PHOTO:
Nitin Mathias top scored for Haverfordwest

 

Division One:

 

Scott steers Neyland to safety of a draw

Haverfordwest (110 all out) drew with Neyland (100 for 9)

Umpires: John Williams & Richard Merriman
Scorers: Jayne Cole & John Laugharne

This match was rightly billed as the top of the bill but instead of the expected run feast it turned into a nerve-jangling finale as Neyland tried in vain to chase down a modest Town total of 110 after lurching precariously to 40 for 8 in 22 overs, but still having the grit to hold on!

Neyland fielded first and applied pressure from the outset so that few Haverfordwest batsman looked totally settled, although Nitin Mathias batted well and top scored with 35 after the early departure of his brother Nikhil.

Simon Holliday (15) Ben Field (18) and Huw Scriven (12) also managed double figures but Nathan Banner (3 for 29), Andrew Miller (3 for 20), Patrick Hannon (2 for 32) and Scott Jones (2 for 9) were rewarded for Neyland, helped by some good catches, like the sharp return chance taken by Miller and the one at deep extra cover by Patrick Bellerby, and some ineffective Town batting.

But after tea what seemed a stroll for Neyland turned into something else as they lost two wickets in the opening overs and only Paul Murray (22), ever stayed long until Scott Jones and Henry Durrant (15) put on 50 runs before the latter was dismissed with two overs to go and Patrick Hannon joined Scott Jones (an excellent 36 not out) in saving Neyland’s bacon.

For The Town there were wickets for Adam James (2 for 17), Johnny White (2 for 25), Kieran O’Connor (2 for 18) and Simon Holliday (2 for 22) before the game ended more or less all square as Neyland managed to hold out.

 

Carew cruise to easy victory

Carew (154 for 2) beat Johnston (153 all out) by eight wickets

Umpires: Allan Hansen & Tony Waldeis
Scorers: Julie Davies & Steve Mills

A partnership of 111 by Rhys Davies and Tim Hicks saw Carew start the season with a convincing win over Johnston as they chased down a decent score with more than six overs still in hand.

Johnston’s tally of 153 all out owed much to Dan Sutton (35), Chris Fitzpatrick (25), Jack Mills (15), Kern Cunningham (23) and Gary James (16 not out) but again they showed their old failing of not using up 6.1 of their overs as the Carew wicket-takers were Rhys Davies (2 for 26), Tom Davies (1 for 42), Simon Wood (1 for 26) and especially Ceri Brace, whose leg breaks bamboozled the Johnston batsmen as he returned fine figures of 6 for 34.

Carew lost Nick Scourfield early on but then Rhys Davies (11 fours in his 66) and Tim Hicks took them within sight of victory despite the efforts of Richard James (1 for 15) and Chris Fitzpatrick (1 for 4), as Hicks ended up undefeated on 67 with 8 fours and 4 sixes to his name.  

 

Cole takes Cresselly to local derby win

Cresselly (148 for 3) beat Lawrenny (147 all out) by seven wickets

Umpires: Steve Blowes & Dave Brandon
Scorers: Teagan Cartwright and Chris Williams

A cracking undefeated innings of 60 by Simon Cole helped Cresselly to a relatively comfortable win over neighbours Lawrenny to give the home team a terrific start to their new campaign.

Lawrenny captain Brad McDermott-Jenkins led the Lawrenny batting performances with 42 runs that included five fours and two sixes, supported by Harry Thomas (22), James Buckle (28) and Ryan Morton (14) – but they only used 37.5 overs as they lost wickets at regular intervals.

For Cresselly their ‘spin twins’ of Ryan Lewis (3 for 18) and Mike Shaw (2 for 11) were joined by Sam Harts (1 for 31) and Neil Gregory (4 for 45) as their wicket-takers.

Neal and Phil Williams both launched the Lawrenny innings with 25 runs apiece before Simon Cole struck nine boundaries in his 54 balls faced that helped see his side home in 38.1 overs, despite useful bowling by Jamie Lewis (2 for 35) and Lawrenny’s version of Simon Cole (1 for 8)!

PHOTO:
Phil Williams scored 25 runs for Cresselly
Picture by Brian McKehon

 

Kilgetty kill off Pembroke hopes

Kilgetty (220 for 7) beat Pembroke (113 all out) by 107 runs

Umpires: Tony Scourfield & Dai Morris
Scorer: Hazel Poole

Kilgetty made an impressive start to their new campaign in the top echelon as they easily beat fellow promotion club Pembroke at Kingsmoor.

Put in to bat first the home side had the Marsh brothers Kurtis and Kyle continuing where they left off last season with Kurtis stroking 50 and Kyle top scoring with 69, as Tom Richards (17), Jack Parkinson (31 not out) and Ian Poole (14) were the other major contributors to their excellent score against useful bowling by Jonathan Rogers (2 for 39), Jack Harries (2 for 24) and Andrew Davies (2 for 41).

When Pembroke went in to bat they found it tough going against the bowling of Kurtis Marsh (4 for 28) and Ross Hardy (3 for 32) supported by Tom Richards (2 for 4) and Anthony Bevan (1 for 6), with only Barry Evans (14), Billy Woods (17) and Rogers (39) ever looking likely to make an impact but eventually departing as Pembroke crumbled to defeat in 30.1 overs by 107 runs.


PHOTO
Kurtis Marsh stroked 50 for Kilgetty
Picture by Brian McKehon
 

Tish start off with a welcome win

St Ishmaels (142 for 3) beat Whitland (141 all out) by seven wickets

Umpires: Dave Bonner & Mervyn John
Scorers: Wendy Bradshaw & Ann-Marie Jenkins

St Ishmaels are traditionally slow starters but their 2107 campaign started with a bang as they beat Whitland by seven wickets and there was further disappointment for the visitors with the fact that they lost top scorer Iestyn Scourfield with a nasty hand injury and cricket lovers will wish him a speedy recovery and return to action.

Put in to bat first Whitland were in deep trouble at 34 for 5 but then Scourfield played a captain’s innings of 56 (four fours) alongside Nathan Evans (21), Matthew Davies (26) and Geraint Jones (12) as they were dismissed from the final ball of their 45 overs.

Andrew Palmer (1 for 27), Jonathan Pawlett (3 for 42), Andrew Pawlett (2 for 21) and Danny Flynn (4 for 44) claimed the wickets for Tish.

Peter Bradshaw (30) and Dan Howells (41) gave Tish a solid start as they shared nine fours and a six and then the momentum was maintained by Phil Cockburn (29 not out) and Andrew Williams (unbeaten on 25) as Tish strolled home in only 33.1 overs.

Daniel Flynn - four wicket haul for Tish off-spinner