 3) by 5 wickets

 
Umpires: Rob Bellerby & Jon Willington
Scorers: Sara Jeffrey & Jason Cole
 
Martin ‘Stumpy’ Thomas was the hero of Llangwm’s win over Llanrhian as the veteran wicketkeeper/batsman produced his usual effervescent performance in both skills and helped talented young skipper steer them to a second-round tie at home to Pembroke.
 
But that success looked anything but unlikely as they started with several players who do not regularly play cricket and Llanrhian were soon racing away as  Russell Watkins and Jack Jones slammed the ball to all corners of the ground after Watkins and Aaron Foster (11) got them off to the flier that skipper Fraser Watson hoped for.
 
Watkins belted three sixes and eight fours as he sped to 74 and a century looked a possibility until he was well caught and fellow first teamer Jack Jones, who could find a place as an all-rounder in any team in the county, blitzed three successive sixes alongside five fours as he raced to 55 not out after a steady start.
 
Dom Asson (2 for 43) and another old-timer in Andrew ‘Ackie’ Harries (1 for 46) were the successful Llangwm bowlers.
 
Tom Rees (14) and skipper Asson (33) then got Llangwm off to a steady start before ‘Stumpy’ exerted his influence with some terrific running between the wickets and the ability to punish loose balls and his excellent innings took Llangwm to within range as ‘Ackie’ also scored 16 not out alongside 25 extras – and Llangwm were good value for victory.