Harrison-Allen Bowl - Who Will Win?

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As usual we have canvassed just a few of the best-known cricketers from clubs in the county and we feature their comments below.

For the first time ever there seems to be unanimity that Neyland will take the superb silverware from Whitland, who will relish the ‘underdog’ tag and hope that being such hot favourites might cause Neyland to get over-confident.

Neyland skipper Gregg Miller will be eager to play down such favouritism and opposite number Matthew ‘Titch’ Davies will surely use it to fire up his team.

	Joseph Kiff (Llangwm): I suppose everyone will go for Neyland and to be honest so would I because they are a very experienced team with such all-round strength it is hard to find a weakness. They bat right down the order, have a range of bowlers and are the best fielders in the cup competitions so the only way I see Whitland can win is if someone like Jonathan Thomas has a field day!
	Rob Williams (Lawrenny): I’d like to see Whitland win, if only to see the trophies shared out but I have to go for Neyland because I saw them play with a weakened side in the semi-final at Lawrenny and they were still too strong for Cresselly. Nathan Banner and Nick Koomen are key all-rounders but Andrew Miller is also important because he bowls his slow stuff so well.
	Ben Field (Haverfordwest): Who’s in it? I remember now! I’d love Whitland to have a big day but they will really need their star players to shine against a Neyland side which is so experienced in such tight situations and fields superbly. My player to watch could be Henry Durrant because he can open the batting or act as a big hitter in a late run chase, his left-arm bowling is not easy to get away and he’s no slouch in the field either!
	Nick Scourfield (Carew): Neyland showed how strong they are last week by beating Cresselly in the semi-final of the Bowl and then repeating the result in the Duggie Morris Cup Final, and although I expect Whitland to battle hard, Gregg Miller’s men have such a varied bowling attack and are so good in the field I expect them to win. Key man? I think most people would say Nathan Banner!
	Phil Williams (Cresselly): Neyland must be odds-on favourites so for Whitland to win they will need some top performances from players like Jonathan Thomas and Paul Davies. Neyland have key all-round players in Nathan Banner and Nick Koomen, with Ashley Sutton as an in-form batsman so I have to go for them.
	Gareth Davies (Llanrhian): Neyland go into the final as favourites and it is hard to go against them, although they could have a shock if they think it is easy. Gregg Miller and his team seem to have hit form at the perfect time but if Whitland, for whom Johnny Thomas is vital, can stop the likes of Nathan Banner and Nick Koomen exerting an influence it could be very close!
	Peter Bradshaw (St Ishmaels): I expect most people would tip Neyland and I’m no different because they have such a varied bowling attack and some big run-getters led by Ashley Sutton. They’ve already won the Duggie Morris Cup again but Whitland showed they can play in this competition by winning it in 2012. Johnny Thomas and Iestyn Scourfield are key batsmen for Whitland and when we played them Leighton O’Connor and Greg Sleep gave their bowling more variety so it could be closer than people think.
	Lee Summons (Johnston): I think it will be very close but Neyland should just win it because of their experience in the Bowl and the Duggie Morris, which they have just won again. They are so strong in the batting, have loads of bowlers if one is off form and are great in the field. Nick Koomen is typical of their all-round strength and someone in Whitland will have to do something special if they are to cause an upset.

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