The Tramway Cafe sponsored Saundersfoot II (82-4) maintained their 100% win record with their fifth win of the season by 6 wickets at the King George V field over visitors St Ishmaels II (81ao), sponsored by Mathias Construction, G&G Builders and Monster Motorcycles.

Home skipper Dom Green won the toss and inserted his opposite number Stuart Carpenter on the premise that in form Simon Stanford, a top player in the county was having to leave by 5:30pm and he was hopeful of dismissing the Tish batsman and then allowing Stanford to bat before he had to depart. Wise words they were, as the visitors were dismissed for 81 in the thirtieth over, before left handed Stanford took centre stage to be unbeaten on 71 (53 balls), having stroked nine boundaries and a three of maximums as victory was achieved with twenty seven overs remaining.

Teenage opening bowler Ollie Rees (2-44) shared the new ball sponsored by Tania and Jeffrey in memory of Roy Hill, with the slightly more venerable Welsh Senior international Kevin Bowen (2-38), who bowled opening batsman Spencer Rourke for 4 in the fifth over and two overs later did the same to Abey John for a duck. The youngster also struck twice in the tenth over as he castled Aryan Kawale (4) and two balls later did the same to Paul Morris for a duck. Stanford, who had scored 142no in Division 1 on the same ground three weeks ago in helping his side defeat Haverfordwest by 9 wickets, was merciless in his stroke play, scoring nearly 80% of his sides runs in the victory charge.

Earlier in the day the inform Darren Hawkins (2) had the car horns tooting when he was the first of Kevin Sykes 2-16 analysis, caught with a spectacular one handed catch at full stretch from Green to his right, after he donned the wicketkeeping gloves after winning the toss. Nathan Thomas (14; 2x4) joined Bowen (24; 4x4) to add 24 for the second wicket before he chewed his toffees once too often and was trapped LBW by Sykes, with the score on 34-2.

Carpenter, who had scored an unbeaten 67 for Wales seniors against Somerset at Ebbw Vale in the week fell with the score on 50, caught by Abey John off the bowling of Daniel Broomhall (2-10), wicketkeeper Owen Thomas (4) swapping his goalkeeper gloves for the wicketkeeper’s ones in the summer, became the fourth ‘Mice’ wicket when he was bowled by Broomhall. Bowen fell two runs later on 57-5, caught by Sam Jospeh off Josh Samuel (2-20), Nathan Phillips and twelve year old West Wales Pathway all-rounder Maddox Bradshaw both steading the tilting Mice ship before Green had a hand in removing both to leave the scoreboard showing 63-7, Samuel removing Phillips and Jospeh (3-5), Bradshaw.

Bowler Rees also showed his aptitude with the bat with an unbeaten 5 as he took the scoreboard to 79-8 with Rhys Warlow (12; 2x4) before Jospeh also bowled Warlow and the next ball, Max Howells for a golden duck. Dylan Ninnis was the last man dismissed without scoring when O’Rourke (1-2) bowled him on the fifth ball of his only over.

The game then became the Stanford Saundersfoot Show as he struck 87% of his sides score, well supported by with Jospeh with a catch and 3-5 bowling return, alongside Captain Fantastic Green for his tactical nous at the toss and for leading his team in the field with three crucial catches without conceding a bye, confidently manipulating his bowlers well, this despite acknowledging at the toss having a depleted bowling attack.

Next week the Seasiders will look to keep their nine point lead at the top of the division in pursuit of the Rowland Jones Cup, over Pembroke II and Crymych, when they host mid table Haverfordwest III. St Ishmaels will be geeing up the horses ahead of their Race Night on Saturday (Jun 7) in welcoming Crymych to the Dale Peninsula, a week before the Monk Haven Manor Horse Racing event gets under ‘starters orders’.

Photos

Saundersfoot II team

St Ishmaels II team

Roger Stanford (Saundersfoot) and Jane Carpenter (St Ishmaels)

Roger Stanford and Kevin Sykes preparing the ground

Photo Gallery (click to view in full)