Pembroke County Cricket Club - Division 2 pre-season preview
Division 2
In 2019, Division 2 was split into three segments.
The top two were streets ahead, the bottom two were streets behind, and the rest were clustered up closely in-between.
Coming down are two sides who have yo-yo’d between the top two leagues a fair bit in recent times – Llangwm and Burton.
The former are a side that fluctuates. They have some devastating stroke makers and on any given day, can match the best in the county. But they also struggle for consistency although this year, the signing of Steve Mills from Carmarthen Wanderers will be an immense boost. If, as rumoured, Steve Inward follows suit, then they will prove hard to stop.
Burton too have quality players, and made a Harrison-Allen Bowl semi-final last season. Through the likes of the Hayman brothers and John Venables, they have the batting power to bounce back.
Herbrandston and Lamphey are the teams coming up from Division 3, and were taken up two years ago under skippers Ryan Davies and Rob Mathias respectively. Both have the nucleus of good squads and have every chance of cementing their places at this level, but as for so many, fielding a regular side will be crucial.
Pembroke, Hook, and Kilgetty all finished in the top half two years ago and all have the players to win games and be up there again. Pembroke Dock have been going well off the field and appear to have strengthened on it, with youngsters coming through and George Smith signing from Stackpole.
Under Barry Evans, Carew 2nds won the Alec Colley Cup last season and boast a good blend of experienced, former Division 1 players, as well as talented youngsters who have progressed through the Ormond Youth and third team ranks. Haverfordwest 2nds also won’t be short of know how under Nigel Morgan, but their first team do appear to be entering a rebuilding phase so that may have an impact on how they fare.
Johnston, especially with the signing of Mills, and neighbours Burton will start as favourites to go up. The challenge for the other sides is, unlike two years ago, to be able to break free from the pack to compete for promotion with them.
Champions: Llangwm.
Runners up: Burton.
