After four weeks of the league season, five teams remain with an unblemished win record with two of those being Division 1 pace setters Carew and Cresselly, the arch rivals separated by two points. The same points difference separates unbeaten league leaders Narberth in Division 2 and second placed Pembroke, whilst Fishguard head Division 3 as the final unbeaten side.
This week there was one game unfulfilled when Neyland III couldn't field a team at Whitland III in Division 6, with two score of over 300 posted, Carew posting a season best team score of 365-5 at Llangwm, to win by 263 runs, with ten other teams posting scores in excess of 200. The total number of runs scored this week was 7938, with Carew leading the way with 871 runs, ahead of Cresselly (826), Neyland (787), Narberth (778) and Fishguard (771), coincidently all unbeaten in their respective divisions!
There was only two five wicket returns this weekend, Prashant Gautam 5-10 for Saundersfoot at the King Geroge V field against Whitland and Llechryd seamer Graham Keen with 5-17 at the RDM Oval against Cresselly II. In total 334 wickets were taken and eighteen teams lost all ten wickets, Llechryd the only team not to lose a wicket in their ten wicket success at the RDM Oval against visiting Cresselly II.
Carew (365-5) elected to bat at Pills Park at the toss overseen by umpires Rob Bellerby and Neill Crawshaw and made use of an outstanding track and outfield delivered by the work of Ian Gow, Julian Platten and Martyn Inward, the basis coming from the first ball with a pulsating opening partnership from Tim Hicks (62) and Nick Davies (101). Chris Inward use all his guile up the hill and off a more measured run up than in his hey day to take 4-53 as the Rooks skipper for the day Brian Hall kept faith with his younger chargers at the top of the batting order. All rounder Shaun Whitfield then entered the arena to give a final injection to the scorecard with a hard hitting 88, the final scoreboard showing the highest team score of the season as Llangwm toiled slowly but with pride and determination, in the summer sunshine.
The Three Salmons demise post the tea interval was completed in double quick time as James Hincliffe (4-8) and Iori Hicks (2-25) made early inroads with the ball, Inward and skipper for the day Ollie Davies both reached 19 before Whitfield with 2-22 laid claim to the man of the match display as his side recorded a 263 run success to sit two points clear at the top of the division in pursuit of the James Morris Memorial Cup. Llangwm have another stern test next weekend at home to Harrison Allen Bowl holders Saundersfoot and will do so without star all rounder Noah Davies who has made the switch during the week to play for Carew, who host Haverfordwest at the Gerlad Hicks Memorial ground.
Carew's arch rivals from up the hill, Cresselly made light work of dismantling close neighbours Lawrenny, the Gavanyards skipper Ryan Morton deciding to make first use of the pitch once again beautifully fashioned by groundsman Richard 'Dick the Dog' Arthur and his band of merrymen. Morton's side posted 119 all out in a game umpired by Neil Thomas and Jon Willington, with their runs coming at the top of the order through former Cresselly player Harry Thomas (28) and youngster Fin Lewis (24), the visitors given a torrid time by seamers, skipper Tom Arthur (3-29) and his teenager Charlei Arthur (3-32) before ageless spinner Christian Phillips took 2-9.
Arthur (41) then featured heavily with opening batsman Morgan Lewis (60) to record their sides victory on 123-2 leaving them two points adrift of Carew at the top of the table ahead of their visit to relegation threatened Whitland, Lawrenny with just a single victory hosting in form defending champions Neyland.
The game at the Athletic ground where Huw Simpkins and Trefor Evans donned the white coat, saw another side who elected to bat first beaten, Burton (147ao) overcome by hosts Neyland, led by Ashley Sutton who struck three maximums and nine boundaries in his match winning 76 from 62 balls. Former Haverfordwest talisman Dai Davies was unbeaten for the all whites on 23 (2x4) to ensure there was no issue with recording their third victory on the bounce, veteran Gregg Miller replacing his wicket gloves to score 14 (2x4) and fellow opening batsman Paul Murray a patient 17 (3x4). Burton's venerable opening bowler Jon Scale swung into action for his team to take a wicket conceding 10 runs in his allocated 9 overs, fellow new ball bowler Luke Hayman taking two top order wickets in his 3-35, Burton hosting fellow relegation threatened side next week at Oatfield Park.
Earlier in the day Burton opening batsman who doubled up as wicketkeeper, Martyn James (43; 7x4) and Jack Davies (25; 5x4) added 67 for the first wicket, before they fell to 88-4 as Dai Davies trundled in to take 2-12 and veteran Alan Webster 2-30 as Neyland took a firm grip on the game after visiting stand in skipper joe Kiff elected to bat on Rob Bellerby's creation in the middle. Luke Hayman (22; 2x4) and a late flurry from Daniel Ridge with 32 from 23 balls (7x4), with wickets also from Sutton (2-13) and his skipper, Sean Hannon's spin (2-29).
Umpires Nigel Richards and Chris Stapleton saw Herbrandston discharged for 98 at Little Castle Grove after Robbie Hood elected to bat on his home ground, which was picturesque thanks to the work of Andy Williams and his fellow groundsmen. Hood himself was unbeaten on 21 (3x4) after an opening partnership of 52 from the Charlie Malloy (18; 3x4) and Harry Nicholas (28; 1x4), visiting skipper Chris Phillips (3-11) in conjunction with teenage seamer Fin Ateyo (3-13) reining in the home sides efforts, wily spinner Clive Tucker had opened the bowling once again to take 2-13.
Dessie Haynes form for the Town stiffs had seen the veteran batsman given the opportunity to open the innings for the Town, where he scored a brace of boundaries in his 13, one of only two double figure scores as his side reached their victory target at 100-6 inside 30 overs. Once again it was down to Ben Field with 50no (8x4) to secure victory, the top order batsman scoring 47 on the opening day (v Llangwm) and 119no the following week at Saundersfoot. Hood led his side by example in the field as he took the new cherry to take 4-16, wickets also for his fellow opening bowler Malloy (1-23) and Dean John (1-28).
The final game in division 1 last week at the King George V field saw visiting captain Kevin Pearce dismissed first ball of the game to Tom Mansbridge (1-19) after he had elected to bat, his Whitland side dismissed for 102 in the twenty-sixth over. Umpires Gareth Brace and Michael Borland then saw Pearce's fellow opening batsman Ed John (29; 1x6;5x4) and Johnny Thomas (20; 3x4) initially steadied the ship with a 59 run second wicket partnership before John became the first of seamer Prashant Gautam's 5-10, Geraint Jones the only other Borderer in double figures with 16 (3x4), with four ducks recorded as Gautam was virtuously assisted by Nicky Cope (4-21) to end the innings.
The home side fell to 31-3 as Jones took the new ball to take all three wickets, the inform Simon Stanford (11; 1x6;1x4) nicking one behind to gloveman Pearce to put to bed his calamitous start to the day, Stanford having scored 142no two weeks previously against Haverfordwest alongside 47 on the opening day of the season at Herbrandston. The Seasiders regrouped and Cope (26no; 6x4) and Sam Franklin (21no; 5x4) both at nigh on a run a ball rifled the score to a winning 103-3 in the fifteenth over.
Burton v Herbrandston - Neill Crawshaw & Gareth Brace
Carew v Haverfordwest - Ian Gow & Jon Willington
Lawrenny v Neyland - Trefor Evans & Michael Borland
Llangwm v Saundersfoot - Nigel Richards & Chris Stapleton
Whitland v Cresselly - Huw Simpkins & Rob Bellerby
Cresselly II v Carew II
Johnston v Burton II
Llanrhian v Hook
Narberth v Pembroke
St Ishmaels v Llechryd
Haverfordwest II v Laugharne
Hook II v Lamphey
Hundleton v Stackpole
Kilgetty v Pembroke Dock
Neyland II v Fishguard
Carew III v Narberth II
Crymych v Lawrenny II
Haverfordwest III v Llangwm II
Pembroke II v Llanrhian II
Saundersfoot II v St Ishmaels II
Bye v Hundleton II
Bye v Whitland II
Herbrandston II v Cresselly III
Llechryd II v Haverfordwest IV
Pembroke Dock II v Neyland III
H'West/Cresselly v Kilgetty II
Lamphey II v Llechryd III
Pembroke III v Whitland III
Photos:
Neyland Cricket Club
Burton Cricket Club
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