The penultimate week of the Pembroke County cricket season on Saturday (Aug 16), saw Pembroke Dock (185-9) captain George Smith lift the Albert Scourfield Cup as Division 3 champions, following a resounding 122 runs win at Imble Lane over nearest rivals Fishguard (63ao), who need 3 points to ensure their promotion to Division 2 next season.
Former captain Scott Griffiths led the charge with an unbeaten 74 assisted with 25 from Anton John as Alistair Davies (3-17) and Ashish Jayes (2-21) bowled well for the visitors after skipper Scott Delaney elected to field on winning the toss. Delaney with 20 and all rounder Anthony Cousens (27) were the only batsman from the Twin Towns to stand forth as Smith (3-6) and Griffiths (3-17) spun them into defeat, paceman Neil Greggory firing his left armers to good effect at the top of innings to claim 3-30.
Haverfordwest II team were awarded the 20 points as visitors Bosherston & Stackpole were unable to raise a side to play them on the Racecourse, where Lamphey (219-8) secured third position as they beat relegated Neyland II (101ao), top order batsman David Dredge electing to bat on winning the toss and he scored an unbeaten 124 which included five maximums and sixteen boundaries where he added 85 for the fifth wicket with Rob Mathias (29; 5x4). Seamer Tom Pritchard returned 3-33 for the All Whites, before teenager Sylas Ferran used the new ball to good effect with 3-14 and Callum O’Brien took 2-29, late order batsman Joe Campadonic top scoring with 28.
Also relegated from the division will be Hook II (168ao), the Miners village side losing by 83 runs at home to Kilgetty (251-3), where top order batsman Jack Badham scored a magnificent 152, all rounder Richard Prout scoring 68 before he took 5-23 post tea, where the home side had veteran Jamie Phelps top scoring with 65, teenager Charlie Holder also batting well for his 24.
The final Saturday game was played at Laugharne (266-5) who defeated visitors Hundleton (199ao) by 76 runs, opening batsman Callum Collins-Davies scoring an unbeaten 150 as the Dylan Thomas village side elected to bat first. Ben Thorn (35) and Mathew Tait (32) gave support where Craig Williamson took 2-30. Laugharne bowlers Simon Davies (4-44), James Allen (2-24) and the evergreen Shaun Lynch (2-41) saw their side, which has been playing cricket since 1870 home, teenager Elliot Midgley (30) and skipper Ben Adams (35) batting well for the Pembroke village side.
There was also a game played on Sunday (Aug 17) where Laugharne (222-7) travelled to Hook II (218ao) and won by three wickets, opening batsman and skipper Callum Collins-Davies continuing with his good form from the day before with 91, Joe Hodges unbeaten on 57 when the game was won, Kieran Sinclair the pick of the home bowlers with 3-44. The Miners village runs came courtesy of opening batsman Ifan Williams (78) and Bradly Flood (47), Seth Willington adding 20 and Sinclair a late order contribution of 24. The Laugharne wickets were taken by Man of the Match Collins-Davies (4-29), Simon Davies (3-44) and James Allen (3-53).
Rowland Jones Cup winners in Division 4 are runaway leaders Pembroke II (195-8), who have lost just a single game this season and beat St Ishmaels II (130ao) at Treleet by 69 runs to also end the Mice promotion challenge. Opening batsman Andrew Hay scored an unbeaten 106 from 99 balls, which included thirteen boundaries and two scores over the boundary rope after skipper Wil Davidson-Randell had been invited to bat by his opposition captain, Stuart Carpenter. Fellow opening batsman Will Davies (25; 4x4) helped him add 51 for the first wicket, Charlie Perkins (20; 3x4) taking the scoreboard to 103-2 before he was bowled by Carpenter (1-29). Teenager Charlie Welch was the pick of the visiting attack with 3-49, which included the wicket of Andrew Price, who stroked four boundaries in his quickfire 21.
Carpenter (89) showed his experience coming to the crease on 13-4 after Rob Smythe (2-17), Lewys Pennington (2-23) struck with the new cherry, the distinguished batsman last man out having a brace of sixes and ten boundaries to his name, the equally venerable Steve Durston claiming 2-30 and Price enjoying his day with 2-23.
Promoted alongside Pembroke II are Saundersfoot II (128-5) who returned from Llandigigie Fawr with a five wicket win against relegation threatened hosts, Llanrhian II (126-5). Veteran Tony Kitchell (28) and Ryan Bywater (35) were writing the headlines with the bat alongside skipper Frazer Watson who scored an unbeaten 31 after his side were asked to bat.
The Seasiders attack was led once again by veteran new ball bowler Kevin Sykes with 2-13, supported by Dan Broomhall (2-20). Post tea the Cows suffered in the field as the promotion party was started through the ever reliable Steve Cook (29) who was supported by Josh Samuel (27) and Iori Richards (17), Bywater taking 2-21 with his seam bowling.
Narberth II (219-8) beat fellow relegation candidates Llangwm II (176-9) by 43 runs at the Lewis Lloyd ground to lift themselves out of the relegation places, the Three Salmons sitting in bottom place, 15 points from safety. Skipper Ceri Davies top scored with 71 to lead from the front having elected to bat first, supported on the flanks by Ashley Williams (31), Morgan Preece (27no) and veteran opening batsman Andrew Williams (32).The equally mature Llangwm duo of Darren Brick (2-31) and John Palmer (2-17) were the pick of the attack, Callum Jenkins (62) and Josh Davies (32) making a fist of the reply, Manu Iddagodda taking 2-25 to go with his earlier 26 for the hosts.
Veteran Steve Campbell (52), Taylor Lewis (32) and Harry Harries (30no) set Lawrenny II on their way to a match winning 166-3 for a seven wicket win over Haverfordwest III who posted 162-7 after captain Mark Davies elected to bat first. Teenage opening bowler Noah Williams took 1-26 and Lewis Reed (1-9) were the pick of the Gavanyards attack as veteran Jason Phillips could reflect on his unbeaten 47 alongside 34 from Jason Stobbs.
Crymych (250-2) won their home game at Ysgol Preseli by 69 runs over visitors Carew III (181ao). Man of the match went to Nitai Durey who scored an unbeaten 96 before his seam bowling took 4-32, Ben Palmer (58) and Conan Blake (47) scoring well for the mountain men.
Ian Milsom was the toast of his village as Herbrandston II (92ao) as they won the Einion Richards cup despite the arresting result as visitors Llechryd II (314-4) secured their own promotion place with a 222 run success at Little Castle Grove. Opening batsman John Curran retired not out having scored 151, which included seven maximums and nineteen boundaries, having added 180 with Phil Carter (29; 4x4) before he was run out by Rhys Power. Ollie Roberts (35; 1x6; 6x4) was the second wicket to fall on 242, teenager Dillon Lewis the best of the Herbie bowlers with 2-48, the Ceredigion based visitors Dan Moulster unbeaten on 33 (5x4) when tea was taken.
Power (20; 1x6; 3x4) and the affable Johnnie Lewis added 43 for the second wicket, opening batsman Lewis the last man out having had his fill with a top score of 40, which included six boundaries. Oscar Patrick came into the attack to wreak havoc taking 5- supported by normal wicketkeeper Ifan Wyn-Jones (2-14) and veteran former Neyland opening bowler, Graham Keen (2-26).
Relegation threatened Haverfordwest IV (49-4) made club history as they played their first competitive encounter on the main ground to defeat already relegated Neyland III (48ao) by six wickets. Teenage leg spinner Harri Atyeo came to the fore for the Town as he took 4-22, veteran seamer John Ryan over the proverbial blue moon as he took 3-22, Mason Kerrison top scoring for the All Whites with 21. It was a former Neyland opening batsman David Haynes who taught his former colleagues a lesson as he returned from a nasty injury from earlier in the season to lead his side home with an unbeaten 29.
Ollie Rowlands was the undoubted man of the match for Cresselly II (29-0) as they defeated visitors Pembroke Dock II (28ao) to the picturesque Castle ground overlooking Carew Castle, the youngster taking 6-7 before scoring an unbeaten 22, Lucian Thornton (2-9) and Cayden Jones (2-2) supporting Rowlands to ensure the Doves recorded their victory which keeps them four points clear of the relegation trap door.
Hundleton II (115-2) did their chances of escaping the drop the power of good as they defeated visitors Whitland II (111ao), veteran opening batsman Jonathan Williams scoring an unbeaten 53 and David Lockyear 31, after new ball bowler Mathew Phillips rolled back the years with 6-18 and Rob Wakely 2-22 in the Borders innings, for whom Ryan Williams top scored with 36 alongside 20 from Asley Jones.
Pembroke III (104-1) made sure of a double celebration for the club by beating nearest rivals Llechryd III (103ao) in Division 6, by nine wickets, in doing so lifting the Ashton Cup. Julian Forestor was one of those to do the running for the visitors, the veteran opening batsman top scoring with 21 (2x4) alongside fellow opening batsman Tony Little (11; 2x4) and they had the consolation of knowing they have also been promoted. Darren Bowen (20; 3x4) and Simon Newlands (13;1x4) enjoyed the wicket at Neyland, the aging Shaun Donohoe find his eye for goal in snaffling 5-14 and Toby Bradley-Watson taking 2-13 before Harry Penniket led the victory march with 35.
Kilgetty II (187-2) welcomed the combined side of Haverfordwest & Cresselly (184-9) to Kingsmore, the visitors invited to bat and had scored their runs through and unbeaten 44 from Jac Peters, George Hughes (42) and Ethan Blockwell (36). Dylan Phillips took 3-45 and Theo Scourfield 2-1 for the home side, before Dylan Duffy rattled off an unbeaten 128 to secure the win, Ryan Douglas-Law contributing 36.
Final League Fixtures for Saturday (Aug 23)
Fixtures marked with a * are lives games impacting relegation issues
Division 3
Haverfordwest II v Hook II
Hundleton v Fishguard
Kilgetty v Laugharne
Neyland II v Pembroke Dock
Stackpole v Lamphey
Division 4
*Carew III v Llanrhian II
*Haverfordwest III v Narberth II
Pembroke II v Crymych
*Saundersfoot II v Llangwm II
St Ishmaels II v Lawrenny II
Division 5
*Llechryd II v Hundleton II
• Pembroke Dock II v Haverfordwest IV
*Whitland II v Cresselly III
Division 6
Lamphey II v Whitland III
Llechryd III v Kilgetty II
Pembroke III v H'west-Cresselly
Photo Credit: Pembroke Dock Cricket Club
