Umpires: Rob Bellerby & Ian Gow
Scorers: Julie Davies & Roger Stanford
 
Venue: Oatfield Park, Burton
 
Man of the Match: Shaun Whitfield
Man of the Match Adjudicator: Bill Carne

 

Carew too street-wise for gritty Seasiders

 

Carew 125 for 8 & 112 for 7) beat Saundersfoot (99 for 6 & 109 all out) by 29 runs

 
Carew won the Duggie Morris Cup for the first time since 2006 as they proved that little too experienced for a Saundersfoot team that is still left seeking their first major silverware after both sides found it hard-going in terms of building big innings or partnerships, writes Bill Carne.
 
Indeed, the highest innings was of 33 by Tom Mansbridge as he opened the batting for Saundersfoot in the first innings – and apart from Shaun Whitfield’s timely intervention as The Seasiders needed 139 for victory, no-one was able to take more than two wickets from their four-over spells.
 
But The Rooks established a first innings lead of 26 and resisted what might have been a come-back by The Seasiders as skipper Rhys Davies reined in their run-rate and Whitfield claimed four key wickets at a vital time to break the back of their batting.
 

Carew lose early wickets but battle back

 
Carew were asked to bat first by Saundersfoot skipper Yannic Parker and were soon in trouble as they lost Saturday centurion Tim Hicks and the hard-hitting Morgan Grieve cheaply to good bowling by Neil Powling.
 
Noah Davies and Whitfield set about repairing the innings but Davies was run out when he looked good and Whitfield was removed by Prashant Gautam, with the aid of a good catch at long-off, who then bowled Nick Davies as the balance of power changed again.
 
Brian Hall was the only other batsman to stay long but fell to Tom Mansbridge and two late wickets by Nick Cope saw The Rooks restricted to 125 for 8 – and an evenly-balanced state of play.
 

Saundersfoot unable to build a big advantage

 
Saundersfoot also lost wickets early as John Mansbridge and Nick Cope fell to Noah Davies and Sam Harts, the latter to a terrific low, one-handed catch by Brian Hall - whilst Tom Mansbridge struck two fours and a six in his top score of 33 as Yannic Parker fell to a second superb catch by Brian Hall, Gareth Edwards and Danny Brace came and went.
 
At one stage it seemed as if The Seasiders might fold completely but No 7 and 8 batsmen Scott Helmich and Louie Treadway-Williams batted sensible to take Saundersfoot forward as they were still there at the end of the 20 overs.
 
By then they had reached 99 for 6, certainly fewer runs than they hoped for but still within distance if they could shake things up after tea.
 

Carew start their second innings well after tea but unable to build a huge tally

 
Tim Hicks, Morgan Grieve, Noah Davies and Shaun Whitfield all reached double figures but fell victim to good catching as Prashant Gautam and the Mansbridge brothers bowled well – and the further wickets of Nick Davies and Luke Hicks were soon added as The Rooks reached 60 by the 15^th over.
 
Three figures seemed a little far away but then Brian Hall added a few quick runs on the eve of his 50^th birthday before Ian Sefton, batting at No 8, was joined by James Hincliffe in raising the tempo, both hitting sixes as the pair belted a vital 22 runs from the final over to reach 112 for 7 – and set their rivals a much more challenging final total of 139 to chase then at first seemed likely,
 

Seasiders battle in vain to maintain the necessary run rate

 
Saundersfoot moved up the big-hitting Gareth Edwards to open with Tom Mansbridge, who was caught by Rhys Davies off Hinchliffe before Sam Harts, a trier if ever there was one,  removed Edwards and John Mansbridge to leave their opponents on 38 for 3 in the seventh over.
 
Nick Cope and Scott Helmich restored the balance, and the run rate, but the latter was unlucky when he was stumped by Grieve off Whitfield at the start of his vital spell as he also removed top-scorer Cope with a well-judged low catch, Louie Treadway-Williams and Iori Richards as The Seasiders lost four wickets for nine runs.
 
The other bowler was Carew captain Rhys Davies, who defied a pulled calf muscle to stay on the field and dramatically slow down the run rate as well taking a wicket, well supported by Hinchliffe and Noah Davies.
 

Presentation News:

 
The innings ended on 109 all out, despite some late hitting by Gautam, and it was Rhys Davies who received the magnificent DR Morris Trophy from Graham Morris, on behalf of his family after Dave Brandon, the chairman of Pembroke County Cricket Club, had thanked the family, sponsors, Burton Cricket Club, umpires and scorers.
 
He also thanked Sheila and John Hayman for their continued sponsorship of the man of the match award and introduced Bill Carne, the adjudicator, who summarized the day’s best performances before announcing Shaun Whitfield as the winner for his all-round contribution in batting, bowling and catching which certainly helped The Rooks to a first win in the competition for the first time in almost 20 years.
 

Some Final Thoughts:

 
There were a few absentees from the action and our thoughts go out to them.
 
Firstly, our thoughts were with Adge John, the hugely popular Saundersfoot scorer, who was he was unable to score, as he does every week, because he and his wife Libby contracted Covid and have been quite ill – You were missed Adge!
 
His place was taken by club chairman Roger Stanford, who has been a fantastic worker for the club over many years as player and administrator and no-one could have done a better job in the circumstances.
 
 
He was joined in the score-box by a lovely lady in Julie Davies, who gives so much time to The Rooks, where her son Rhys is captain. Julie had scored for the County team on Thursday, been in the scorebox as they beat Llangwm on Saturday and now for all four innings in this final.

This week sees that hard work continue because the club has matches in the Alec Colley Cup, for the seconds, and the Ken Morris Cup for the thirds – and next Saturday she will be in action again as the first XI play at Haverfordwest! Julie certainly deserved the medal she was awarded here.
 
We mentioned Roger as her scoring partner and another family member who was supposed to be involved was his son Simon, who is a very quick-scoring opening bat when he gets going. But Simon had sustained a nasty knee injury and was sideline, but he was there along with mum watching every ball bowled!
 
Congratulations to announcer Martin Jones, making his debut in the role as he is now the county club chairman and a great servant of Neyland CC. He was crystal clear and on the job all day – so keep up the good work Mart!
 
Congratulations also to Hon Secretary Steve Blowes and his team of helpers on the gate for their work and his efforts for producing another terrific programme, packed with information, pen pics and other details to read in bed on Sunday evening. Well done Steve!
 
The Hayman family are heavily involved at Oatfield Park with Toby the current captain and older brother Luke a former skipper, as was dad Richard as a very good batsman, Grandad John also played but now joins wife Sheila as the annual sponsors of the ‘Man of the Match’ award!
 
And finally, thank you to Graham Morris, his family, the ground staff and everyone else at the club helping to make the day. The Morris family not only provide a smashing tea but poor old Graham had to miss his bowls match, now that he’s too old and stiff to play cricket (his words not mine!), playing for Tenby against Milford Haven!
 
 

SCORECARDS:

 

First Innings:

 
Carew Batting:
Tim Hicks b Neil Powling 6
Morgan Grieve ct Scott Helmich b Neil Powling 3
Noah Davies run out 29
Shaun Whitfield ct Tom Mansbridge b Prashant Gautam 23
Nick Davies b Prashant Gautam 10
Luke Hicks Nick Cope 7
Brian Hall b Tom Mansbridge 21
Ian Sefton b Nick Cope 8
James Hinchliffe not out 8
Rhys Davies not out 2
Extras 14
Total (8 wickets) 125
 
Burton Bowling:
Neil Powling 4-0-20-2; Nick Cope 4-0-25-2; John Mansbridge 4-0-23-0; Prashant Gautam 19-2; Tom Mansbridge 4-0-37 1
 
Burton Batting:
Tom Mansbridge ct Morgan Grieve b James Hinchliffe 33
John Mansbridge b Noah Davies 5
Nick Cope ct Brian Hall b Sam Harts 6
Yannic Parker ct Brian Hall b Shaun Whitfield 8
Gareth Edwards ct James Hinchliffe b Rhys Davies 2
Danny Brace ct Sam Harts b Noah Davies 4
Scott Helmich not out 18
Louie Treadaway-Williams not out 14
Extras 9
Total: (6 wickets) 99
 
Carew Bowling:
Sam Harts 4-0-16-1; James Hinchliffe 4-0-20-1; Noah Davies 2-31; Shaun Whitfield 1-11; Rhys Davies 4-0-15-1

 

Second Innings:

 
Carew Batting:
Tim Hicks ct Prashant Gautam b John Mansbridge 11
Morgan Grieve b Prashant Gautam 19
Noah Davies ct John Mansbridge b Tom Mansbridge 12
Shaun Whitfield ct Danny Brace b John Mansbridge 20
Nick Davies ct Scott Helmich b Prashant Gautam 0
Luke Hicks ct Gareth Edwards b Tom Mansbridge 4
Brian Hall ct Danny Brace b John Mansbridge 16
Ian Sefton not out 16
James Hinchliffe not out 7
Extras 7
Total (7 wickets) 112
 
Saundersfoot Bowling:
Neil Powling 4-0-23-0; Nick Cope 4-0-32-0; John Mansbridge 4-0-14-2; Prashant Gautam 4-0-22-2, Tom Mansbridge 4-0-17-2
 
Saundersfoot Batting:
Tom Mansbridge ct Rhys Davies b James Hinchliffe 8
Gareth Edwards ct Brian Hall b Sam Harts 12
John Mansbridge ct Shaun Whitfield b Sam Harts 7
Nick Cope ct & b Shaun Whitfield 25
Scott Helmich st Morgan Grieve b Shaun Whitfield 12
Louie Treadway-Williams b Shaun Whitfield 5
Yannic Parker ct Sam Harts b James Hinchliffe 17
Danny Brace ct Tim Hicks b Rhys Davies 0
Iori Richards ct Morgan Grieve b Shaun Whitfield 1
Prashant Gautam ct Tim Hicks b Noah Davies 13
Neil Powling not out 1
Extras 8
Total (all out) 109
 
Carew Bowling:
Sam Harts 4-0-23-2, James Hinchliffe 4-0-20-2; Noah Davies 4-0-24-1; Shaun Whitfield 4-0-24-4; Rhys Davies 4-0-18-1.