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Daniel Sutton scored a superb century for Johnston
Griffiths guides The Town to a surprise success
Johnston (249 for 6) lost to Haverfordwest 2nds (251 for 2) by eight wickets
Umpires: Dave Brandon & Rob Elliott
Scorers: Steve Mills & Natalie Thomas
There were few people at Glebelands during the tea interval who would have given Haverfordwest Seconds any chance of victory over high-flying Johnston but they reckoned without a superb unbeaten century by 15 year old Kieran Griffiths and supporting roles from David Haynes and Kashif Ijaz.
The end result was that Haverfordwest won by an amazing eight-wicket margin and Johnston lost their top spot in the table.
Dan Sutton dominated the opening exchanges to such an extent that partner John Summons contributed nine runs in a stand of 69 before he was first to depart, and Sutton maintained his momentum to score a splendid 101 (15 fours and a six) before he went for one big hit too many and was bowled by teenage spin bowler Kieran O’Connor.
The Johnston attack continued via Steve Mills (49, including four fours and three sixes) in a stand of 99 with Sutton, his younger brother Jack (three fours and a six in his 32 not out) and Lee Summons (32 not out); the last two putting on 60 runs in double-quick time at the end of the allotted 41 overs as O’Connor was the pick of The Town bowling with 3 for 53 alongside James Morris (2 for 52) and Nigel Morgan (1 for 42).
Griffiths, just back from his first year at Millfield School, led from the outset as he shared an opening stand of 152 with David Haynes (11 fours in his 61) and then 95 with Kashif Ijaz, whose quick-fire 76 contained 14 fours and a six.
Griffiths ended up with 15 fours and three sixes in his majestic 109 not out and helped The Town Seconds in their attempts to climb from near the foot of the table.
Kieran Griffiths guided Haverfordwest 2nds to victory with a superb unbeaten ton
Llangwm leap-frog to the top of the table
Llangwm (273 for 1) beat Llechryd (68 all out) by 205 runs
Umpire: Allan Hansen
Scorer: Janice Brick
Llechryd’s season of woe continued as they were smashed by a monumental 205 runs at Pill Parks but there was joy for Llangwm as this huge victory saw them leap-frog Johnston and move to the top of the section table.
One could only feel sorry for the Llechryd fielders as they chased leather throughout the Llangwm innings as the newly-constructed opening pair of Will Beresford and Chris Thomas took a heavy toll on anything remotely loose.
They also ran well between the wickets and soon raced past three figures, the 150-mark and two hundred before reaching 272 runs in only 30 overs before Thomas finally departed for 108 runs (87 balls, 12 fours and four sixes), leaving Beresford undefeated on 128 (106 balls), including 18 fours and three sixes.
Llangwm skipper Joseph Kiff decided that it was plenty of runs and was eager to get his bowlers into action against their bottom-of-the table opposition – and his plans came to fruition as only Gwion Howell (23) and Mike Carter (19) ever stayed long against hostile bowling by Ollie Davies (7 for 38) and Richard Brock (3 for 28) as Llangwm strolled to a vital victory.
Carew hold out for a losing draw
Carew 2nds (183 for 8) drew with Hook (229 all out)
Umpires: Trevor Evans & John Williams
Scorer: Chris Holder (Hook)
Carew battled hard to secure a draw against visiting Hook in an entertaining match where they never looked likely to match the oppositions’ big score but batted sensibly via Lewis Hicks and Haydn Shapcott.
Hicks looked in fine fettle as he struck 63, including six fours and four sixes, his 50 coming off as many balls, whilst Shapcott’s 61 contained eight boundaries and was made in 72 deliveries.
Matthew Holder (4 for 44), Andrew Thomas (2 for 29), Brennan martin (1 for 38) and Jamie Phelps (1 for 49) were the successful bowlers as Hook toiled in vain to break the back of the Carew reply.
At the start of play, Hook got off to an excellent start as their opening pair put on 77 runs before Jamie Phelps departed for 37, whilst Tom Blaxland contributed 49 before just missing out on a half century. Brennan Lay (42) and Jake Wicks (28) also put on 42 together before Hook were finally dismissed for a healthy 229 runs by Dominic Hicks (4 for 58), Luke Hicks (1 for 23), Johnny Harries (3 for 66) and Joel Read (1 for 62).
Burton bag big win at Cresselly
Cresselly 2nds (91 all out) lost to Burton (187 for 6)
Umpires: Glyn Pawlett & Peter Perry
Scorers: Des Brace & Dennis Venables
Burton were good value for a comfortable win against Cresselly Seconds as they batted well to build a challenging target before bowling and fielding so well that they shot out the opposition for only 91 runs.
Toby Hayman gave Burton an early boost with a classy 66, assisted by the father and son duo of Neville Davies (54 not out) and Jack Davies (31) as Tom Arthur (3 for 42) and Sam Harts (1 for 28) were the successful Cresselly bowlers.
Nick Davies (29) and Johnny Palmer (15) were the only Cresselly batsmen to look anything like settled against teenage brothers Jack Davies (4 for 46) and James Davies (2 for 18), plus veteran Johnny Scale (4 for 18), as Cresselly were shot out in the 26th over.
Whitland win with some ease
Pembroke (114 all out) lost to Whitland 2nds (197 all out) by 83 runs
Umpires: Robert Ridge & Tony Waldeis
Scorer: Ann-Marie Jenkins (Whitland)
Pembroke skipper Sean Hannon said his team had produced a sub-par performance against Whitland 2nds and few could argue with his honest assessment as they were outfought by a team which played really well on the day.
Whitland batted first and were finally dismissed for 197 in the last of their allotted 45 overs thanks to steady bowling from Pembroke skipper Sean Powell (3 for 22), Rob Weston (2 for 40), Jonathan Rogers (1 for 31), Sam Davies (1 for 17), Lewis Wilks (2 for 60) and Andrew Price (1 for 10).
But the Borderers had equally steady contributions from Adam Davies (46) and David Dunfee (37) in a 57-run partnership alongside Carl Smith (31), Che Thomas (24) and Gethin Benjamin (17) – and might have been satisfied with their tea-time tally.
The challenge grew to much greater proportions for Pembroke despite steady innings from Phil Hay (26), Andrew Price (29), Barry Evans (16), Sean Powell (15) and Jonathan Rogers (14) but no-one could really advance their total in the way it was needed.
David Dunfee (4 for 43) and Matthew Webb (3 for 54) did the initial damage for Whitland, who were worthy winners after Carl Smith claimed 2 for 9 and only just missed out on a hat-trick in his final over.