Cresselly nudge Seniors out of play-offs – and Burton beat champions-elect Pembroke by Bill Carne

 
 
(Please note that the images included in this report are the property of Bill Carne and may not be commercially used without his prior permission!)
 
Venue: Neyland Community Hub:
Umpires: Steve Williams & Neill Crawshaw
Scorers: Ginny Davies, Phil Keen, Ian Milsom and Ffion Ashman
 
The final round of matches in the second division produced three excellent matches where improved skill levels and commitment since the start of the campaign were very evident – and five teams managed three-figure scores and some interesting finishes.
 
Top of the list was undoubtedly second-placed Burton’s win over champions-elect Pembroke Seconds who produced a powerful batting display from brothers  Dan and Will Ridge alongside  Matthew Davies before Pembroke replied via Will Davies and Ceri Brace to keep the game alive until Burton eased home with the help of Lily Thomas, who bowled her two overs and fielded as well as anyone in the three matches.
 
Close behind was the match between Cresselly and the Pembrokeshire Seniors, who held a ten-point lead going into the game but newcomers Cresselly gained the play-off spot by two points as the result of an excellent all-round team display against ‘The Vets’ in another tough tussle.
 
And the other game, a basement battle, saw Hundleton account for Neyland C but stay at the foot of the table as Neyland C remain above them – and everyone taking part this season deserves credit, especially Patrick Hannon for his superb organisation of the competition which reaches its conclusion next Monday evening when the finals take place at the same venue.
 
 

Match One

 




 

Burton (135 for 4) beat Pembroke 2nds (118 all out) by 17 runs

 
Dan and Will Ridge have struck up a formidable opening partnership for Burton which  they maintained against Pembroke 2nds, racing to 60 in only four overs, with some strong drives alongside superb running between the wickets which was maintained by Nick Jones (15) and Matthew Davies, a superb 36 not in only 12 balls which contained one four and three sixes so that they had reached 111 without loss.
 
Dan John and Lily Thomas both went early, which was ideal for Burton because it allowed the Ridge brothers to plunder more late runs until Dan was run out late on for 36 (21 deliveries) – and brother Will finished on 37 not out (16 balls and three fours), with Charlie Perkins the pick of the Pembroke bowlers with 2 for 13 but Ceri Brace and Jack Davies conceding 77 runs from their combined four overs.
 
Pembroke suffered a big blow  in their first over as powerful hitter Billy Wood (3) was caught at mid-off by Matthew Davies but Ceri Brace and Will Davies redressed the balance with equally food running between the wickets that saw them sprint to 70 in five overs – but then lost their way in terms of run rate with Andrew Price run out for 9, Charlie Perkins going first ball and Jack Davies  following so that Pembroke were able to reintroduce Messrs Brace and Will Davies.
 
They were still in with a shout with three overs to go but then Brace was trapped LBW by Dan Ridge for 33 in 16 deliveries, leaving Davies to try manfully to ease his side home – but facing accurate bowling and good fielding that saw  Burton having good figures for Nick Jones (1 for 19), Matthew Davies (1 for 22) and especially Dan Ridge (1 for 13).
 
They already had the game won before Will Davies was run out with one ball to go for a splendid 48 from only 23 deliveries, including two fours and a six, and although Burton were value for victory it is Pembroke 2nds who are worthy of top spot in the table – and with both teams showing they are good enough to move up a section next season, if that is possible.








 
 

Match Two

 





 

Hundleton (133 all out) beat Neyland C (103 for 5) by 30 runs

 
Hundleton belied their lowly league position as they produced one of their highest-ever indoor scores to beat Neyland C, who still remain above them in sixth spot after they had also posted a solid score.
 
Hundleton started well via Dave Lockyer (22) and Dylan Davies (19) which was built on by veteran Jonathan Williams (retired on 25) and Craig Williamson (a quick-fire 15 before he was run out) and Stefan Williams (also run out for 11) – and after Archie Reeves had departed early to brink back ‘Taffy’ Williams, who showed he hasn’t lost his touch as he stroked a boundary-laden 43 before getting out with a ball to go and assisted by 19 from ‘Mr Extras’.
 
Neyland’s own veteran Rod Murphy (2 for 29) was his side’s best bowler, assisted by Korey Arran (1 for 32) and Watkins (1 for 25), with the unusual sight of another ‘old hand’ in John Tennick bowling five wides in an over as he proved a little more expensive than normal.
 
Murphy also finished as top scorer with 29 not out despite batting as last man, with Korey Arran (14), Charlie French (24) and Jason Milne (two sixes in his 19) the other major contributors – but spare a thought for Mr Tennick as he followed his bowling effort with a duck, trapped LBW!
 
Archie Reeves was the bowler and other wicket-takers for Hundleton were Dylan Davies and Taffy Williams, with a wicket apiece in heling Hundleton end their campaign on a high note!






 


 

Match Three

 




 

Cresselly (105 for 5) beat Pembs Seniors (90 for 4) by 15 runs

 
Cresselly went into this match against Pembs Seniors knowing that they needed a victory to gain a place in next week’s play-off after starting the season joining the league for a ‘bit of fun’ but after a slow start have played with total commitment and developing skill levels for their potent mix of three experienced players and three talented teenager – and came away with just the result they needed.
 
As usual, their openers Tom Rowlands (18) and Stefan Jenkins (26) gave them a good start before Charlie Arthur, one of the most improved players of the game, added a quick-fire 20 as Griff Jenkins also chipped in with 15 – and Tom Arthur, deservedly elected outdoor captain of the club for 2024, contributed 14 not out to set The Seniors a decent target to chase.
 
But Charlie Arthur dropped a bit of a bombshell by bowling Kevin Bowen, who stroked 50 not out the previous week to have pundits nominating him as one of the top players in the section – but Neal Williams (19) and David Haynes (retired on 26) redressed the balance but the score had reached only 41 at the half-way stage so there was still a lot to do.
 
Stuart Carpenter (9), who like Bowen is soon jetting off for the Over 60s World Cup outdoors in India, departed sooner than his team-mates hoped, and Mark Hicks could only muster three runs so it was left to Rob Nicholas (13 not out) to join Haynes, who was eager to show he can still run between the wickets after a series of run outs, and who supplied 10 threes in his unbeaten 39 as proof.
 
They kept The Vets’ flag flying for a while but it was soon hauled down as they simply ran out of overs against Archie Hillier-Wood (2 for 25) Charlie Arthur (a miserly 1 for 12) and Griff Jenkins (0 for 15) – and these three youngsters shared the joy of their older compatriots Tom Rowlands,  Stefan Jenkins and Tom Arthur in celebrating their vital victory!