Pembroke County Cricket Club Under 15s Junior League Final:

 

Cresselly/Stackpole (88-5) Beat Hook/Llangwm (87-6) by 5 wickets

Venue: St Ishmaels Cricket Club
 
Umpires: Allan Hansen and Dai Goodridge
Scorers: Lee Smith and Jonathan Willington
 
This year’s final was between the top two sides, both from Zone A ,in a very closely-contested affair that had spectators/coaches’ nerves jangling but was eventually settled in the 19th over when the combined team from Cresselly and Stackpole beat their combined counterparts from Hook/Llangwm after the winners had beaten Saundersfoot in the one semi-final whilst the runners-up despatched Whitland in the other.
 
George Smith, captain of C/S, won the toss and asked his counterpart Callum Jenkins from H/L to bat.
Lewis Miller and Callum Jenkins made a good start with both despatching the opening bowlers to the boundary.
 

H/L struggle after Smith strikes with vital wickets

 
However with George Smith's first change, he bowled Miller for 8 and taking a marvellous return catch, dismissed the dangerous- looking Jenkins for 19 so that  C/S had made an important break- through.
 
Joe Phillips (15), Seth Willington (7) and Finlay Elerick (12, including one enormous straight 6) continued to bat well. But with Smith  (2-5), Ben Callen (2-15), Josh Lewis (1-14) and (Ben Davies 1-12) all taking wickets at important times, aided by some fine catches by Jack  Perrins and  Dan Jenkins, restricted the score before  James Price (not out 7) and Dillon  James (not out 1) meant Hook/Llangwm finished on 87 for 6 wickets.
 

Solid stand sets up CS win

 
It was important for H/L to get off to a good start with the ball against a strong C/S and Lewis Miller duly obliged, taking the important wicket of George Smith with his first ball. However the experienced pair of Josh Lewis and Jamie Goldsworthy showed their class by batting sensibly against some tight bowling before Lewis retired on 35 and Goldsworthy (25, bowled Jenkins) had moved the score on to 77  for 1.
 
With both gone,  H/L showed their character and resolve, with an inspired spell of 3-6 by James Price setting up an exciting finale but despite the comeback, Ben Davies' (with a crucial 6 not out) held his nerve to see Cresselly/Stackpole over the line to rapturous applause.
 
The game was an excellent example of how cricket should be played in a competitive manner but in the correct spirit as both teams showed off their cricket skills to the large crowd that gathered at St Ishmaels.
 

Congratulations from organiser Martin . . .

 
With Hook appearing in the Under 11s ,Under 13s and jointly in the 15s Final, congratulations must be awarded to themselves and to two young players, Liam Miller and Oscar Willington who appeared in all three finals, which surely must be a record and one for the history books.
 
In the presentation after the match, Martin Jones (Junior Organiser)  congratulated both sides on reaching the final  with some excellent play by both Cresselly/Stackpole for their victory and Hook/Llangwm for making it an excellent final, so both clubs should be proud of their junior sections – and  added that coaches Ryan Lewis and Jamie Phelps also deserve great praise for their efforts.
 

. . . And thanks galore

 
He thanked St Ishmaels for hosting the final, including  Mel Williams  and Chris Bradshaw, the groundsman, and after the game, Wendy Bradshaw and Pat Williams for preparing sausages and burgers  for the players, which was well received.
 
He thanked umpires  Allan  Hansen (and with the game put back a day due to weather), to David Goodridge, the St Ishmaels 2nd team umpire, who stood at square leg  at short notice, as well as scorers Jon Willington and Lee Smith, who all contributed to the evening’s entertainment.
 

Smashing presentation

 
Last and by no means, least Martin thanked sponsors Colin John (of Llewelyn Davies & Co Chartered Accountants) for their continued and valuable support of junior cricket in the County.  It was also great to see Paul Webb (County Chairman and his wife Janice) together with the County President Nick Evans in attendance.
 
The medals, runners up shield and the marvellous winners’ trophy donated by the  families of the late John Bowen and Stan Richards, were presented by Kevin Bowen's son, whose sister Georgina  Morgan was also in attendance, with the main award  presented by Ollie Rees, the great grandson of John.
 
This brought an end to the Pembroke County Cricket Junior season and on behalf of the Executive Committee, Martin Jones, would like to thank Hook CC, Cresselly CC and St Ishmaels CC for the way they have hosted the finals and provided refreshments after the games.

Cresselly/ Stackpole Squad:
George Smith, Josh Lewis, Archie Hillier -Wood, Ben Callen, Ben Davies, Dean Jenkins, Jamie Goldsworthy, Morgan Lewis, Jack Perins, Adam Phillips  Leon Harebrooke-West, Jessica Lewis, Tristan Groves, Euan McDonald  and Joseph Davies.

Hook / Llangwm Squad:
Callum Jenkins, Finlay Elerick, Seth Willington, Harry Makepeace, Lewis Miller, Joe Phillips ,James Price, Dillon James, Liam Miller, Jack Phillips, Oscar Willington and Owen Phelps