The chase for the Albert Scourfield Cup in Division 3 has been forged by table topping Fishguard and their chasers from Pembroke Dock after both secured wins on Saturday (Jun 27) to open up a 28 point cushion over Hundleton.
The ‘Twin Town’ boys from Fishguard (119-1) beat the Haverfordwest II (115ao) by 9 wickets, visiting skipper Scott Delaney having little hesitation in asking the ‘Town’ stiffs to make first use of the damp Racecourse wicket. He led the charge with his seamers snaffling 4-10, newly appointed Goodwick United assistant manager Niall Kinsella (2-17) and new ball bowler Rob Couzens (2-14) backing up their skipper, who also doubles up in the winter by captaining the aforementioned Goodwick football side. Former Fishguard and Dinas all rounder Nigel Morgan top scored, the elder statesman procuring 34 at the top of the order alongside Doug Johnson (30).
The Senedd Member for South Pembrokeshire Sam Kurtz opened the innings for the Tregoes Park side after tea and scored 55, fellow opening batsman Nigel Delaney unbeaten on 37 against one of his former clubs, Kial Keanne (22no) joining the newly appointed Goodwick football manager when the winning runs were score.
Captain George Smith asked his opposite number from Lamphey (70ao) to bat at Imble Lane, Pembroke Dock (73-3) winning by 7 wickets to lie two points off the top spot. Neil Gregory (1-12) bowled opening batsman Huw Bendall for a duck from the third ball of the innings, his fellow new ball bowler James White (2-13) had the Stags skipper David Dredge (1) caught behind by Scott Griffiths in the next over before they fell to 8-3 in the sixth over when Morgan Price-Richards was pouched by Rhys Daley to give White his second wicket.
Opening batsman David Blackwell (24; 3x4)showed his fitness and durability to rebuild the scorecard alongside Nick Shelmerdine (3; 1;6;5x4). Blackwell was pinned LBW by Smith (4-9) on 47-4, the captains off spin bowling Terrance Makridakas and having John Stute caught by White for ducks, to leave Lamphey 60-6. Smith also had Grant Cole stumped by Griffiths for a duck to take the final wicket of the innings in the twenty third over, after the venerable Nick Daly floated in to have, Dawson Davies (4) caught by the off spring before top Scorer Shelmerdine was bowled on 70-8, Sylas Ferran the fifth visiting batsman dismissed without troubling scribe Nicola Marray in the scorebox, when he was caught by White to give Daley a 3-4 return.
He then donned the pads after tea to lead his side home with 46 (10x4) before he was bowled by Dredge (2-9) with seven runs required for victory, his fellow opening batsman Jake Davies dismissed early for 7 (1x4) caught by Blackwell off first change bowler Ferran (1-19) in the sixth over. 35-1 became 42-2 when Adam Phillips was caught by Cole to give Dredge his second wicket, the victory underlined in the thirteenth over with Rhys Daley (4) and gloveman Griffiths (2) the unbeaten batsmen.
Neyland II remain anchored to the foot of the division after a 118 run defeat at Kingsmore, the hosts taking maximum points after being asked to bat and accrued 207-6. Top order batsman Jack Badham (59) top scored for Kilgetty alongside Teddy Griffiths (28) 2-17 and Anthony Lewis (25), Wales age group player Rodney Murphy taking 2-34 for the visitors and the one of the Brunel towns sporting all rounders, teenager Corey Riley (2-50). Ollie Badham then set about securing victory in the relegation encounter taking 4-15 assisted by Lewis (2-27) and Jamie Keating (2-19).
Hook II (220-6) remain in the relegation places despite a 40 run success in the Miners village over visitors Hundleton (180-9). The hosts were asked to bat first and Jake Wicks stroke an unbeaten 115 alongside Ethan Williams (42) and Bradley Flood (27), Craig Williamson the most successful bowler with 3-53.
Flood (3-40), Wicks (2-77) and Will Harries (2-13) ensured the victory, teenager Elliot Midgley top score with 54 alongside Evand Davies (47) and all rounder Owen Hughes (37).
The final game in the division saw Laugharne (184-4) defeat Stackpole (179-9) at the Athletic ground, by 6 wickets. Batting first the Lillies were indebted to skipper Josh Davies (88) and Narberth scrum half Lewys Gibby (55) for the challenging total as James Allen took 3-44. The host’s victory was overseen by an unbroken fifth wicket partnership between Brendan MaCay (61no) and Joe Hodge (60no) after Chris Gibbs 3-37 had given the Lillies an early opportunity for the win.
The Division 4 league table currently shows Pembroke II and Saundersfoot II in an auction race for the Rowland Jones Cup. Leaders Pembroke (233-1) recorded a nine wicket triumph at Treleet over relegation threatened Llangwm II (222-3). Bill Brant returned from his oversees teaching post to scribe 102, Mike Terry contributed an unbeaten 81 and Llangwm prop forward Joe Newton (18no) Paul White’s off spin taking 3-39 for the hosts.
White then took up the mantle for Pembroke with an unbeaten 82 (6x4), Andrew Hay top scoring with a rapid 87(17x4) before he was caught by Jake Thomas off the bowling of veteran seamer Mike Williams (1-26) on 151-1. Former Carew and Saundersfoot stalwart Phil Jones contributed an unbeaten 35, the gloveman stroking three boundaries in his innings.
Saundersfoot (106ao) lie in second place after a low scoring victory by 21 runs at the foot of the Preseli Hills, where hosts Crymych were dismissed for 85. Steve Cook with 23 was the only batsman to look comfortable as Ellis Williams (3-11) and Steffan Williams (3-17) made the inroads for the Mountain men. The Seasiders showed their mettle as there was no stopping Ollie Cook (4-19) and Sam Jospeh (3-23), only Hedd Williams (19) and an unbeaten 17 from Ellis Williams showing any resistance.
St Ishmaels II (131ao) travelled back from Llandigigie Fawr with a 47 run victory over bottom of the table hosts Llanrhian II (84ao). Visiting captain Stuart Carpenter elected to bat, key accumulator for the mice Darren Hawkins continued his good form with 39 (6x4) from this opening berth, assisted by his namesake Ieuan with 24 (3x4). Ollie Rees (15; 1x4) at the top of the order, teenager Aiden Tansey (11) and Carpenter whose 10 came with two scoring shots the other Mice batsmen in double digits. The Cows wickets were taken by Ninjutsu Prabath (3-13) and veteran Tony Kitchell (3-30).
Teenage opening bowler Maddox Bradshaw (3-23) made an early break through on 8-1 when he had Mike Lawrence LBW for 7 (1x4), another Tish veteran, Kevin Bowen then ensuring victory when he came into the attack to take 5-4 in 21 balls. Ieuan Hawkins (2-21) had removed Kitchell 18; (1x4) on 39-2 took a return catch for remove Mark Evans (12; 2x4) on 62-3, Bowens first wicket came via the hands of Hawkins when top scorer Rhys Meredith-Barrett (23; 3x4) was dismissed on 68-4. In conjunction with Maddox, who bowled both the batsmen for his further two wickets the tail was swept away, Rhys Warlow and Darren Hawkins safely holding catches for Bowen to record his five wicket haul.
Narberth II are anchored to the foot of the table after they were dismissed for 47 at their Lewis Lloyd ground after being invited to bat by Lawrenny II (50-1). Luke Cole with 6-10 led the way for the visitors, alongside Lewis Read (2-15), veteran opening batsman Andrew Williams top scoring with 16. Noah Williams (16) and Harry Harries (16no) ensured victory for the Gavanyards.
The final game in the division at the picturesque Castle ground, saw Carew III (169ao) record a 10 run victory over Haverfordwest III (159ao). Gareth Lewis (59) ensured there would be no coroners enquiry required alongside former Wales international Robbie Hicks (36) for the Rooks, teenage off spinner George Twigg (3-27) continued his good form for the Town. Veteran Kerry Waters (2-26) and Sion Jenkins (2-12) whistled in after tea for Carew with the ball, top order batsman Tim Field contributing 34, Twigg the last wicket to fall for 27.
Einion Richards Cup, donated by a former Police Superintendent looks like being a three way battle, where Llechryd II and Herbrandston II hold a lead over Pembroke Dock II who lost their encounter in North Pembrokeshire at the RDM Oval.
Llechryd totalled 242-1, opening batsman Adam Maehrein batted the innings, striking a six and elven boundaries in his unbeaten 104, after losing opening partner Philip Carter for 37 (6x4) on 81-1, LBW to Alex Frearson (1-34). He found an ally in Josh Ward who stroked ten boundaries in his unbeaten 68 in an unbroken second wicket partnership of 161. Seamer Tom beard then took 4-21 coming on second change, to remove the bails of Richard Scourfield (21;3x4) on 57-1 and Luke Murray (36;4x4) on 65-2 before having Tom Grinwood (24;1x6;2x4) caught by Duncan Blackburn on 102-4, Peter Kingdom (7;1x4), a shadow of himself bowled on 96-3 by Dan Moulstar (1-41). Youngster Owen Fletcher (2-9) finished the innings by bowling Steve Davies (3), having earlier done the same to Frearson (3) earlier in his spell. . Maerhrein finished with 2-23 and Fletcher accredited with a run out of skipper Josh Powell.
Herbrandston II (101-0) recorded a 10 wicket victory at Little Castle Grove over basement side Neyland III (100ao), seamer John Cumani entering the attack as first change bowler, taking 4-9 as the ‘All Whites’ fell from 54-3, the final score indebted to last man out Ian Lewis (25;2x4). Andrew Slark (14;2x4) and fellow opening partner Phil Keen (15;3x4) added 35 for the first wicket before Keen fell to new ball bowler Karl Davies (1-18) and 4 runs later veteran Mark Hicks (1-18) whole hearted performance was rewarded with the wicket of Slark. Aaron Bowles (3-19) supported Cumani as only Cian Riley (9) forged a resistance with Lewis, adding 26 for the eight wicket.
Skipper Johhny Lewis struck a brace of boundaries in his 22 as Davies forged the road to victory with a six and ten boundaries in his 62, both retiring not out to allow teenagers Zac Rowell and Alfie Philpott to be there to secure the winning runs, Neyland bowling eight of their players to ensure they fully enjoyed their afternoon of cricket.
Whitland II (168-6) defeated hosts Hundleton & Wallaston (79ao) by 89 runs, opening batsman Mathew Driver controlling the gears for 43, with wicketkeeper Craig Wade unbeaten on 34 for the Borderers. Rhys Jones (28) and James Thomas (24no) also contributed to the final tally, veteran Stuart Midgley the pick of the home’s sides attack with 4-21 alongside Connor Beynon (2-24). Beynon then struck 20 in conjunction with wicketkeeper Ffion Asman (12), the only two players in double digits against an accurate attack of Ethan Ryan (3-6), Rhys Davies (3-21) and Dan Howells (2-10), who bowled eight players between them.
Cresselly III (179-3) travelled to the Lower Racecourse ground and defeated Haverfordwest IV (141ao) by 38 runs. Tom Rowlands (78) and Damien Arthur (41) showed their form to lead the Doves batting, before youngsters Ollie Rowlands (3-13), Charlie Venables( 2-15) and Finley Rowlands (3-19) used the cherry to good effect, Haverfordwest groundsman Steff Ateyo using his grass knowledge to good effect to be unbeaten on 41, veteran Richard Davies (38) also a bracket on which the home sides final total was hinged.
The Ashton Cup (in memory of former County President Julia White, MBE) is currently in the hands of Pembroke III (164-7) who defeated basement side Kilgetty II (33ao) on the artificial surface at Neyland, by 131 runs. Steve Mitchell opened the innings with 84 (2x6;9x4), double figures scores coming from Murahari Ethirajalu (10;1x4), Toby Bradley – Watson (15;1x6), Eleri Williams (13) and an unbeaten 10 (1x4) from Dylan Lewis. The Kilgetty attack saw Sam lewis take 3-31 and former County President Nick Evans, rolling back his 84 years to take 2-13 from his six overs of spin, Mark Davies taking 3 of the six catches held by the Kingsmore side.
Williams took the new cherry (6-9) another lady in Summer Russant taking 2-1after Rob Davies (1-9) took the first wicket via the hands of Mitchell, the gloveman recording his stake for man of the match with four catches, Evans Jones (11) the only batsman to reach double figures having struck his sides only boundary.
Lamphey II (140-9) defeated the combined side of Haverfordwest/Cresselly (74ao) by 66 runs, the Stags total built around Callum O’Brien (41;6x4) and Darren Crockford (36;2x6;4x4), opening batsman Jonathan Edwards (13;1x6) and veteran Hywel Gibbs (11no) also in double figures, Geroge Hughes taking 4-22 for the visitors, three of which were bowled. Dan Cole (16) and George Richards (12no) led the response where James Burns (4-13), Gibbs (2-5) and O’Brien (2-14) ensured there were no scares for the home side in a game which featured two former Harrison Allen Bowl winners in Gibbs and Cole.
The final game in the division was between Llechryd III (156-5) who defeated hosts Whitland III (47ao) by 109 runs. Wicketkeeper Andrew Davies (56) and Matthew Morden (53) redressed the innings after early wickets in the Llechryd innings before Tegan Ryan took 2-51, captain Neil Croucher unbeaten on 15. Narberth ruby full back Harry Fuller (20) top scored in the reply for Whitland in light of tight bowling from change bowler Jonathan Stevenson, who took 4-7 from his 17 balls bowled, Croucher 2-6, Kevin Holmes (2-15) and Richard Davies (2-18), the Whitland side including the venerable Junior League Sponsor Colin John, who contributed an unbeaten 5.
Photo credit: Fishguard & Goodwick CCC
