Mixed bag of results as season reaches half-way mark

 







 

Division One:

 
 

Neyland (155 all out) lost to Carew (195 for 4) by  6 wickets

 
 
Carew bounced back to the top of the table after beating top-four rivals Neyland at the athletic Ground as both teams were without key players but showed total commitment in a match that was a credit to the game.
 
Sean Hannon elected to bat first and mustered a score regarded as a little disappointing and so it proved as Carew chased it down with over six overs and as many wickets to spare.
 
Paul Murray (48) led the Neyland batting, with support from Gregg Miller (34) in a half-century opening stand but no-one else was able to build the sizeable sort of score that is needed at this level as Shaun Whitfield (3 for 24) lead The Rooks attack, with support from Joel Read, Sam Harts and the ageless Barry Evans.
 
Adam Chandler and Nick Davies then got Carew off to a solid start before they lost a couple of wickets but Brian Hall put his considerable experience to good effect with a vital 37 not out and Whitfield enhanced his claims as a top all-rounder with 47 – and ‘Mr Extras’ chipped in with 24 as Carew gained maximum points as other top-four teams lost, including their opponents, who picked up a paltry five points.
 
 
 

Cresselly (192 all out) lost to Herbrandston (194 for 4) by 6 wickets

 
 
Herbie confirmed their right to be part of Pembrokeshire’s top echelon as they travelled to Cresselly and chased down a sizeable home score, picked up maximum points and deservedly moved into fifth place in the table, whilst their opponents are second but smarting from a shock first defeat of the season after their euphoric defeat of neighbours Carew seven days’ earlier.
 
The Doves must have felt that their final tally was a challenging one as openers Phil Williams (27) and Charlie Arthur (46) got them off to a good start, which was continued by Kyle Quartermaine (46) and Alex Bailey as experienced pace man Dean John grabbed 4 for 37 in the Herbie cause and found support from teenager Morgan Britton.
 
Chasing 195 to win, Herbie got off to a dreadful start as they lost ace run-makers Charlie Malloy and Nathan Banner without scoring but then the Nicholas twins combined to repair the damage as Harry grafted his way to an important 58 and jack adding 52 precious runs. Then old-timer Kristan Bennett produced a typical big-hitting 47 in only 37 deliveries – and a huge concession of 33 extras helped tip the scales in Herbrandston’s favour so that skipper Robbie Hood  and his team could celebrate coming of age at this high level.




 

Saundersfoot (265 for 6) beat Lawrenny (140 all out) by 125 runs

 
 
Saundersfoot took the opportunity of confirming their third spot by heavily defeating Lawrenny as they batted first on an excellent track and had superb centuries from Tom and John Mansbridge in their big score and then gaining a rare victory over opponents who could only muster 140 in response, thanks to tight bowling, supported by good work in the field from their fielders.
 
Tom led the way with 13 fours and 4 sixes as he sped to 106 before John also reached three figures with nine boundaries in an equally impressive 105 – with Rob Williams bowling his heart out for Lawrenny to grab two wickets.
 
It says much for Lawrenny’s batting grit, however as they had decent knocks from youngsters Alfie Buckle and Will Allen alongside the more experienced Harry Thomas and Ryan Morton, but no-one was able to build the necessary big innings as Nick Cope (3 for 20) and Prasant Gautam (3 for 31) struck regularly for The Seasiders, assisted by Sam Franklin, Neil Powling and John Mansbridge on a very good day for them before another big mid-week match where they take on Neyland in the Duggie Morris semi-final.
 
 





 

Haverfordwest (90 all out) lost to Burton (119 all out) by 19 runs

 
 
At the  other end of the table, Burton gained a vital victory on The Racecourse as they could only muster a low total but kept their nerve whilst Haverfordwest were unable to bat with the necessary conviction and fell 20 runs short as only Ben Field and Jake Merry caught the eye.
 
Toby Hayman, Jon Venables and Gavin Campbell contributed useful runs for Burton but no-one was able to stay long enough to really influence matters as Jake Merry continued to enhance his pace-bowling reputation with an impressive 5 for 27 haul, supported by two wickets each for the canny Clive Tucker and skipper Chris Phillips.
 
The Town suffered a literal body blow when opener David Haynes dived in to complete a short single but badly bruised his ribs and had to leave play – and only Ben Field (34) ever looked settled but no-one else could muster double figures against Jack Davies (4 for 31) Gavin Campbell, Morgan Scale and old-timer Johnny Scale, still bowling as well as ever.
 
So, Burton’s win lifts them 19 points away from the ‘Dreaded Drop’ and they will hope that they can maintain this form for the second half of the campaign.


 
 
 

Whitland (77 for 2) beat Llangwm (73 all out) by 8 wickets

 
 
Llangwm remain rooted to the foot of the table despite choosing to bat first at Whitland but they were unable to produce the positive batting needed to build a challenging tally after their first three departed for ducks and only Dom Asson (14) managed double figures alongside 21 extras.

 
Geraint Jones (3 for 19). Scott Newton (3 for 12), Iwan Bevan and Gopal Ramasamy shared the wickets for Whitland before Gethin Scourfield (35 not out) was helped by Scott Newton (21 not out) in taking just nine overs to complete the easy win.
 
 
 



 

Division Two:

 
 

Carew 2nds (149 all out) lost to Narberth  (287 for 6) by 138 runs

 
 
Narberth bounced back from their first defeat of the season as their impressive young batting line-up built a huge score against an inexperienced Carew Seconds side which had to chase leather from the outset as opening pair Loui Davies (65) and Shay Norcross (84) put on 134 for the first wicket  before both fell close together.
 
But Narberth maintained their momentum via Lewis Hough (42), Lewis Jones (38 not out) and Ryan Williams (28), with Carew bowlers Sion Williams and Ollie Tucker sharing four wickets.
 
Chasing 247 to win in 40 overs was always going to be a daunting target for the inexperienced Rooks but Rhys Grigg (39) and Carter Heywood (21) tried hard to redress the balance but useful bowling spells by Ryan Williams (3-51), Lewis Jones and Matthew Johns kept the pressure on and Narberth’s win not only gets them back to winning ways but with a 16 point lead over their closest rivals.
 
 
 

St Ishmaels (101 for 3) beat Johnston (100 all out)

 
 
St Ishmaels are another team on a winning streak and they sit in second spot after a deserved victory over Johnston team that clearly missed a few key players and could only just muster three figures despite the efforts of Lee Summons (26) and Keegan Codd (20).
 
The successful strike bowlers for Tish were the pace/spin combo of skipper Brennan Devonald (3 for 20), Steve Williams (3 for 10), assisted by Andrew Pawlett, Thomas Williams and Jon Pawlett - and it was Jon Pawlett who sent Tish racing to victory in only 17 overs with a speedy 57 as Peter Bradshaw (26 not out) sensibly adopted the support role.
 
In a game played in the best of spirits another real plus was the fact that the match had umpires in Robbie Thomas and Steve James, plus scorers in Wendy Bradshaw and Steve Mills (Senior).
 
 

 

Pembroke (165 for 2) beat Llanrhian (162 for 7) by 8 wickets

 

 
Pembroke remain firmly in third place, despite the efforts of Llanrhian in batting first and scoring 162 for 7 at Treleet Ground, with Jack Jones in his usual form with top score of 79, with boundaries aplenty before he departed - and with support from Adam Phillips (26) and new recruit Dan Weston (27) as Billy Wood was the only home bowler to claim two wickets.

 
Ceri Brace struck  12 boundaries in his unbeaten 84 and skipper Jack Harries, who had dropped to No 4 in their batting order, was there at the end with 27 not out to win well. And pouch a vital 18 points.







 
 

Llechryd  (203 all out) lost to Hook (248 for 4) by 45 runs

 
 
Hook continue to feature strongly in the top four as they travelled to Llechryd and came away with an impressive performance, against a home team inspired by John Curran, with another 20 points in the bag.
 
Liam Miller returned to form for Hook with a classy 65 that was ably assisted by Rhys Phelps (52), brother Owen (45) and Jacob Lay (47) as Florian Cartwright and Graham Keen claimed two wickets each for Llechryd.
 
But Curran gave the homesters’ hope as he stroked nine fours and four sixes without giving a single chance until he was out on 119. Jac Davies, Steve Smith and Andrew Davies, who was not out at the end, made minor contributions but wickets fell at regular intervals to Jack Phillips, who ended up with splendid figures of 6 for 20. Brennan Martin also chipped in with two wickets and Hook made the long journey home knowing they had played well because beating Llechryd at home is never an easy task!
 
 
 

Burton Seconds (37 all out) lost to Cresselly 2nds (40 for 2) by 8 wickets

 
Burton Seconds fell even deeper into the relegation mire as they batted first at Oatfield Park and could only muster 37 all out before their counterparts from Cresselly passed that tally in only nine overs!
 
Matthew Davies (10) was the only Burton batsman with double figures as the rest found the bowling of Tyler James (4 for 4), Iori Thomas 3 for 22) and ‘old timer’ Ryan Lewis (2 for 9) too much to handle.
 
Harry Owen bowled well for Burton to grab 2 for 9 but Josh Lewis (15) and Lewis Mason (13 not out) took Cresselly to their 20-point haul – and a respectable fifth place in the table.
 




 
 

Other Divisions – Best performances:

 
Congratulations are also due to the following players who have achieved success in the lower echelons:
 
Division Three: Peter McGillivray (Lamphey) 73 not out and 3 for 16
Division Four: Jason Stobbs (Haverfordwest 3rds) 125 alongside 50 for teenager Brandon Dewstowe
Division Five: Ollie Rowlands (Cresselly Thirds) 84 and 1 for 41
Division Six: Jordan Harrison (Llechryd 3rds) 105