Pembrokeshire Cricket reaches an explosive climax with some interesting results on the final day of league cricket, with some topsy-turvy matches and some shocks before the silverware was decided in all six sections of the Pembroke County Cricket League.







 
 

Champions All as season’s finale unfolds

 
What an explosive end to a cricket season as Monday saw the first division decided on a mathematic formula since Neyland and Carew both finished on 290 points, but the former club retained the title based on a points per completed games - and in division two Burton pipped Herbrandston by only two points!
 
 
What was also interesting was the fact that both Carew and Herbie won their last matches but missed out because of the complicated bonus points system where so much depends on whether a team that wins the toss bats first or second, which old fogeys like this writer find very hard to work out!
 
 
 

Division One:

 
Champions: Neyland
Runners-Up: Carew
Relegated: St Ishmaels & Narberth
 
Neyland’s canny skipper Sean Hannon was. away celebrating his anniversary but he had worked out how his team might just snatch the silverware, so acting skipper Ross Hardy elected to bat first, built a decent score based on Paul Murray’s century, and then bowled out Saundersfoot for 178 after they had looked strong on 100 for 1 - and so their 33-run victory earned them a maximum 20 points.
 
 
Carew’s win at Neyland in their previous match saw them move four points clear but they decided to field first after winning the toss and were unable to bowl out the stubborn St Ishmaels’ tail-enders and missed out on valuable bonus points - and another two because the target they chased then didn’t allow them to finish with more than 16 points.
 
 
With Neyland having the better points per game completed it meant that Neyland therefore received the James Morris Memorial Cup from county club chairman Dave Brandon after a quick enquiry into the points accumulated by both clubs.
 
 
Ironically, whilst Tish held up Carew’s hopes their final score meant that they were relegated alongside Narberth, since Steve Mills’ magnificent 169 not out for Llangwm led them to a comfortable win over their already-relegated opponents - so they escaped by a single point so Tish go down alongside Narberth.
 
 
 
 


 

Division Two:

 
Promoted: Burton (Champions) & Herbrandston
Relegated: Pembroke Dock & Lamphey
 
It was a similar story in division two as leaders Herbrandston edged home at Llanrhian but could only remove three wickets - and so the points lost for missing out on the other seven scalps meant that Herbie already knew they were destined to come second to Burton, who were three points adrift at 1.30pm.
 
 
But luckily for Burton their opponents Carew 2nds opted to bat first and were shot out for a paltry 65 as Luke Hayman, Jack Bevan and Morgan Scale led Burton’s bowling attack and then Dan Llewellyn and David Lewis made sure they didn’t lose a wicket - and their reward was a maximum 20 points - and the divisional title by two points!
 
 
At the other end of the table, Pembroke Dock won their basement battle against Llechryd, but it was too little, too late for a disappointed Imble Lane club because Llechryd still had enough to maintain their status.
 
 
Lamphey finished bottom, which was disappointing for a team with the talents of Andy Tait, David Blackwell, Nick Shelmerdine, Grant Cole, and skipper David Dredge joined by some other experienced players.
 
 
 


 











 

Division Three:

 
Promoted: Burton 2nds (Champions) & Cresselly 2nds
Relegated: St Ishmaels 2nds & Narberth 2nds
 
Burton 2nds joined their first team in gaining promotion and with the senior side now in division one the seconds replace them in the second division, along with their counterparts from Cresselly, with Stackpole missing out after having their penultimate game off (hence no points) and going down to Haverfordwest on Monday.
 
 
Burton sealed success with a. win at Neyland, where Martin James and Will Ridge have joined skipper Jack Evans, Dan Griffiths, Gavin Campbell, and old-timer James Scale in a strong side and with Phil Sutton doing well for Neyland in their response.
 
 
It completed a unique record for the Oatfield Park Mob because their talented ladies’ team also won their county title to create a terrific treble!
 
 
Cresselly seconds beat Kilgetty, who had 60 from Ben Evans, but with half centuries from George Davies and wily old campaigner Ryan Lewis helping them to a five-wicket win as skipper Josh Lewis, Steff Jenkins and his son Griff, Matthew Lewis and youngsters like Tyler James, Lewis Mason, Iori Thomas, Corey Lewis also learning their trade.
 
 
Going down to division four are St Ishmaels 2nds and Narberth, who deserve every credit for keeping going in a tough time for them.






 
 






 
 
 

Division Four:

 
Promoted Hundleton (Champions) and Laugharne
Relegated:  Pembroke Dock Seconds and Stackpole 2nds
 
Congratulations to Hundleton first XI on winning division four by a massive 37 points after second-placed Laugharne failed to field a team on the final day against them.
 
Ben Adams collected the trophy and has had great support from his squad, with Craig Williamson (looking ten years younger without his big beard!), Ava Midgley. Robson Walkey, Dylan Davies, Owen Hughes, Steffan Williams, and Jonathan Williams also doing well.
 
We also owe Miss Midgley an apology for her superb 5 for 8 haul last Saturday, which we inadvertently missed from our ‘Best Performances of the Week’ feature!
 
Laugharne are also move up a division and have some very good players like Shane Williams, Sean Lynch, Simon Davies, and James Allen but it is to be hoped that the club fulfil all their league and cup fixtures in 2025!
 
Taking the trip down into division five are Pembroke Dock 2nds and Llechryd Seconds. It has been a hard season for both clubs, and we hope things will look up for them in 2025.
 
 
 
 

Division Five:

 
Promoted: Crymych (Champions) and Haverfordwest 3rds
Relegated: Neyland 3rds & Stackpole 2nds
 
It is nice to see Crymych beginning a revival after a few years in the doldrums and congratulations go to skipper Steffan Williams on picking up the fifth division title as they celebrated with victory over Neyland Thirds.
 
 
The club is earnestly seeking a new pitch to call their own and with players of the calibre of Richard Thorne, Nitai Durey and Sion Voyle all doing well they should hopefully consolidate well next campaign.
 
 
Haverfordwest Thirds have been captained by Danny Dewstowe and he has created a great team spirit alongside Jason Phillips, John Ryan, Dean Flood, Richard Davies, and Matthew Vaughan helping youngsters of the calibre of Brandon Dewstowe and Sidak Mahey.
 
 
At the other end of the table there is relegation for Neyland 3rds and Stackpole 2nds, both of whom have battled hard to keep going and will hopefully have better times soon.
 
 


 
 

Division Six:

 
Promoted: Hundleton 2nds & Haverfordwest 4ths
Bottom Club: Lamphey Seconds
 
Hundleton Seconds completed a fantastic club double by winning division six - and emulated their first team by leading second-placed Haverfordwest 4ths by 32 points, who were an amazing 83 points clear of the chasing pack.
 
 
During the season Hundleton had old-timers Jonathan Williams and Stu Midgley as captains at different times, plus Mark Williams, Timmy Phillips, and David Lockyear, and talented youngsters like Elliott Midgley, Evan Clark, Josh Richards and Lowis Hughes gaining good experience as they are also doing well.
 
 
For Haverfordwest skipper Mark Davies had Gareth Fair, Gareth Richards and youngsters Osian Millichip and Tyler Pullen have played well and also going up a division to emulate their third team, who also went up.
 
 
And finally, Lamphey 2nds deserve a massive amount of credit because this is the first time in years that they have had a second team, with Tom Colley doing a grand job of keeping everyone involved so that they develop their skills, and with John Edwards and Darrell Willington also helping out it is a fair bet that they won’t be bottom next season – and if they were it wouldn’t matter because they are all playing cricket – and that is what counts.