Ormond Youth Cup Final:

 

Cresselly Youth (115 for 4 and 90 for 8) beat Hook Youth (78 for 8 and 105 for 9) by 22 runs

Man of the Match: George Smith (Cresselly)

Umpires: Ian Milsom and Richard Scriven
Scorers: Cerys Jenkins and Jon Willington
Venue: Carew Cricket Club

Cresselly collected the Ormond Youth Cup for the first time since 2014 as they utilised their 37-run first innings lead to defy a determined fight back by Hook and deservedly scoop the silverware by a margin of 22 runs.

Cresselly First Innings (115 for 4)

Asked to bat first, Cresselly played with an early assurance from Archie Hillier-Wood and Jamie Goldsworthy that gave them just the start they needed against a useful Hook attack.

Hillier-Wood looked confident as he struck two boundaries in his 14 runs, made from 17 balls, before he hit a delivery from Lewis Miller straight to cover and Niall Griffiths pouched catch.

Cresselly advanced the scoring to 52 before Goldsworthy skied a Callum Jenkins’ slow delivery to Owen Phelps in the covers when he had contributed 14 (23 balls).

They provided the perfect platform for Cresselly skipper Lee Smith to go on the attack, with Josh Lewis supporting until he was clean bowled by Dom Asson for 11 (19 deliveries).

Morgan Lewis departed for two runs as he lobbed a gentle catch back to Joe Phillips, who looked the pick of the Hook bowlers with his 1 for 19 analysis alongside Lewis Miller (1 for 24), Asson (1 for 20) and skipper Jenkins (1 for 16).

Smith cleverly controlled the tempo with his straight hitting and he was unlucky to miss out by one run from a deserved undefeated half century (three boundaries) as the innings finished on a healthy 114 for only four wickets.

Hook First Innings (78 for 8)

Hook’s hopes of chasing down such a useful score were soon left in tatters as Cresselly’s opening bowlers turned in inspiring four-over spells that left Hook desperate at 9 for 2 in eight overs.

Jack Perrins removed openers Lewis Miller and Owen Phelps for only one run between them as George Smith and Corey Lewis took respective catches at cover point and cover.

He finished with fantastic figures of 2 for 4 in his four overs whilst partner Euan McDonald supported with 0 for 6, both claiming two maidens.

It says much for Hook resilience that despite losing Findlay Elrick for four runs, well stumped by Goldsworthy off Josh Lewis, they enjoyed a stand of 49 between Ioan Roberts (30) and Seth Willington (20, including a big six) but another enterprising finish from Charlie Arthur (2 for 14) and Morgan Lewis (2 for 10) alongside skipper Smith saw Hook restricted to 78 for 8, which meant that they trailed by 37 runs at the interval.
 

Cresselly Second Innings (90 for 8)

Cresselly openers Hillier-Wood and Goldsworthy again gave the Cresselly 2nd innings a solid start with 21 runs before the latter was out cheaply, superbly caught one-handed by bowler Joe Phillips from a strong straight drive - and at the other end skipper Smith surprisingly departed for a duck as Lucas Davies took an equally difficult diving catch off Ioan Roberts, who also dismissed Josh Lewis for a single with the aid of a sharp catch in the gully by Callum Jenkins off Ioan Roberts.

Charlie Arthur batted well for his 13 before he was bowled by Joe Phillips to give the talented young pace bowler impressive figures with only two singles off his four overs.

Hillier-Wood, who had launched a six in the first over, finally departed for 19 as Harry Makepeace took the catch off Roberts.

Morgan Lewis also went early to a diving square-leg catch off Harry Makepeace. 

It looked as if Hook might not have such a daunting total to chase but then Will Nicholas (10) and Euan McDonald (19 not out in only 15 balls) gave some late impetus as Cresselly ended up on 90 for 8, setting Hook a challenging 128 for victory.

Ioan Roberts (3 for 14) joined Phillips (2 for 2) as Hook's best bowlers, with Lewis Miller (1 for 30) and Makepeace (1 for 18) as the other successful bowlers.
 

Hook Second Innings (105 for 9)

Hook set out their chase with real intent as they changed their batting order but with Perrins and McDonald bowling good lines they reached the half way mark with 41 but having lost Elrick without scoring as he was adjudged lbw to Perrins.

Phillips (13) managed to raise hopes with a big six but he joined Willington and Ioan Roberts as victims of Josh Lewis to earn the canny spin bowler figures of three for 10 from his miserly four overs.

Skipper Callum Jenkins also hit a big six and a four as he tried hard to rally his troops and they did well to reach three figures before was bowled by opposing captain Smith for a gritty 26.

But the performance of the innings undoubtedly fell to Own Phelps, who opened in the first innings but came in at No 8 and lashed an unbeaten 35 that included two sixes into the gardens.

He helped take Hook to a creditable 105 for 9 but the challenge was too great for them against an accurate Cresselly attack – and so it was George Smith, who raised the cup for Cresselly, presented by Carew stalwart Mike Brace on behalf of sponsor Tony Pidgeon after being introduced by county club chairman Richard Merriman. 

Skipper Smith collects the trophy for Cresselly – and the man of the match award!

Smith was also chosen by excellent umpires Richard Scriven and Ian Milsom as man of the match,  and it was appropriate that umpire Scriven should present the award because he was able to congratulate both sets of players, plus their coaches, for a very sporting match played in a very competitive but fair manner – a fitting end to an entertaining tussle!
 

SCORECARDS

 

First Innings

Cresselly Batting
Archie Hillier-Wood ct Niall Griffiths b Lewis Miller 14
Jamie Goldsworthy ct Owen Phelps b Callum Jenkins 14 
George Smith not out 49
Josh Lewis b Dom Asson 11
Morgan Lewis ct & b Joe Phillips 2
Charlie Arthur not out 10
Extras 15
Total (for 4 wickets) 115

Hook Bowling: Joe Phillips 4-0-19-1; Harry Makepeace 4-0-21-0; Lewis Miller 4-0-24-1; Callum Jenkins 3-0-16-1; Ioan Roberts 2-0-11-0; Dom Asson 3-0-20-1.

Hook Batting
Lewis Miller ct George Smith b Jack Perrins 1
Owen Phelps ct Corey Lewis b Jack Perrins 0
Ioan Roberts b Charlie Arthur 30
Findlay Elrick st Jamie Goldsworthy b Josh Lewis 4
Seth Willington b Charlie Arthur 20
Joe Phillips  ct Corey Lewis b Morgan Lewis 3
Callum Jenkins run out 0
Harry Makepeace b Morgan Lewis 1
Lucas Davies not out 1
Dom Asson not out 6
Extras 12
Total (8 wickets) 78

Cresselly Bowling: Euan McDonald 4-2-6-0; Jack Perrins 4-2-4-2; Josh Lewis 3-0-21-0; George Smith 4-0-20-1; Charlie Arthur 3-0-14-2; Morgan Lewis 2-0-10-2.
 

Second Innings

Cresselly Batting
Archie Hiller-Wood ct Harry Makepeace b Ioan Roberts 19
Jamie Goldsworthy ct & b Joe Phillips 5
George Smith ct Lucas Davies b Ioan Roberts 0
Josh Lewis ct Callum Jenkins b Ioan Roberts 1
Charlie Arthur b Joe Phillips 13
Morgan Lewis ct Ioan Roberts b Harry Makepeace 4
Will Nicholas ct Callum Jenkins b Lewis Miller 10
Euan McDonald not out 19
Jack Perrins run out 2
Extras 17
Total (8 wickets) 90

Hook Bowling: Lewis Miller 4-0-30-1; Joe Phillips 4-2-2-2; Ioan Roberts 4-0-14-3; Callum Jenkins 4-0-14-0; Harry Makepeace 3-0-18-1; Owen Phelps 1-0-6-0.

Hook Batting
Joe Phillips b Josh Lewis 13
Findlay Elphick lbw b Jack Perrins 0
Callum Jenkins b George Smith 26
Seth Willington b Josh Lewis 1
Ioan Roberts lbw b Josh Lewis 4
Lucas Davies run out 2
Lewis Miller b Charlie Arthur 8
Owen Phelps not out 35
Harry Makepeace run out 6
Dom Asson run out 0
Extras 10
Total (9 wickets) 105

Cresselly Bowling: Jack Perrins 4-0-18-1; Euan McDonald 4-1-20-0; George Smith 4-0-18-1; Josh Lewis 4-0-10-3; Charlie Arthur 2-0-15-1; Morgan Lewis 2-0-22-0.