Burton bounce back with easy win double

 
Umpires: Chris Stapleton & Steve Williams
Scorers: Ian Milsom & Patrick Hannon
Venue: The Neyland Hub Community Centre
 
Burton showed what a good side they could become as they stormed to victory by large margins against the Pembs Vets A and Hundleton, whilst The Vets made amends somewhat with an exciting finish to their game against the village side that literally went to the last ball before Neal Williams scored a three off the side wall to ease home.
 
This was the final series of matches before Christmas, with organiser Patrick Hannon now taking a deserved rest with his patient family before plenty of action in the New Year – well done Patrick on a great job in your new role!
 
Thanks also go to regular local umpires Rob Bellerby and Allan Hansen, plus Steve Williams, Chris Stapleton and Neill Crawshay, who travel from much further afield.

Then there are the regular scorers like Kacey Arran, Ginny Davies, Rachel Sander and many more who step in to ensure everything runs as smoothly as it does.
 
 

Burton slam ‘bewildered’ Vets!

 

Match One: Burton (130 for 2) beat Pembs Vets A (39 all out)

 
“We were like headless chickens’” was the candid opinion of one old-timer involved and it seems he got it right because the old-timers had their usual enthusiasm but had got at the big Christmas dinner a bit early.
 
Firstly they allowed Burton to build a massive score of 130 for 2 and then collapsed to 39 all out in only half of their allocated overs – and then Burton bowled and fielded well as they shrugged off their sometimes over-exuberant youthful approach 5 fours, 2 sixes and 38 threes as they showed their judgement of quick runs.
 
Toby Hayman (32 not out) led the way after Jack Davies (9) was bowled by Ian Milsom as part of an excellent 1 for 13 spell where there were only four scoring shots from his 12 deliveries, with Dan Ridge (10) also departing early when he was run out.
 
But Burton reached 53 in five overs and with Richard James (26) and Harry Owen (27) both retiring and last man James Davies hitting a late 21 not out they created mayhem, although Kevin Bowen (0 for 16) also bowled well.
 
The Vets were soon in trouble with the bat, though, as David Haynes (1) and Kevin Bowen (3) were both slow out of the traps and Rob Nicholas (15) was the third man run out but still top scorer as Neal Williams (9) was caught and bowled by Harry Owen (1 for 5).
 
Mark Hicks (1) was stumped by Richard James off Jack Davies (1 for 6) and Ian Milsom (4) was caught and bowled by Toby Hayman to complete a Burton win by a massive 91 runs.
 
 

Tight finish as Williams wins it for Vets off last ball

 

Hundleton (111 for 2) lost to Pembs Vets A (112 for 2)

 
But The Vets A were back to something like their best form as they took on Hundleton and in the most exciting game of the evening managed to win off the very last ball of the evening as they needed 14 of Jonathan Williams’ last over but when they wanted three runs of the last ball Neal Williams put his experience to good effect with a calm placement to the side wall and did the necessary job.
 
Hundleton had some excellent early batting to stand at 53 without loss after five overs as David Lockyer (run out for 21) and Steff Williams (29 not out) opened well and were followed by Dylan Davies (retired on 25) and Craig Williamson 27, also retired) as their tally contained 24 threes, 4 fours and 2 sixes as Kevin Bowen was again the pick of the vets’ bowlers with 0 for 13.
 
Bowen also took a good catch off Mark Hicks (1 for 24) to get rid of Robson Walkey (4), with Jonathan Williams (3 not out) in too late to make any impact.
 
The Vets A openers Bowen (24, caught by Steff Williams off Jonathan Williams) and David Haynes (26, retired) took their reply to 56 at the half-way stage and Stuart Carpenter (into the side in place of shell-shocked skipper Milsom!) gave support with 18 before he was caught by Williamson off Lockyer and Andrew Williams (19) looked comfortable until he was run out.
 
That left Neal Williams and Mark Hicks at the crease for that fateful final over and Hicks finished with 0 not out but helped grab that last three runs with his speed between the wicket as Neal Williams ended up with an unbeaten 19 to give The Vets  a little more respectability on the night as they struck 22 threes, 4 fours and 2 sixes – but almost missing out because they failed to score from 21 deliveries!
 
 

Burton stroll to victory without losing a wicket

 

Hundleton (76 for 5) lost to Burton (78 for 0)

 
Hundleton must have been disappointed to lose that game which they might have won because they looked a shadow of their normal batting potential as Steff Williams (3) and Ross Walkey (0) went early to Dan Ridge and Jack Davies as keeper Richard James pouched good catches.
 
Jonathan Williams contributed 12 but was run out and James claimed his third catch helping Jack Davies shift Dylan Davies (23) as part of a 2 for 16 haul – and Hundleton finished on 78 for 5 after Ross Walkey (11) was run out and David Lockyer reached 24 not out as Ridge, Harry Owen and Toby Hayman joined Jack Davies bowl miserly spells for Burton.
 
Hundleton had used only six overs but failed to score from 17 balls and could only muster 16 threes and three fours but Burton showed them how to do it when openers Toby Hayman (27) and James Davies (25) raced past 50 in only three overs before retiring.
 
That left Harry Owen (8) and Dan Ridge (14) as the not out Burton batsmen as they certainly finished 2022 in some style!