Neyland A pushed all the way – The Dock stroll their local derby and Hook spoil the Llanrhian party!

 
Venue: Neyland Community Hub
Umpires: Chris Stapleton and Steve Williams
 
Scorers: Ginny Davies, Rachel Sandy and Jason Cole
 
In this week’s round of matches in the top echelon there were very close contests as Pembroke A pushed their Neyland counterparts all the way and Hook eased home as they halted Llanrhian’s unbeaten run with a convincing display – whilst the encounter between Pembroke B and Pembroke Dock was a one-sided affair as the B team were unable to come to terms with The Dock’s bowling attack before losing by all six wickets as their own bowling was treated harshly by their near-neighbours, who used only 6.4 of their allotted overs as they strolled home.








 

Pembroke A (100 for 2) lost to Neyland (101 for 5) by one wicket

 
Neyland A gained a hard-fought victory over Pembroke A after they had been pushed all the way and looked in with a chance of being second-best on the night at 74 for 4 in eight overs - but then Dai Davies (40 not out) and Ross Hardy (25) but out when the teams were level, came good and Davies scored the all-important final run.
 
Pembroke batted first but were unable to get their usual high-tempo start Neyland skipper Sean Hannon started with a maiden over and although Pembroke openers Jack Harries and Luke Butler put on 40 it took six overs before Butler went for 16 in 18 balls, Skipper Harries retired on 26 but in as many deliveries; unusual for him but he did strike a four and a six as No 3 Billy Wood upped the ante before he also retired on 27 from only nine balls, including two sixes.
 
His brother, Archie Hillier-Wood added 16 in 11 balls before Sam Davies belted the only delivery he faced for four to take his team into three figures and spoil Hannon’s chance to claim a second maiden, a rare feat in local indoor cricket but seeing him end on a miserly 2 for 10 in three overs.
 
He received support from Dai Davies and Ross Hardy, whilst Lewis Page conceded 44 runs from a three-over stint, but bowled better that that as he had three catches dropped in the process.
 
But Pembroke’s final tally assumed mor challenging proportions as Neyland lost openers as Billy Wood shifted Page (8) and next ball removed the other opener in Gregg Miller (5). Then pace man Callum Davies, a zookeeper who tends the rhinos at Folly Farm, trapped Hannon lbw for 13, before Davies retired on 16.
 
16-year-old Dylan John came in and played a couple of nice shots before he was out to Hillier-Wood, and Ross Hardy unusually came in as last man since he was clearly carrying a leg injury and he and Davies set about making up the slowish run rate. They are both hugely experienced in this form of the game and gradually were in total control with a string of threes and the odd boundary.
 
They were soon level and although Hardy’s departure could have seen Pembroke snatch a tie but Davies calmly stroked the winning run in his classy 340 not out and Neyland stay undefeated.
 
Pembroke must have been disappointed after looking good at one stage but they can take a measure of consolation since this performance showed they can hold their own against any team in the competition!









 
 




 

Pembroke B (74 for 5) lost to Pembroke Dock (76 for 0)  by 6 wickets

 
Pembroke B also went down to defeat but, unlike their first team, did so with barely a whimper, after veteran opener Will Davidson-Randell departed for a duck, as  did new recruit Andy Tait after their other opener, Hassan Azziz had managed nine runs but fell to George Smith, the new Pembroke Dock skipper who claimed 2 for 14 alongside Nick Haley (1 for 14), who looked surprisingly quick for someone of his vintage.
 
Pembroke captain Ceri Brace retired on 26 but returned as Toby Bradley-Watson struck 21 not out and was eventually out for 37 as his team ended on 74 for 5 in their allotted 12 overs as Scott Griffiths and Rhys Daley kept the lid on runs for The Dock.
 
Then, in sharp contrast, Dock openers Jake Davies and Adam Phillips started like trains so that after three overs they were over half way to their target, with Davies in particular in fine fettle as he launched a six to take him to retirement on a powerful 29. Phillips sensibly adopted the anchor role as he was joined by Rhys Daley and this pair were soon past the winning post as Phillips finished with a boundary on 28 not out and Daley Jnr supporting on an unbeaten 11.









 
 
 


 

Llanrhian (109 for 2) lost to Hook (114 for 2) by 4 wickets

 
There were far more runs in the final fixture as previously undefeated Llanrhian scored a healthy 109 for 2 but they were easily passed by a Hook side that looked in good form as they took only 8.2 overs to chase down their target, with opener Liam Miller returning after retiring earlier and blitzing a six to set the seal on a good team performance.
 
Karl Davies (27) maintained his form as an opener with his third successive retirement score, emulated this time by Russell Watkins (26) and skipper Iwan James (26) but the later order had to press on  so Llion Williams (2), Billy Clarke (9) and Matthew Bennett (6 not out) didn’t really have much time to make an impression as talented teenager Charlie Holder and Harry Makepeace (1 for 23) bowled tidy spells for Hook.
 
Hook made an even better start, however, as Miller and Makepeace (26) both retired after a fiery start and skipper George James followed suit as his team blasted four fours and four sixes alongside some good running between the wickets which brought their share of threes as well.
 
Russell Watkins, brought in as replacement for the unavailable Daf Williams, followed his excellent batting with a 2 for 14 cameo but there was no stopping the Hook charge for the line as Brad Flood chipped in with 17 alongside Millers’ cavalier 37 to help take his team to victory, to show what a capable side they really are!