The promotion and relegation places across divisions 3-6 have started to emerge as the Pembroke County Cricket league enters its final three games of the season, Pembroke Dock (125-1) in prime position for a promotion to Division, after two successive relegation seasons after their nine wicket win at Laugharne (124ao) on Saturday (Aug 2).
Jake Davies was unbeaten on 47 when his side secured victory having lost opening partner Nick Daley for 46, to Brendan McCay (1-24), the Carmarthenshire village side total at the Athletic ground built around 28 from peter Hill and an unbeaten 20 form the bat of Ben Thorne, the Docks most successful bowlers were from Daley (2-13) and new ball bowler, Jamie White (2-22).
Eleven points adrift in the pursuit of the Albert Scourfield Cup are Fishguard (81-2) who returned from the Kingsmore ground having defeated hosts Kilgetty (78ao) by 8 wickets, their success in no small way accredited to the bowling of Ashish Jayes (4-18) and opening bowler Anthony Couzens (4-18), only veteran top order batsman Geoff Marsh making a fight of it for Kilgetty with 28 before another seasoned campaigner, Nigel Delaney led the north county sides victory charge with an unbeaten 41.
At the foot of the table Neyland II (54ao) lost by 113 runs at home to Hundleton (167-8), the visitors taking first use of the track at the Athletic ground, teenager Owen Hughes top scoring with 38, alongside Williams Lockyear (25) and Evand Davies (22), Evan Roberts taking 3-30 for the ‘All Whites’. Hughes then came to the fore as he took 3-11 to lay claim to the man of the match award, Craig Williamson (3-10) and Robson Wakley (3-24) supporting the seam bowling of Hughes. Neyland continue to back their young charges with teenager Leo Power top scoring with 14.
Hook II (238ao) gave themselves hope of escaping the drop as they defeated visitors to the Recreation ground, Stackpole (175ao) by 63 runs having been invited to bat first, talented all rounder Seth Willington with 79 supported by the venerable Mathew Holder (53) and Jake Wicks (38) in posting the divisions highest score. The Lillies wickets were shared between Hefyn Williams (3-45), Paul Oeppen (2-40) and teenager Iestyn Preddy (2-51), Oeppen adding 32 in their reply after tea, with Jarrad Sherratt (59) alongside loyal clubmen Lewys Gibby (32) and Josh Davies (34) also contributing. Youngster Charlie Holder (2-54) was again given responsibility to perform with the ball, stalwart ‘Hookite’ Jamie Phelps (2-20) and Brdley Flood (2-38) supporting, Stackpole now looking over their shoulder as are Kilgetty as the village side gave themselves a glimmer of hope in remaining in the division.
The final game in the division saw Lamphey (195-8) continue to sit in third place after their 25 run victory on the Racecourse against Haverfordwest II (170-9), David Blackwell top scored for the Stags with 79, Peter McGilloway dismissed one run short of his half century and David Dredge scoring an unbeaten 22, the Towns bowling led by teenager Dylan Lee (3-17). Dredge led his side to victory with 4-29 alongside Blackwell (2-33), veteran Nigel Morgan top scoring for the Town stiffs with 31, supported by Max Rodrigues (28) and wicketkeeper Graham Jenkins (21).
Bottom of the Division 4 table are Llangwm II, who conceded their home game at Pills Park as they were unable to raise a side to play Carew III, the points allocation confirming the Rooks safety in the league, where Narberth II (165-6) lifted themselves above hosts at Llanidigie Fawr, Llanrhian II (164-5) and out of the relegation zone. The visitors elected to bowl on winning the toss, where seamer Ceri Davies was the pick of the bowlers with 2-12, the Cows Michael Lawrence scoring an unbeaten 51 ably supported by contributions from veteran Tony Kitchell (26) and Ryan Byewater (25). Davies then saw his side over the line with an unbeaten 46, veteran opening batsman Andrew Williams (33) and Emyr Jenkins (21) also standing tall, the Grimsby Growler Rick Walton rumbling in to take 2-17.
Champions elect for the Rowland Jones Cup are Pembroke II, the league leaders posting 216-3 after skipper Wil Davidson-Randell elected to take first use of the Treleet wicket and saw his side record a 129 run victory over visitors Lawrenny II who were bowled out for 87, new ball bowler Lewys Pennington taking 3-43 as the Gavanyards fell to 26-4, Hazan Aziz (3-18) and veteran Steve Durston (3-12) ensuring victory inside 24 overs. Adrain Harries continues to belie his advancing years with three boundaries in his sides top score of 22 accrued from his opening berth, Harry Harries adding 21 (5x4) from the middle order. Earlier in the afternoon opening batsman Andrew Hay carried his bat for an unbeaten 109, which included sixteen boundaries, alongside opening partner Luke Butler (34; 4x4) before he fell on the cricketers superstitious ‘Nelson’, 111-1.
He also added an unbeaten 65 for the fourth wicket alongside wicketkeeper James Tomkinson (30no;4x4).
Saundersfoot II (84-4) hold the second promotion place having returned from the Racecourse with a six wicket win over Haverfordwest III whose skipper Mark Davies batted first on winning the toss but saw his side dismissed for 83, opening bowler Kevin Sykes tooting in with 4-21 for the Seasiders, alongside Josh Samuel (2-7), Sam Jospeh (2-34) and some Maesteg magic from seamer Mike Bailey (1-8). The meat of the Town runs came from opening batsman Richard Davies who butchered 17 and teenager Ethan Blackwell (26). The visitors Ollie Cook struck an unbeaten 33 in reply alongside 30 from Iori Richards, Kos Dammitry with 2-13 and spinner George Twigg taking 1-6.
St Ishmaels II (152-8) keep themselves in contention for promotion having defeated hosts Crymych at Preseli School after they elected to bat and posted 149-7, opening batsman Richard Thorne top scoring with 35, supported Nitai Dury (32), Ben Palmer (26) and Steff Williams (23). Ieuan Hawkins (2-35) and veteran Stuart Carpenter (2-16) were the pick of the Mice bowlers, before Darren Hawkins was let of the lead to score 46 in the victory walk, alongside another veteran Kevin Bowen with an unbeaten 58, where he was joined by teenager Cayden McGuire (13no) when victory was achieved, Thorne (3-15) and Palmer (2-23) the successful Mountain Men bowlers.
Herbrandston II (88-0) have the sirens blaring as they pursue the Einion Richards cup in Division , after defeating visitors to Little Castle Grove, Whitland II (87ao) by 10 wickets. Seamer John Camani took 4-25 for the Milford village side supported by all rounder Rhys Power (3-15), the Borderers runs coming from a second wicket partnership of 43 between opening batsman Chris Sweeney (24; 5x4) and Ryan Williams (23; 3x4), Fin Jones also contributing 16 (3x4) before Camani and Power reduced the innings from 56-2 to 87ao. Power then cm out to lead from the front with an unbeaten 55 which included a six and nine boundaries, victory underlined for skipper In Milson as Kevin Davies stroke five boundaries in his unbeaten 30.
Llechryd II are the closest challengers recorded a 158 run home win at the RDM Oval over visitors Netland III (88ao). Adam Maehrlein struck a brace of sixes and fourteen boundaries in his 107 as he and fellow opener Phil Carter 49 (4x4) added 152 for the first wicket, Maehrelin dismissed 64 runs later on 216-2, wicketkeeper Ifan Wyn Jones going onto score 45 (7x4) before he was the last wicket to fall, Korey Arran the successful bowler in his 3-53. Captain Tom Beard took the new ball for the hosts, with a 2-10 alongside Richard Davies (2-28), before Dan Moulster ending proceedings with three wickets for a single run. The bulk of the All Whites runs came from Arran (22;4x4), skipper Phil Keen (19; 4x4), and Andrew Vaughan-Harries (18;3x4).
The only other game in the league saw Haverfordwest IV (144-7) defeat hosts Hundleton II (140-8) by three wickets, skipper Danny Dewstowe showing his experience with an unbeaten 44 alongside teenager Wil Davies (26) Connor Beynon (2-8) and spinner Richard Allen taking 3-19 for the Pembroke village side.
Opening blower Ashley James (3-14) and Mo Asher (2-20) were the pick of the town attack before tea, Allen (15) and talented sportswomen Fion Ashman (18) alongside veteran Jonathn Williams (16) scoring the majority of the home sides runs.
There were only three games also in Division 6, league leaders and certainties to lift the Nick Evans Cup, Pembroke III (64-2) defeating bottom of the table visitors Kilgetty II (60ao) who elected to bat, Mike Smith (17; 3x4) and skipper Craig Ewen with 10 (1x4) from his opening position, the only batsmen in double figures, opening bowler Shaun Donohoe with 4-21 alongside Toby Bradley-Watson (2-8) and Alfie Workman (2-3) working their magic for skipper Steve Mitchell. Bradley-Watson struck four boundaries in his unbeaten 22 alongside opening batsman Kevin Trusswell who carried his bat for an unbeaten 19 (2x4), wicketkeeper Mitchel also adding 17 with a six and a four to take away the pain of losing the toss.
Joe Davies (54) led the victory charge for the combined Haverfordwest & Cresselly side (69-2) as they defeated hosts Whitland III (67ao), where Aled Jones was the principle run gatherer with 17. For the visitors George Richards with 2-19 and Arthur Jenkins who returned 2-4 help set up the 8 wicket win.
Llechryd II (165-8) travelled to Lamphey II (120ao) and returned north with a 45 run win, Simon Newlands stroked 61 and an unbeaten 31 from Steve Welch were the baseline for the visitors total, having been asked to bat, Jack Halstead the most successful bowler with 3-11 for the Stags. Martin Phillips (59) and Andrew Price-Richards (19) took up the run chase but former league umpire Neil Croucher used all his guile and experience to take 3-13 as did Kelvin Holmes.
