There has been a change in the chase for the honour of lifting the Division 3 Albert Scourfield Cup as previous league leaders Fishguard (175ao) were a run shy in their pursuit of Lamphey's 176-8, the Pembroke village side indebted to David Dredge (4-36) and Hywel Gibbs (2-31) to remove the last seven wickets after visiting skipper Scott Delaney (78), Ashish Jayes(37) and veteran opening batsman Nigel Delaney (17) had set the Twin Town side on their way to victory.
Dredge had earlier in the day had repaid skipper Rob Mathias, who top scored with 56 (11x4) belief in batting first with 36 (1x6;7x4) as they added 79 for the fourth wicket, Nick Shelmerdine (20; 5x4) and Terrence Makridakis (24; 4x4) also contributing to the top, middle order. Jayes (2-26) and Shaun Sinnott (3-31 were the pick of the attack in trying to calm the Stags run accumulation, Delaney himself one of seven bowlers used in the innings.
New leaders by nine points are Pembroke Dock, the Imble Lane side awarded 20 points as Hook II team failed to raise a side, the same fate becoming Bosherston & Stackpole who conceded their encounter at the Clive Huxley ground to visitors Kilgetty. The 20 points awarded to the Kingsmore side lifting them 45 points clear of second bottom Hook II, basement side Neyland II (136ao) defeated at the Athletic ground in Laugharne, who totalled 137-3 to take maximum points. Talented teenager Corey Riley (2-14) was the main threat with the ball for the visiting Brunel town side, home skipper Callumn Collins-Davies (34) and Bendan McCay (69no) the key batsmen that saw the home side to victory. Andrew Slark (52) and Nathan Sutton (21) had thrived with the bat before the tea interval, McCay taking 4-42 alongside Joe Hodges 4-15.
The final game in the division was at the Racecourse, Haverfordwest II 109-3) overcoming visitors Hundleton (108ao), the Pembroke village side runs coming from the bat of Robson Walkey (28) and the ever reliable captain, Jonathan Williams (25), opposite number Mathew Vaughan (3-12) the sixth bowler used, Ashoka Senavirathna 4-19 after opening seamer Keiran Williams returned 2-13. Senavirathna was unbeaten on 37 as was Ross Dewstowe, the pair together when victory was achieved.
The key game at Treleet between the top two in Division 4 saw Pembroke II (163-4) open up a 31 point lead in the pursuit for the Rowland Jones Cup over visitors Saundersfoot II (162-9) failed by 1 run in their efforts for victory. Andrew Hay (61;2x6;8x4) and Charlie Perkins (37; 6x4) added 101 for the opening partnership to support Will Davidson-Randell's choice to bat first. Wicketkeeper Phil Hay contributed 28 (3x4) and veteran Phil Jones with an unbeaten 13 (1x4) ultimately key in their success at the end of the day. Another veteran in Steve Durston (3-35) was the pick of the home attack, Hay finishing off a man of the match performance with 2-27. The visitors top five all fired but last pair of Dan Broomhall (11no) and Kevin Sykes unable to toot their side over the line. Josh Richards (26), and Ollie Cook (24) had built on the runs from opening batsman Aryan Kawale (21) and Justin Richards (20), alongside Rhys Richards (15).
The featured Connect Pembrokeshire game on the dale Peninsula had seen hosts St Ishmaels (186-6) close the gap to the second promotion spot behind the Seasiders, after they defeated visitors Carew III (183-6). Twelve year old opening bowler Maddox Bradshaw swung straight into action for the home side after skipper Stuart Carpenter had lost the toss, Carew captain Steve Cole well caught by Owen Thomas in the gully to give Bradshaw the first of his 229 return, new wicketkeeper Aiden Tansey holding the catch as former Wales minor county opening batsman Robbie Hicks was dismissed for 37 (6x4) for the Rooks. Top scorer Jacob Knox (55; 1x6;9x4) was also caught by Tansey, who had earlier snaffled opening batsman Jamie Heaps off new ball bowler Ollie Rees (1-14), Carpenter (2-46) also a successful wicket taker with the local potato farmer Will Richards sponsored match ball, for the Mice, Ianto Hicks striking three boundaries in his 14, as did teenager Elliot Waters. Waters dad, Kerry had tuned his bat to be unbeaten on 21 (4x4) alongside Rys Cadogan (13;1x6;1x4).
The home side four wicket victory came through another elder statesman in Kevin Bowen, the opening batsman hitting 14 boundaries in his 79, adding 104 for the second wicket with Nathan Thomas (42;6x4). Robbie Hicks 3-21 had given Carew hope alongside Heaps (2-23), Bradshaw showing a temperament beyond his years with an unbeaten 8 (2x4) scribed in Jane Carpenters book, Rhys Warlow also having a brace of boundaries in his unbeaten 10.
The basement of the division seems to be a three way battle to avoid the drop, the side three points above the relegation places Llangwm II (109ao) defeated by 8 wickets at Lawrenny II (111-2). Veteran Darren Brick top scored for the 'Three Salmons' with 38 alongside Stephen Jenkins (21) and Josh Davies (17), teenage spinner Rhys Eynon taking 3-14 for the Gavanyards, James Buckle also taking three wickets without conceding a run and Luke Cole, 2-1. Eynon then rounded off a man of the match performance with an unbeaten 91, skipper Callum Jenkins spin accounting for 1-18.
The side just below them are Narberth II (142ao) who lost by 8 wickets at the Lewis Lloyd Ground to near neighbours Crymych (144-2), the home sides runs coming from captain Ceri Davies and Lewis Jones, who both scored 43 as six of the Barmy Army batsman didn't trouble the scorers. The mountain men had a brace of wickets for Richard Thorne (2-9), Ifan Davies (2-31) and captain Nitai Durey (2-35). Ben Palmer 52no (1x6; 8x4) and Sion Vaughan 56no (10x4) added an unbroken 122 for the third wicket after opening bowlers Lewis Jones (1-6) and Luca Jones (1-40) had success with the ball.
Llanrhian II (130ao) lost their home encounter at Llandigigie Fawr by 8 wickets to Haverfordwest III (131-2), sixteen year old George Twigg instrumental in his sides win with an unbeaten 35 after veteran Richard Davies had taken 2-26. The Cows runs came from Nathan Foster (38), captain Fraser Watson (19) and veteran Rick Walton (18).
Policing the top of Division 5 for the Einion Richards cup are Herbrandston II (56-0) after their ten wicket triumph on the Racecourse over Haverfordwest IV (52ao), Mark Thorpe the only home batsman to contribute anything significant with 15 against the bowling of veterans Mark Hicks (4-21) and Paul Nicholas (4-19), before John Cumani (28no) and Karl Davies (22no) saw the Milford village side to their victory.
They leapfrogged over previous leaders Llechryd II (217ao) who were defeated by 3 wickets at Springfields by hosts Whitland II (218-7). The home side had match winning contributions after tea from Craig Wade (44), Ashley Jones (41) and Jamie Thomas (32). Thomas had earlier taken 3-39 alongside James Thomas (4-15), Llechryd having a significant score of 117 from Ollie Roberts in their total and Richard Morris (34).
The Castle ground saw Cresselly III (77-6) record a 4 wicket win over visitors Neyland III (74ao) with runs from Lucian Thornton (27no) and Rhys Barnes (20), Evan Roberts taking 4-30 for the 'All Whites'. Barnes (3-15) alongside Cody James (3-4) and Ollie Rowlands (2-24) were the key Doves bowlers after basement side Neyland decided to bat on winning the toss.
The final game in the division saw Pembroke Dock (222-5) mounting their horses and racing to victory in their derby encounter at Hundleton & Wallaston (85ao) by 137 runs. Opening batsman Luke Murray measured his innings to perfection as he batted through for an unbeaten 109, alongside Alex Frearson (22) and Tom Grimwood (19) after skipper Josh Powell had lost the toss. Post tea Frearson returned 3-26 alongside a brace of wickets for the venerable new ball bowler Steve Alford (2-15) and Grimwood (2-21), home captain David Lockyear (28) supported by wicketkeeper Mark Williams (16) and Tim Phillips (10).
The Aston Cup for the Division 6 champions is in the hands of Pembroke III (101-2) who have now opened up a 16 points lead after a derby win on Neyland's third ground over Lamphey II (100ao). The Pembroke runs came from the bat of opener, Murahari Ethirajalu (46;8x4) and an unbeaten 41 with seven boundaries from Jack Davies after Kevin Truswell took 3-8 from his 11 balls, opening bowler Shaun Donohoe a chirpy robin with his 2-24 and 2-19 from his son Ollie and a brace of wickets for Eleri Williams (3-14) had done the damage in the Stags innings. Opening batsman Huw Bendall contributed 50 (7x4) and middle order batsman James Day 16 (2x4).
Whitland III conceded their game to the combined Haverfordwest & Cresselly outfit, the final game at Ysgol Preseli pitch in Crymych saw previous leaders Llechryd III (135ao) defeated by 161 runs by bottom of the table visitors Kilgetty II, where first team opening batsman Jack Badham crashed 147no and Craig Ewen 102, Jonathan Stephenson taking 2-44. Captain Neil Croucher (47) alongside Ben Turnbull (20) were key for the north county side innings, former county President, at 84 Nic Evans rolled back the years with his off spin to tie the home side batsman down, taking 4-23.
