Two-horse race for the top echelon – but battles in most other divisions with a maximum of three games to go!
At the half-way mark in the season, there were a few teams which had a tiny bit of a sniff at the title but it is now a two-horse race unless something crazy happens at both Cresselly and Carew which allows Saundersfoot to sneak through and take the silverware, but they would need to have maximum-points victories and hope for disasters elsewhere – or even a rained-off weekend for the others where they managed to play! That would be ironic since no game has been missed so far because of the weather!
So, The Seasiders will probably have to settle for a creditable third place, although Herbrandston could still overtake them but fourth place would be a great achievement for Robbie Hood and his merry men!
There is never a time when there isn’t rivalry between the two teams separated by a tidal estuary, a hill and a couple of miles – and perhaps even more so this campaign after they met in the Duggie Morris Cup semi-final, but with Cresselly having won away in the league and now holding a narrow 6-point lead.
Cresselly play Saundersfoot (home) and Herbrandston (away) whilst Carew travel to Herbie and entertain Neyland on the final day. Now that is four tough fixtures and huge banana skins!
But it is likely that the deciding factor will be when they clash in between on the penultimate Saturday – at Cresselly – and local pundits seem split on the result! – Me? For once I’m sitting on the fence!
At the other end of the table Llangwm are already doomed: a pity because they have lost so many players but fulfilled every fixture and showed great spirt whilst taking some fearful hammerings! Haverfordwest are favourites to join them and know that time is running out for them They are 18 points adrift of Whitland, whom that play at The Racecourse this Saturday so that might well be the decider if The Borderers win, because they face slightly easier games on paper after that. My gut feeling is that Whitland will escape the ‘Dreaded Drop’ but again, it all depends on one big performance for either team, perhaps tomorrow!
Division Two: Hook eight-match winning record should pay dividends
At the start of July, it seemed as if this was another two-horse race between Narberth and St Ishmaels, after the former team edged home against third-placed Hook; and Tish were playing really well to eventually leap-frog their rivals until they lost by three runs to Hook last Saturday - and Narberth lost at home to relegation-threatened Llanrhian.Hook have now won eight games on the gallop since they lost by one wicket at Narberth and the league table sees Tish seven points ahead of Hook, with Narberth a further two points adrift. Hook entertain Narberth tomorrow and Tish travel to fourth-placed Pembroke so it will have a huge bearing on events, especially since there are a few dangers lurking for all three teams.
PembrokeshireSport.co,uk’s prediction – We are going for Tish and Hook because we think Narberth understandably are turning their thoughts to the Bowl Final – but all three are good enough to play in Division One next season!
Burton Seconds are certs to be relegated and at one stage it seemed as if Llanrhian would inevitably join them – but the Llandigige Boys have staged a strong come-back, with three wins from four starts to trail Carew Seconds by 15 points, with two games at home and an away fixture against already-relegated Burton in the pipeline so it could be close!
Division Three – The Dock and Fishguard are almost assured of promotion
Pembroke Dock and Fishguard are very hot favourites to go up as The Dock have 261 points and Fishguard have 250 points, with Lamphey well behind on 217 after an excellent late run has possibly come too late as they have 217 points in third place.The Dock lead by 11 points but in week 17 they meet at Imble Lane, with Fishguard looking for revenge after losing at home in the reverse fixture. Fishguard also play Hook 2nds (home) and Hundleton (away) whilst The Dock take on Haverfordwest 2nds (home) and Neyland (away) and in the final analysis it all might come down to the clash between them, because if The Dock win it could be all over bar the shouting – but at least both are fairly assured of moving up, although Lamphey are lurking in the wings!
At the other end of the table Neyland and Hook Second are both likely to drop down, barring some sort of a miracle!
Division Four – Pembroke Seconds are hot favourites for silverware
Pembroke Seconds have amassed 274 points and seem likely section champs since their counterparts from Saundersfoot are second with 242 points, with St Ishmaels Seconds a further 19 points behind – and Tish know it will be hard work to move up a place unless they beat Pembroke next week at Treleet and The Seasiders Seconds lose a match or two against Carew Thirds, Llanrhian Seconds and Llangwm Seconds.So, promotion for Pembroke and Saundersfoot Seconds seem on the cards whilst at the other end of the table there Narberth, Llanrhian and Narberth fight out a battle royal as there is only SEVEN points between them. It is bound to be a photo finish but the most important match must come next Saturday, where Narberth entertain Llangwm – so that should be a result which could decide the fate of one of them!
Division Five – Herbie Seconds look home and dry
Herbrandston Cricket is in a good place at the moment, with their firsts in the top four of local cricket and now their second string being within touching distance of winning the fifth division. Herbie having compiled a huge tally of 268 points which puts them 23 points in front of Llechryd 2nds, and 53 points ahead of Pembroke Dock so promotion is more or less a certainty.That will be confirmed tomorrow against basement battlers Neyland Thirds – and if they beat Llechyd at home the next week they can make space for the section silverware in the clubhouse.
Intriguingly though, The Dock have a game in hand so are still in with a mathematical chance if they win all three and Llechryd lose to either Herbie Seconds (away) or Hundleton 2nds (home) then who knows?
There is a lot of interest at the bottom end of the table as Neyland Thirds are already relegated but who joins them comes from one of three clubs in Hundleton 2nds (130), Cresselly 3rds (132) and Haverfordwest 4ths (136). Cresselly have the comfort of a game in hand but have to play at home to Hundleton tomorrow so it is still all to play for – which is great at this level!
Division Six - Pembroke 3rds should make it a silverware double for the club
Pembroke Thirds are a massive 33 points ahead of their counterparts from Llechryd but in a strange quirk of fate this particular duo still has to play each other on successive week-ends, which means that in the unlikely event of Pembroke losing both by massive margins they could still miss out – but on current form that is a little unlikely.But as the old adage goes – “Cricket is a funny old game,” so who can say! Both teams are assured of promotion so that’s good thing – and we can spare a thought for Kilgetty 2nds and Whitland 3rds, who are battling away to avoid having the Wooden Spoon.
But we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk would say from the bottom of our hearts to all involved in both teams to just carrying on playing the game and working to improve your basic skills – and remember that the most important thing is to be involved, enjoying it – and to keep your club going at all costs!