The Division 3 title race for the Albert Scourfield Cup has materialised into a two horse race between leaders Pembroke Dock and Fishguard, who sit eight points behind them after they both recorded resounding victories on Saturday (Jul 26), with the crunch clash inked in for the penultimate game of the season (Aug 17) at Imble Lane.
Pembroke Dock (124-4) skipper George Smith lost the toss to his counterpart from Kilgetty (123ao) Ben Evans who decided to bat at Imble Lane, opening batsman Simon Cole (50; 9x4) and teenager Jack Badham (38; 3x6;4x4) the only Kingsmore sides batsmen in double digits, opening bowler Jamie White taking 5-23 and off spinner Smith, a brace of wickets in his allocated 8 overs.
Elder statesman Nick Daley opened the innings after tea, his 35 including seven boundaries before he was run out, former skipper and his sides gloveman, Scott Griffiths also stroking seven boundaries in his unbeaten 44, Peter Kingdom mixing the decks to be 16no, all in boundaries, to ensure his side remained at the top of the division.
Fishguard (94-3) asked visitors to Tregoes Park, Neyland II (93ao) to bat, where quickie Ashish Jayes took the new ball and reached boiling point as he took 3-11, supported by new ball partner Antony Cousins (2-26) and Nial Kinsella (2-26), the ‘All Whites’ runs came from Dylan James (37) and Martyn Lewis (21). The ‘Twin Towns’ elder statesman Nigel Delaney continued his seasons good form, with an unbeaten 41 in leading them to a 7 wicket victory, Jayes also contributing 34, bottom of the table Neyland having something to write about from their performance in the field, thanks to seamer Tom Pritchard taking 3-19.
Hook II (160ao) hold the second relegation spot and were unlucky in their efforts at Lamphey (161-9) where they lost by 1 wicket, Stags captain David Dredge lost the toss earlier in the afternoon, but batting at number 9 he saw his side over the line with an unbeaten 62, where he hit a brace of sixes and nine boundaries from his 42 balls faced, arriving at the crease with his side 67-7 after Bradley Flood had shown his cards with 3-27. Dredge was supported by Sylas Feran (12; 3x4) and evergreen wicketkeeper Rob ‘Dixie’ Mathias (21; 2x4) after opening batsman alongside Pete McGilloway had stroke three boundaries in his 19.
Flood had opened the innings for Hook with 60, supported by Seth Willington (25), his younger brother Oscar (31), Charlie Holder (16) and opening partner, wicketkeeper, Ifan Williams (15). Dredge took 3-23 McGilloway (2-19) and the ageless Grant Cole (2-26) to bowl the visitors out in what proved to be a challenging total to overcome.
Haverfordwest II (116ao) failed in their pursuit of Laugharne (146-9), after the hosts elected to bat, Simon Davies scoring an unbeaten 29, Iziz Sharifi (27no). alongside 23 from Ben Thomas, the Towns principle wicket takers, Ashoka Senavirathna (3-23) and the ‘tadcu’ of the side, left arm spinner Nigel Morgan (2-21).
Teenager Brandon Dewstowe top scored in the run chase with 34, Jason Stobbs (22) and Max Rodrigues (22), the boys from ‘Dylan Thomas’ country indebted to 5-20 from Latel Sharifi and 2-15 from James Allen.
The honours in the ‘Pembroke Village’ derby went the way of visitors to the Clive Huxley memorial ground, Hundleton (86-3) who defeated hosts Stackpole (85ao) who elected to bat in the picturesque ground on the Stackpole Estate. Simon Bevan (27) was the main run gatherers for the Lillies, who had no answer to Robson Walkey in him taking 6-11. Wakley remained unbeaten on 20 when he donned his batting attire, accompanied by teenager Elliott Midgley who top scored with 27, Bevans capping off a fine all round performance with his slow spinners taking 2-14.
Pembroke II (94-2) have raised the gavel in their charge for the Rowland Jones Cup in Division 4, returning with a 7 wicket victory from Llandigigie Fawr, where they dismissed hosts Llanrhian for 93 when skipper Will Davidson-Randell asked them to bat on winning the toss. Tony Kitchell belied his years at first wicket down to top score with 27 (4x4) and middle order batsman Mike Lawrence stroked a brace of boundaries in his 25, another with advancing years, Steve Durston taking 6-9 and Krunel Patel 2-13. Bowyn Clark (26), James Tomkinson (22no) and former Kilgetty, Saundersfoot and Carew top order batsman Phil Jones (18no), adding 39 in the match winning fourth wicket partnership.
Saundersfoot II (141-4) won the key promotion battle at St Ishmaels, where they restricted the hosts second team to 140-8 after asking them to bat first. Phil Llewellyn came in on the fall of the first wicket and remained unbeaten on 76 (1x6; 12x4) the only other ‘Mice’ batsman in double digits being opening batsman Darren Hawkins (14; 3x4), seamer Naveet Kawale taking and Iori Richards 2-35 for the Seasiders. Richards struck three maximums and five boundaries in an unbeaten 54 to see his side home on the Dale Peninsula, Phashant Gautam adding 28 as Wales Senior International Kevin Bowen trundled forth to take 2-50.
Llangwm II were bowled out for 73 by Haverfordwest III at Pills Parks after visiting skipper Mark Davies asked them to bat, his side producing a fine bowling and fielding performance, led by Koswatte Dhammika who took 2-8. The Towns opening batsmen then shared an unbroken stand to reach the winning target of 77 for a ten wicket victory, Richard Davies butchering his way to 36no and Ian Lewis 28no.
The final game in the division took place at the Kingsmore ground by kind permission of Kilgetty CC for Narberth II to host, and they elected to bat on winning the toss, and were dismissed for 144 by Carew III, who reached the winning target for 7 wickets. Skipper Ceri Davies top scored with 35 alongside Emyr Jenkins (27) and Tim Webb (14), The Rooks key wicket takers being Jac Scourfield (3-19), Rhys Lewis (2-29) and seamer Daniel Heeps (2-33). Post tea Lewis led the run chase with 57 alongside veteran top order batsman Steve Cole (25no), seamer Lewis Jones (2-9) and the ageless Richard Howell (2-30) the most successful home bowlers.
Policing matters at the top of Division 5 for the Einion Richards cup are Herbrandston II (116-2) who travelled to the Castle Ground and returned with an 8 wicket win over hosts Cresselly III (112ao). Veteran Mark Hicks opened the bowling taking 4-13 from his allocated 7 overs, Steve Thornton elected to bat on winning the toss for the Doves and scored a refined 12 (2x4), late order runs coming from wicketkeeper Dan Cleverly (23no; 3x4) and teenager Cody James (22; 5x4). Opening batsman Ian Milson used his chainsaw to good effect for three boundaries in his 17 alongside Karl Davies who struck a six and four boundaries in his 29, Freddie Stevenson with 12 (1x4) and an electrical surge with four strikes over the ropes and anther two across the floor in an unbeaten 38 from Rhys Power saw the Milford village side home by 8 wickets inside 16 overs.
Llechryd II (179-2) hold the second promotion place after they returned from the Racecourse with a 54 run win over Haverfordwest IV (125-9) after electing to bat. Home skipper Danny Dewstowe took 2-19, teenager Evan Lewis (62), Darren Bowen (44no) and Dan Moulster with an unbeaten 39 the key run gatherers for the north county side. Teenager Wiil Davies led the response with 43 alongside veteran Richard Scriven (23), Peter Gregory (4-30) and Richard Davies (2-37) the key wicket takers for the visitors.
Pembroke Dock II (209-4) remain in close contention after they overcame Neyland III 208-7 on the artificial wicket at the Athletic Ground, Josh Owens scoring 92 runs alongside a returning Scott Johns (39) as the ‘All Whites’ elected to bat first, the Dockers Steve Davies taking 3-32. Luke Murray took a rest from his maths teaching role to then get his angles right in scoring an unbeaten 137, assisted by veteran Phil Scott with 22, the home sides wickets taken by Ethan Holmes (2-15) and teenager Leo Power (2-26).
The final game in the division was hosted by Whitland III (199ao) who defeated Hundleton II (149-6), the Borderers Steff Lee scored a 118 and next highest scorer was Steve Davies with 19, Sturat Midgley taking 3-23 and Connor Beynon 3-43 for the visitors.
In the reply, Evan Clark scored an unbeaten 44 and Midgley 36, Ryan Williams returning 3-15 for his efforts in Llandewi Velfrey.
There were two games in Division 6, where sides compete for the Nick Evand Cup, Llechryd III (164-7) defeated visitors to Preseli School, Lamphey II who totalled 162ao on the artificial surface having elected to bat, John Sture leading the way for the Stags with 53 and Tom Colley 43, veteran former league umpire Neil Croucher took 2-32 in support of 5-23 from Jordan Harrison. Man of the match Harrison top scored in the response with 43, Siomon Newlands scribing 42 in the scorers book and Tony Little 32, veteran spinner Hywel Gibbs was all sweetness as he took 2-29, Colley taking 4-26 in his sides losing cause but at least he could take his sides plaudits for a fine all round performance.
Llandewi Velfrey hosted Whitland II (109-9) whom lost by 1 wicket to visitors Pembroke III having elected to bat. Keith Hogben accumulated 45 for the Borders as Toby Bradley-Watson took 3-12 and Bobbie Neale 3-28, Bradley Watson then donning the pads to top score with 32, as Amy Morgan took 3-32 and veteran Colin John had his abacus out to ensure everyone could visually digest his 3-27 return.
Photos:
Haverfordwest III at Llangwm II
Haverfordwest IV and Llechryd II together after their encounter in the Racecourse in Division 5
Division 1 umpires Neill Crawshaw and Steve Williams at Haverfordwest for their game on the Racecourse against Carew
Photo Gallery (click to view in full)
