Pembrokeshire U11s (74 all out) lost to Carmarthenshire U11s (112 for 4) by 38 runs

 
Pembrokeshire under 11s recently took on their counterparts from Carmarthenshire at a sunny Hook Cricket Club in a 35 over match and in a tough high-quality contest Carmarthenshire gained revenge for a heavy six-wicket defeat inflicted by Pembrokeshire when the sides had met in Kidwelly earlier in the season.
 

Good start for county before Carms fight back

 
Captain Iori Humphries won the toss and elected to field on a damp drying wicket and his team repaid him with a strong start, quickly reducing Carmarthenshire to 13 for 3 as Jacob Owen broke the opening stand with a direct hit run out, Evan Watts (2 for 20) then removing two further batsmen aided by a superb catch at square leg by Ben Callan.
 
Jacob Owen (1 for 18) came on to bowl and removed Harry Jones, who was looking settled and at 29 for 4 Carmarthenshire were in a spot of bother and Pembrokeshire looked to take advantage. However, Rhys Harries (46 not out) and Owain Rees (29 not out) steadily rebuilt the innings with a sprinkling of excellent boundaries and good running between the wickets.
 

High standards of fielding

 
Despite not taking a wicket in the last 23 overs of the innings, Pembrokeshire continued to bowl tidily and the standard of fielding was excellent, never allowing Carmarthenshire to accelerate the scoring rate. The whole team demonstrated a culture of playing for each other, constantly covering and backing up. Archie Wood gave an excellent performance at wicketkeeper and this standard was continued by Owen Phelps when he took over after 30 overs, due to Wood sustaining an injury. 

 
Disappointing start and further blows cause problems

 
Pembrokeshire went to tea buoyed by their performance in the field and feeling this was a game they could win but they were dealt a big blow in the first over when Lewis Miller was dismissed by the excellent Dafydd Jones (2 for 6).
 
Jamie Goldsworthy and Owen (27) set a solid foundation but against tight bowling from Jones and William Moore (1 for 8) found it hard to build any momentum and Pembrokeshire then suffered a further two blows when Watts was run out and they also lost Humphries cheaply, leaving the reply at 37 for 4.
 
Seth Willington, Elin Miller and Zak Jones all tried to push the scoring rate but lost their wickets to tight bowling from Morgan Clark (2 for 13) and Dafydd Lewis (1 for 6).
 
Owen was finally out after superbly anchoring the innings for 26 overs and Callan and Wood both perished in the late run chase, leaving Phelps 2 not out as Carmarthenshire celebrated a win.
 

Learning from errors in defeat

 
Pembrokeshire were naturally disappointed with the defeat but on the day lost to the better all-round team. They will reflect on an excellent bowling and fielding performance but also on the importance of keeping the scoreboard ticking over with good positive running between the wickets.
 
The team can also proudly reflect on the comments of spectators about the excellent attitude and spirit with which they played the game, an element all too-often underestimated and forgotten in modern sport.
 
Pembrokeshire U11s): Iori Humphries, Zak Jones, Ben Callan, Archie Wood (all Hundleton), Evan Watts (Haverfordwest), Jamie Goldsworthy (Cresselly), Elin Miller, Lewis Miller, Owen Phelps, Jacob Owen, Seth Willington (all Hook)