PHOTOS:
Neyland




Burghill, Tillington & Weobley
Scorers Kirsty Hannon and Phil Mellis
Allan Hansen and Peter Hoare

 

Indoor Cricket:

 

Neyland (116 for 4) lost to Burghill, Tillington & Weobley (117 for 4)

 
Venue: Leominster Leisure Centre, Bridge Street, Leominster
Umpires: Allan Hansen & Peter Hoare
Scorers: Kirsty Hannon and Phil Mellis
 
Neyland’s hopes of a third appearance at the UK Finals at Lords were halted at the first hurdle as the recently-crowned Welsh champions went down to defeat against a strong Burghill, Tillington and Weobley side which used home advantage to the full as they edged home with four balls left of the final over.
 
It was a disappointing outcome for Sean Hannon’s team after recovering from a slow start following their losing the toss and being asked to bat first – and looking slight favourites as B,T & W lurched to 80 for 4, thus needing 37 off three overs with their last pair at the crease.
 
But that pair comprised No 3 Barney Morgans and another talented stroke player in Ben George, who not only hit boundaries bur ran like dervishes, especially in the vital tenth over where 18 runs came from six threes against a Neyland side renowned for its fielding prowess!
 

Steady start before increasing the run rate

 
Neyland’s innings started with only eight runs in the opening two overs, with the key wicket of Ashley Sutton a body blow in his recent form – but Nick Koomen and Paul Murray steadied things down before both had to retire on 25.
 
Sean Hannon (14) was superbly caught by Ben Owens, the bowling diving low to his left and clutching the return chance when the shot perhaps deserved a boundary, Henry Durrant chipped in with 12 not out and Patrick Bellerby was run out for 9 before Koomen and Murray returned to the crease.
 
Koomen was run out for 26 however, and it was left to Murray’s undefeated 33, assisted by 19 from ‘Mr Extras’ to take Neyland to a reasonable, but not terrific final tally.
 

Neyland start well but encounter two class batsmen

 
Sean Hannon gave Neyland a superb start in the field as he took a brilliant return catch to shift opener Ed Simmons for a single, whilst good work by Henry Durrant saw Ben Owens run out for 9 to leave the opposition on 20 for 2.
 
There were further wickets for Neyland as Owen Morgan gloved a catch to keeper Murray off Koomen’s bowling and Knight was run out cheaply after some sharp fielding by Sean Hannon.
 
But all the time this was happening it was Barney Morgans who was accumulating runs and he found a willing ally in Ben George as Neyland conceded an uncharacteristic 19 extras and so B, T & W went into the final over needing just six runs, which they quickly managed to send them on to the next stage of the competition at Edgbaston.
 
On the long journey home the Neyland team and supporters will have reflected on the absence of a couple of key players but quick to sing the praises of those who represented the club so well, including Patrick Bellerby, who had sustained a shoulder injury in rugby but battled on – and even bowled his full three overs off a much-shortened run!
 
SCORECARD:
 
Neyland Batting:
Ashley Sutton st Edward Simmons b Ryan Knight 3
Nick Koomen run out 26
Paul Murray not out 33
Sean Hannon ct & b Ben Owens 14
Henry Durrant not out 12
Patrick Bellerby run out 9
Extras 19
Total (4 wickets) 116
 
Burghill, Tillington & Weobley Bowling:
Barney Morgans 3-0-16-0; Ryan Knight 1-0-3-1; Ben George 3-0-39-0; Ben Owens 3-0-32-1; Owen Morgan 2-0-19-0
 
Burghill Tillington & Weobley Batting:
Edward Simmons ct & b Sean Hannon 1
Ben Owens run out 9
Barney Morgans not out 44
Owen Morgan ct Paul Murray b Nick Koomen 1
Ben George not out 37
Ryan Knight run out 1
Extras 19
Total (4 wickets) 117
 
Neyland Bowling:
Sean Hannon 3-0-39-1; Nick Koomen 2.2-0-22-1; Henry Durrant 3-0-25-0; Patrick Bellerby 3-0-29-0