Great game played in a cracking spirit

In a pulsating Bowl Final, where there was some massive hitting and splendid catches, both sides deserve credit for the way the game was played under umpires Simon Richards and Dave Bonner.

Fantastic end to Danny’s duration as Town skipper

Danny Potter was playing his final match as skipper after seven years at the helm with Haverfordwest and in a fairytale ending was also there when Dai Davies hit the winning runs after his team trailed by a massive 42 runs at tea. Danny says he’s looking forward already next season where he can just turn up and bat!

 

Joe so disappointed but he will be back

Spare a thought for opposing skipper Joe Kidney because he has done a great job as skipper at Lawrenny and was understandably distraught at the finish after a second successive Bowl Final loss. But he’s a determined character and will bounce back – and we are already rooting for him to raise the magnificent trophy next season!

 

 

Terrific job by Cresselly ground staff

What a magnificent job was done by the Cresselly CC ground staff in getting the pitch and outfield in top order after so much overnight rain – they also deserved a winners’ medal apiece. Well done Richard Arthur, Phil James, Denis Chiffi, Glyn Cole and John Arthur on your efforts.

Real characters: Richard 'Dick' Arthur and Phil 'Spam' James

 

Umpires did a solid job

Afore-mentioned umpires Simon Richards and Dave Bonner were both appearing in their first final and undertook their duties in typically calm and steadfast fashion – so here’s hoping there will be other finals where these two pals officiate together.

 

Town scorer Jayne makes it ten wins in 17 finals . . .

Haverfordwest scorer Jayne Cole was taking part in her SEVENTEENTH Bowl final and was clearly delighted at a tenth winners’ medal which was tinged with relief because she was due to be godmother at a christening the following day and would have had to miss the final if it had been postponed.

 

. . . And Malcolm enjoyed his day too!

Joining Jayne in the scorebox for Lawrenny was long-serving club man Malcolm Thomas, who has also picked up winners and runners-up mementoes before – and does such a great job that there will be plenty more for him in the near future.






 

 

Spare a thought for injured Jamie

Saddest moment of the day came before the start as Lawrenny warmed up and in-form opening bowler James Lewis slipped and damaged his leg so that he was unable to play. He had to go to hospital and now has to have a scan – but he was back to cheer his club on and will surely have other chances to take part.

 


 

 
 

Last final for county chairman Paul . . .

Paul Webb has been a totally committed chairman with Pembroke County Cricket Club and this was his last final of his three-year term in office having maintained his proud record of not having missed even one final of any kind in the county. Immaculately dressed, able to make all the appropriate thank yous, he has been a great advert for the game in Pembrokeshire.

Paul Webb with Hugh Harrison-Allen and Brian Hawkins, from league sponsors The Thomas Carroll Group

. . . And relief for the Webbs as well!

As well as doing his usual professional job as chairman, Paul and highly supportive wife Janice were more relieved than usual that the final went ahead because the next day he was playing for Wales in an international – representing Wales Over 50s against their counterparts from England at Neath. Janice was helping out by scoring for England and luckily they didn’t have to make a choice between county and country!


 

 

Haverfordwest eat heartily at their clubhouse

As usual we conducted our survey on the big eaters and at the Haverfordwest Cricket Club breakfast in their clubhouse and 12^th man Ashley James had the ‘most sausages and bacon’ on his plate and even found room for seconds!

 

Lawrenny breakfast well at Lawrenny Arms

Meanwhile, Lawrenny had 60+ at The Lawrenny Arms including all the kids, and my mole says that the father and son duo of Barry and James Phillips were in fine fettle, a fact not denied when we met dad on the balcony at Cresselly!

 

Lawrenny’s yellow young army looked resplendent . . .

Lawrenny are noted for their family following and it was wonderful to see the children of all ages bedecked in their colourful yellow tee-shirts. Youngest was Ffion, six-week old daughter of long-serving Rob and Keeta Williams, and they made a lovely sight.

 

 

. . . And so did Phil and Bono!

Former county chairman and life member Phil Thomas looked very smart as usual but was almost outshone in sartorial splendour by his four-legged friend Bono in his yellow tee-shirt as he was walked around by owner Phil, whose grandson Harry played really well for Lawrenny.

 

Proud grandma there to see Adam win man of the match

No doubt about the proudest grandmother in attendance was Ruth James, as Adam James deservedly scooped the man of the match award. He bowled and fielded really well but his powerhouse innings of 83 and 81 included no fewer than 16 huge sixes and nine fours – an amazing 132 runs in boundaries! The John Cole Memorial trophy was presented as usual by Glyn Cole and Joyce Thomas, with Mel and Andrew Williams (St Ishmaels) as adjudicators. Well done big Jamer!

 

 

Sharon walked 18,000+ paces

Sharon Buckle, the wife of Lawrenny player James undoubtedly travelled the furthest at the ground during the day as she walked 25+ times around the boundary with pet pooch Buddy and accumulated over 18,000 paces on her special measuring watch. She might have done more but in the end she had to take the lovely buddy home because he was too tired!

 

Superb total for Lawrenny quintet

If you wanted proof of club loyalty at Lawrenny it could be found in the number of years’ playing service given to the club by Dai ‘Ossie’ Jones and Owen ‘Larter’ Williams (53 years each), plus Chris ‘Worm’ Williams and Phil ‘Goochie’ Williams (a mere 43 years apiece), who also enjoyed a number of laps of the pitch. Sitting down and enjoying a few pints and watching son Brad do well was Ian ‘Bish’ Jenkins, still playing after 40 years involvement. My meagre maths says that’s a not-so-average time with the club of 46.4 years. Can any other club beat that?

Buckle’s catch of the day

There were as many splendid catches as I have ever seen in one Bowl Final with James Buckle making a strong claim for the best with a diving save to get rid of Danny Potter but there were lots of others, six of them in Haverfordwest’s first innings. It certainly added spice to a pulsating day’s cricket!

 

 

Minute’s silence for umpire John

There was a moving minute’s silence for John Williams, who had been buried the previous day, with Paul Webb doing a good job of telling the supporters about it.

 

Wrong again, as usual

OK, I admit it – I got it wrong again!

I tipped The Town to win and it was just the boost they needed to get them over the line. But at least I didn’t sit on the fence like my side-kick Fraser Watson did.


 

 

Well done Fraser

And on the subject of the mercurial Mr Fraser he did a superb job on the day to keep those who couldn’t make it to the ground aware of what was going on with his on-line blogging for the Western Telegraph. It is an arduous all-match job but his efforts were rewarded by a record number of hits of over 10,000 - so well done buddie!