Connect: Pembrokeshire have received communication from a current player in the local league advocating a change in the format of cup cricket within the County. There is an envy across other leagues in Wales of the format around the Harrison Allen Bowl, which was first won by Narberth in 1949 against Cresselly, Narberth, currently a second division side due to take on Neyland a week Saturday (Aug 30) at Cresselly in the two innings final.
The Alec Colley Cup is the equivalent for clubs second string and Carew deservedly won the cup for the fourth year on the spin yesterday by 119 runs against Haverfordwest which prompted the player to contact Connect: Pembrokeshire.
“Carew were excellent yesterday and I’m sure Haverfordwest enjoyed their day in the limelight, the Rooks strength as a club evident with their dominance of this competition in recent years and their third XI collecting the Ken Morris Cup last weekend. I feel the Colley Cup has unfortunately become boring and stale, when realistically there are very few sides capable of winning it, where Carew and Cresselly hold their own in Division 2, whilst Burton II return to Division 3 this season and Neyland have in recent years contested well in no small part to their club development and strength from their all-conquering first team which had such a positive impact on the lower teams. Such is Carew’s strength, it can be highlighted where they won the cup last season by 169 runs (v Lawrenny), in 2023 they beat Llangwm by 8 wickets requiring 32 in their second innings and in 2022 by 138 runs over Pembroke Dock. I give full credit to Carew they broke no rules and played a side with good youngsters who play a good level weekly and experienced players who do the same, but when was the last exciting Alec Colley final? What chance do other second teams have of winning the cup and is there time for change as sides have conceded games in earlier rounds against the stronger second strings?
I witnessed a young player concede 48 runs from his three overs which in no means demeans his ability nor the bravery of his captain in backing that ability, but has that done the young man any good? There is also an intrinsic link to the availability on Saturdays where teams, outside of the main clubs in the County struggling to fulfil fixtures, so I’m advocating a change similar to the local football league, which have divisional cups running alongside their main ‘Senior Cup’ competition, which give a more meaningful contest between sides but also helps maintain interest for players if their league campaign has dwindled away. You could even then have a finals day where there are two games played concurrently at the same venue over weekends in August and September.
The Allan Brown and Ken Morris give players the excitement of a final that they may never experience otherwise; could these be incorporated into a ‘divisional cup’ scenario, which may indeed go against the grain of the tradition within Pembrokeshire, but could it spark some energy back into the local cricket scene?”
Connect: Pembrokeshire would like to hear your opinions, using the poll below or even through a DM or email (sports@connectpembrokeshire.co.uk) by which responses can be collated and feedback shared.
