PHOTO:
Carew seam bowler Neil Gregory snaps up the wicket of Neyland's Andrew Miller

 

Koomen leads Neyland to impressive victory

Neyland (193 for 9) beat  Carew (137 all out)

Umpires: Arthur Brady & John Williams
Scorers: John Laugharne & Julie Davies

Neyland showed typical grit as they recovered from a disappointing start to gain a comfortable win over Carew at the Athletic Ground, with Nick Koomen leading the way with bat and ball.

Neyland found it hard going early on and their 20-over total of 68 for 3 owed much to Koomen, who had seven fours and a six as he had reached his half century by then but was dismissed for 60.

Gregg Miller (33) and Scott James (28) helped boost the Neyland score beyond 150 and then some late runs from the Hannon twins Patrick (13 not out) and skipper Sean (15 not out) took their final tally to 193 for 9 in their 45 overs to show their battling qualities after that early struggle against Sean Whitfield (3 for 40), Neil Gregory (3 for 34), Rhys Davies (2 for 57) and young Iori Hicks (1 for 28).

Koomen then bowled a really tight spell to pick up 2 for 13 in conjunction with Nathan Banner (2 for 24), Andrew Miller (3 for 41) and Scott James (1 for 29) as Ian Sefton (34), Tom Scourfield (17), Brian Hall (21), Rhys Davies (15) and Tom Davies (20) all got useful starts but no-one was able to build a big enough score to take Carew anywhere near Neyland’s final tally.
 

Cresselly run machine keeps them at the top of the table

Cresselly (319 for 6) beat Johnston (177 all out) by 142 runs

Umpires: Trefor Evans & Robert Ridge
Scorers: Kacey Cartwright & Natalie Thomas

Cresselly’s renowned run machine was in top gear again against Johnston as Adam Chandler celebrated another undefeated century and Tom Arthur led their bowling attack with a terrific six-wicket haul.

Chandler’s superb 123 not out included 15 fours and a six and he shared in a stand of 192 with Simon ‘Snowy’ Cole   before the latter, who had struck nine fours and five big sixes was caught by John Summons off the bowling of his son Lee when Cole was four runs short of what seemed an almost certain second century of the day for the home side.

Iwan Izzard chipped in with a speedy 44 (eight fours and a six) and there were cameos for Phil Williams (13), Alex Bailey (12) and Ryan Lewis (11) as they made Johnston chase leather for much of the innings, with Lee Summons (2 for 50), Steve Mills (1 for 52), Chris Phillips (1 for 67) and finally Jack Mills (1 for 4).

In contrast, Johnston’s big hitters Steve Mills (20), Dan Sutton and Lee Summons (18 apiece) were unable to stay long enough to really influence matters and it took a late stand of 62 by bowlers Richard James and Chris Phillips to put an air of respectability on the Johnston scoreline. James scored 16 and Phillips batted really well for his maiden half century since joining the club from Haverfordwest, with five fours and four sixes in his 57 runs.

But Arthur (6 for 59), Sam Harts (2 for 26), Sion Jenkins (1 for 14) and Ryan Lewis (1 for 28) bowled well for Cresselly, who stay just ahead of Neyland and Haverfordwest in a current three-horse race at the top of the table.

PHOTO:
Cresselly's century maker Adam Chandler was in fine form with the bat
Picture by Brian McKehon

 

Town take victory at a canter

Llanrhian (77 all out) lost to Haverfordwest (221 for 3 Dec) by 144 runs

Umpires: Dave Brandon & Simon Richards
Scorers: Fraser Watson & Jayne Cole

Haverfordwest managed a maximum-point victory at Llandigige Fawr as skipper Danny Potter batted first and his team raced to 221 for 3 before declaring in the 42nd over and then dismissing a Llanrhian side, still without a win, for only 77 runs to stroll home by a massive margin of 144 runs.

Yet The Town could muster just 42 runs from their first 20 overs shared by Matthew Bennett and Luke Jones for the loss of one wicket but then Simon Holliday broke out of the shackles as he moved from 50 in 83 deliveries to reaching three figures at a run a ball – and ending up with an excellent 133 not out, including 12 fours and six big sixes.

Dai Davies chipped in with 16 before Nitin Mathias contributed a classy 44 (seven fours and a six) before he was run out from the last ball of their 45 overs where Bennett (1 for 31), and Daf Williams (1 for 66) were the only successful home bowlers.

When Llanrhian batted after tea only Geraint Morris (23) ever got started against the combined outright pace and canny slow stuff respectively of Adam James and Kieran O’Connor. James maintained his excellent start to the season with 4 for 36 and teenager O’Connor showed good flight and control in a 5 for 15 stint that saw The Town winning with plenty in hand.
 

Kieran O'Connor - impressive five-wicket haul by Haverfordwest's teenange spin bowler

 

Adams on form in solid Narberth success

Narberth (135 for 3) beat St Ishmaels (133 all out) by 7 wickets

Umpires: Huw Davies & Richard Merriman
Scorers: Emma Richards & Wendy Bradshaw

Narberth outplayed St Ishmaels with both bat and ball at the Lewis Lloyd Ground as the homesters bowled and fielded well to restrict Tish to 139 all out in the 39th over and then had Ritchie Adams again leading them to victory for the loss of only three wickets in an impressive 33.1 overs.

Andrew Palmer maintained his good form with the bat for Tish as he hit 56 (eight boundaries) but only Jonathan Pawlett (15) and Brennan Devonald (13) ever stayed long against Ben Quartermaine (4 for 27), Jordan Howell (3 for 36) and Ben Hughes (1 for 15), whilst veteran Richard Howell also deserves a mention for coming in to the side and bowling a tight 12-over spell at the start of the innings.

Then Adams produced his full array of shots and was still there at the end with 75 not out to his name (11 fours and two sixes) as Lewis Hough (12) and skipper Ben Quartermaine (29 not out (including four boundaries helped Narberth win and the only successful Tish bowler was Dean John, with a 3 for 65 haul.
 

Ritchie Adams - again top scorer as Narberth beat Tish

 

Whitland win well at Lawrenny

Lawrenny (177 all out) lost to Whitland (259 for 6) by 82 runs

Umpires: Allan Hansen & Dai Morris
Scorers: Malcolm Thomas & Ann-Marie Jenkins

Whitland gained only their second success of the season so far but this decisive victory at mid-table Lawrenny hauled themselves well clear of bottom club Llanrhian and took them to within a point of St Ishmaels in their quest to climb out of the bottom two.

Jonathan Thomas led the Whitland batting offensive with 11 fours and two sixes in his excellent 78, ably assisted by Paul Davies (40), Will Spreadbury (38), Kevin Pearce (30), Iestyn Scourfield (20 not out) and Geraint Jones (19) as Jamie Lewis was the principle Lawrenny wicket-taker with his 3-54 analysis alongside Rob Williams (1 for 54), Harry Thomas (1 for 28) and Steve Lewis (1 for 2) as Whitland sought late runs.

Harry Thomas (27), Brad McDermott-Jenkins (26) his father Ian Jenkins (24) joined Rob Williams (54) as the main run-gatherers for Lawrenny but they lost wickets at key times to Whitland skipper Iestyn Scourfield (5 for 54), Greg Sleep (2 for 13), Dan James (1 for 42) and Wayne Howells (1 for 26) as they went down to defeat by 82 runs.

Jonathan Thomas - sparkling 78 in Whitland's win at Lawrenny