Pembroke County Cricket Club - Division 4 pre-season preview
Here at Pembrokeshiresport.co.uk, we continue our league preview for the Pembrokeshire cricket season by taking a look at the runners and riders in Division 4……
Last time out (2019), Division 4 was essentially a two horse race.
St Ishmaels 2nds were the team who took the title, with Neyland 2nds promoted alongside them. The chasing pack were over 140 points behind.
At the other end of the table it was Haverfordwest 4ths who went down, and the new additions will be Lawrenny 2nds, Whitland 2nds (both relegated from Division 3) and Kilgetty 2nds (promoted).
On paper, the two sides to have come down aren’t as strong as the ones who went up, so expect a much closer promotion race this time around.
Llanrhian 2nds were the side to finish third two years ago with Hook 2nds and Saundersfoot 2nds just behind them. The challenge from all three of those sides may will depend on their respective first team line ups but through the likes of Iwan James, Llion Williams, Aled Phelps, Jake Wicks, Phil Jones, Simon Stanford – all have players capable of doing a lot of damage at this level.
Llechryd are another second XI in the mix and an addition of a third team side this season suggests they have plenty of depth available. Carew 3rds, captained by Jeremy Griffiths, will also be dangerous with their young players now that little bit more experienced. Indeed, The Rooks were close to a Ken Morris Cup final appearance last season, as the likes of Aaron Hindman and Max Brindley impressed.
Burton 2nds and Crymych both battled to stay up last time out but have the potential to do a lot better this summer. Dan Ridge was among Burton’s best performers two years ago and as a team they need to nail down some consistency.
Crymych meanwhile, showed a lot of promise in last year’s shortened season. Through the likes of Osian Wyn and Ioan Davies, they boast decent bowlers and their new pitch is not an easy one to bat on. Central to their challenge will be whether they can field their best side regularly and of course, keeping hold of captain Sam Kurtz and opener Richard Thorne who can both be so destructive with the bat.
Whitland and Lawrenny have lost a couple of key club performers from the first team for this season so how they respond to a new league will depend on if they have to love regular players up to fill the void. Kilgetty meanwhile, have enough to consolidate their place in the new league if the likes of Richard Gwyther and Richard Cope can show the form that got them promoted.
Like Division 5, it’s a very tough league to call and one of several sides can win it depending on how consistent they can be with selection.
It all means we’re unsure again who to tip, but Saundersfoot 2nds have enough experienced performers to be up there again. Whitland too, having been a Division 2 side and Alec Colley Cup winners not so long ago, will be determined to bounce back.
Champions: Saundersfoot 2nds
Runners up: Whitland 2nds