As usual we have contacted our regular pundits and clubs around the county to ask them who they think will win – and their views are provided below, with Neyland clearly starting as hot favourites!
 

Gordon Thomas:
 

Being a Haverfordwest boy my heart says The Town but my head tells me that Neyland skipper Sean Hannon will pick up the trophy. They are stronger overall in most departments and with a younger team overall are likely to be sharper in the field.

But Neyland know that in Adam James and Simon Holliday there is a real threat and will prepare accordingly with their varied bowling attack to limit these Town ‘game changers’.

Neyland’s main problem is a nice one in the sense that they have so many talented, experienced batsmen that are bolstered by Ross Hardy and Brad McDermott-Jenkins, who will also likely to be bowling alongside the previous strike force that included Nathan Banner, Patrick Hannon and especially Andrew Miller as potent forces.



 

Fraser Watson:
 

To be honest, I have to go for Neyland but, and there are a lot of buts in my head, there are sure to be some interesting moments where the game could swing against them, especially if a couple of the Haverfordwest batting’s top five can make an impact.

It is the same on the bowling front as Neyland have so many options, perhaps too many, so Hannon will have to stay fully focussed on his choices – but they hold a definite edge in terms of variety.
They are also as good a fielding side as I have seen this season and they have come through a very tough half of the draw – so I have to go with Neyland!

Phil Cockburn (St Ishmaels skipper):

I think it’s going to be closer than people think but I have to go for Neyland because they are so strong overall. There isn’t a weakness in their side and I think Nick Koomen and Nathan Banner could be key players.

Rob Williams (Lawrenny all-rounder):

Haverfordwest showed their fighting spirit last year by beating us and I think they might just win again this year. There is no doubt that Neyland are the stronger side but there’s always Adam James and Simon Holliday and I don’t think Neyland can keep them both quiet for two innings. Haverfordwest also had a hell of a kind draw and sometimes a team’s name is written on The Bowl before the final starts!

Ryan Lewis (Cresselly all-rounder):

I think the ‘Neyland All Stars’ will be too strong because with Ross Hardy and Brad McDermott there they haven’t got a weakness in the side. ‘The Doc’ is a key player for Haverfordwest but is short of match practice so much will depend on Adam James – but I think Nathan Banner and Brad McDermott-Jenkins will see Neyland home.

Davy Johns (Narberth captain):
 

Overall Neyland are so strong it is hard to see them losing with batsmen like Koomen, McDermott-Jenkins and Hardy but if Adam James bowls like he did against us and bats like he did last year then anything is possible.

Shaun Whitfield (Carew skipper):
 

It’s Neyland for me because they bat from 1 to 11 and that is so vital in a big match like this since Haverfordwest’s batting relies so heavily and their very good top five batsmen. There are two good bowling attacks but I think Neyland also have the edge in their fielding because everyone knows his job under Sean Hannon and they pull out all the stops! For Haverfordwest to win they need something special from ‘Dapper’ and/or ‘Jamer’

James Caine (Saundersfoot all-rounder):
 

It’s harder to call this season because there’s been so little cricket but I think Neyland will win because of the class of players like Ashley Sutton, Brad McDermott-Jenkins and Henry Durrant.

Iwan Izzard (Cresselly captain):
 

I’ll go for Neyland because they have so much strength in depth and a clever skipper in Sean Hannon who will have done his homework on Adam James and ‘Doc’ Holliday. Haverfordwest have got six very experienced players but are still in something of a transitional period so might struggle if they lose quick wickets – but they have had the easier of the draw so who knows?

John Curran (Llechryd skipper):
 

Neyland must be hot favourites unless Adam James tees off again – but so much relies on him. Neyland don’t appear to have a weakness but every side can have a bad game so Haverfordwest might have a good day if Danny Potter, Dai Davies and Ben Field can score big alongside James and Holliday.