Cresselly confirm their favourites’ tag against gritty Neyland

 

Cresselly (162 for 5 & 117 for 4) beat Neyland (102 for 9 & 110 for 7) by 67 runs

 
Umpires: Gareth Brace & Will Ridge
Scorers: Diane James & Sarah Arran
Venue: The Gerald Hicks Recreational Ground, Carew
 
Man of the Match: Ollie Arthur (Cresselly)
Adjudicator: Robert Ridge
 

Arthur Leads Cresselly run-surge

 
Cresselly stated out as favourites for the 2025 Ormond Youth Cup Final against Neyland but must have been wary of their opponents’ battling qualities – and that’s the way things turned out as Cresselly started like rockets and opened up a big first-innings lead but were then knocked back by their opponents’ resilience and helped to produce an absorbing final where both teams deserved every credit for their attitude to the game, writes Bill Carne.
 
After deciding to bat first Cresselly openers Ollie R Rowlands and Ollie Arthur got them off to a great start in a stand of 58 before Rowlands was caught by keeper Ollie Vaughan-Harries off Evan Roberts for 19, including three boundaries – but they maintained the pressure as Lewis Mason belted four fours in his 29 before he was caught by Morgan Britton off Corey Riley.
 
Griff Jenkins hit two fours in 12 from six balls but throughout the innings the common denominator was Ollie Arthur, whose splendid 81 took only 57 balls to stroke 10 fours and two sixes before he was bowled by Britton as part of a good spell where he only conceded 22 runs. Leo Power also claimed two wickets buy Cresselly sped to their huge tally, assisted by  15 extras.





 

Neyland battle back after slow start – but still fall well behind

 
Neyland needed a solid start to get close at tea-time but they didn’t get it as openers Dylan James and Charlie Welch came and went quickly and it was left to Morgan Britton (20 from as many balls), with four boundaries to steady things before was bowled by Lewis Mason in his excellent 2-14 spell that also included a maiden over.
 
Corey Riley was removed by Griff Jenkins in the most miserly spell of the afternoon of 1for 5 in four overs, all of them singles before Leo Power and Korey Arran managed double figures but with Ava Midgley, the only girl on the field, grabbing two wickets in successive balls in her spell, Neyland were in real trouble at 65 for 8.
 
They showed their resilience however, as Caydyn McGuire hit 20 not out alongside Ollie Vaughan-Harries (15), and with 17 extras taking them into three figures and looking to fight back after an excellent tea provided by Jenny Griffiths, Wendy Davies and their Carew helpers.
 

Cresselly suffer early shocks but claw their way back via Rowlands and James

 
Neyland knew they needed early wickets to claw their way back to contention  and fight back they did as Cresselly’s key run-gatherers Olly Arthur, Lewis Mason and Griff Jenkins could only muster seven runs between them as Evan Roberts (2) and Charlie Welch, from a neat return catch,  bowled really well, ably supported by strong fielding.
 
It was a tricky time for Cresselly but Ollie Rowlands again batted quietly on and he found willing support from skipper Tyler James as they ran well between the wickets and gradually increased the tempo, with James belting four sixes in his 47 before he was run out in the last over, and Rowlands having just one boundary in his terrific 44 not out, made from only 50 balls, that ensured Cresselly could set a huge total for Neyland to chase.
 
Milo Jones replaced James and there was an unusual incident from the final delivery as he took a sharp single and the throw at the stumps went wide, enabling them to take a second run – and again there was another overthrow which went to the boundary and they had conceded seven runs when it could have been a possible run out for 0!
 

Neyland unable to maintain momentum against a huge target – but tried until the last ball!

 
Neyland needed a flying start to get close to victory but lost James early on and the required run rate exploded, despite the genuine efforts of Britton (20 in 19 balls, including two fours) and Charlie Welch as Lewis Mason only conceded 11 runs in his four overs and Griff Jenkins was just as miserly in his 1 for 11 stint. Welsh (only 15) battled hard before he was eventually run out for 32 and the loss of influential skipper Power (run out) and Corey Riley came about as Cresselly maintained the pressure.
 
Korey Arran (15) was bowled by Ava Midgley and the young lady removed Evan Roberts next ball to effectively finish Neyland’s lingering hopes, although late big hitting by Ollie Vaughan-Harries and Josh James gave their side a respectable final tally.
Carew chairman Steve Cole presented the individual mementoes on behalf the sponsors, Sandra Pidgeon and family, and the man of the match award, adjudicated by Robert Ridge, to Ollie Arthur for his terrific innings of 81 for Cresselly.
 
County Club chairman Dave Brandon led the post-match presentations and thanked all those involved, like umpires, scorers, ground staff, tea ladies and particularly both teams – and as well as congratulating Cresselly he did a great job in saying how well Neyland’s relatively young  and inexperienced team had done – and he was right because they had really played their part in a tussle that was a credit to both club!.


 

Coaches’ Comments:

 







Tom Arthur (Cresselly):

The boys deserved to win but I must say well done to Neyland. I had warned the boys that they needed to be at their best and I was pleased that as well as the players who are already playing in the top two divisions of local cricket, everyone else gave total commitment so the future at Cresselly is looking good. . Neyland have some very talented players and I’m sure their time will come – but we will celebrate this win in true Cresselly style!














Martin Jones (Neyland):
I have seen my players growing up and I felt they came of age today, despite losing, as they never once gave up against a very experienced Cresselly side who were worthy winners of this great trophy. Ross Hardy and I both told them in the changing room afterwards that the whole club would be proud of the way they played and conducted themselves, with great support from their families on the boundary.
 
 
 

SCORECARDS:

 
 
FIRST INNINGS
 
Cresselly Batting:
Ollie Rowlands ct Ollie Vaughan -Harries b Charlie Welch 19
Ollie Arthur b Morgan Britton 81
Lewis Mason ct Morgan Britton c Corey Riley 29
Griff Jenkins b Leo Power 12
Tyler James St Ollie Vaughan-Harries 2
Milo Jones not out 3
Rhys Barnes not out 1
Extras 15
Total (5 wickets) 162
 
Neyland Bowling:
Morgan Britton 4-0-22-1; Corey Riley 4-0-15-0, Charlie Welch 4-0-43-1, Evan Roberts 1-0-9-0, Cayden McGuire 2-0-22-0,  Leo Power 4-0-28-2
 
Neyland Batting:
Dylan James b Ollie Arthur 2
Charlie Welsh b Lewis Mason 3
Morgan Britton b Lewis Mason 20
Cory Riley b Griff Jenkins 1
Leo Power ct Ollie Rowlands b Tyler James 10
Korey Arran b Ava Midgley 12
Evan Roberts b Tyler James 0
Caydn McGuire not out 20
Josh James ct Milo Jones b Tyler James 1
Ollie Vaughan-Harries b Ava Midgley 15
Iestyn Lewis not out 1
Extras 17
Total (9 wickets) 102
 
Cresselly Bowling:
Ollie Arthur 4-0-33-1; Lewis Mason 4-1-14-2; Griff Jenkins 4-0-5-1; Tyler James 4-0-18-3; Ava Midgley 4-0-27-2.
 
 
SECOND INNINGS:
 
Cresselly Batting:
Ollie Arthur ct Ollie Vaughan-Harries 5
Ollie Rowlands not out 44
Lewis Mason ct Ollie Vaughan-Harries b Evan Roberts 0
Griff Jenkins ct & b Charlie Welch 2
Tyler James run out 47
Milo Jones not out 3
Rhys Barnes not out 1
Extras 15
Total (4 wickets) 117
 
Neyland Bowling:
Morgan Britton 4-0-16-0; Evan Roberts 4-1-13-2; Charlie Welch 4-1-21-1; Leo Power 4-0-33-0; Dylan James 2-0-41-0; Corey Riley 2-0-18-0.
 
Neyland Batting:
Dylan James b Ollie Arthur 6
Charlie Welch run out 32
Morgan Britton ct Milo Jones b Tyler James 20
Corey Riley b Griff Jenkins 0
Leo Power run out 4
Korey Arran b Ava Midgley 15
Ollie Vaughan-Harries not out 9
Evan Roberts b Ava Midgley 0
Josh James not out 11
Extras 13
Total (7 wickets) 110
 
Cresselly Bowling:
Ollie Arthur 4-0-21-1; Lewis Mason 4-0-11-0; Griff Jenkins 4-0-11-1; Tyler James 4-0-28-2; Ava Midgley 4-0-36-2.