PembrokeshireSport.co.uk’s ‘Top Performances of the Week’ by Bill Carne

 
 

 1. Oli Cook ( Saundersfoot 2nds versus Carew 3rds)
 
Our top performances usually start with vital first division matches but this week we start with a fantastic performance by 14 year old Oli Cook, whose match winning performance of 128 not out and 2 for 41 helped initially to take them to 246 for 6 and then restrict The Rooks Thirds to 170 all out. It earned them the maximum 20 points against a strong opposition as his innings included 19 fours and three sixes – and no-one was more delighted that his parents Nicola and Steve, who has played almost 40 years for Saundersfoot and scored one century in that time, but was also the Pembrokeshire Singles champion in snooker on more than one occasion! So we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk send our heartiest congratulations to Oli and we are sure we will hear lots more about him in future!
 
 
 
 
 



 
 
2. Dai Davies (Neyland versus Saundersfoot)
 
There wasn’t a single century in the top echelon this week but one very important and gritty innings came at The Athletic Ground where Neyland gained revenge for being hammered midweek by Saundersfoot with this eventually-comfortable victory over the same opposition just a few days later. And leading the way was Dai Davies, who got off to a slow start with just a single from his first 14 deliveries but finished with an undefeated 82 from 127 balls, with only seven boundaries. But he shared a stand of 106 with Ross Hardy (51) that eventually proved the key factor in their success, allied to some excellent bowling by ‘young guns’ Jack John and Jamie Smith. The game also showed the vagaries of cricket because Tom Mansbridge and Sam Franklin, who had both smashed impressive 70s for The Seasiders in The Bowl match, both departed for ducks in the match!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 





3. Toby Hayman  (Burton versus Carew 2nds)
 
Burton remain top of Division Two and already hot favourites for promotion and skipper Toby Hayman has certainly led by example with several big scores – and another this week against Carew 2nds as his 103 not out formed a major part of their 187 for 4 before Dan Ridge’s five-wicket haul helped to victory by 58 runs.
Toby is normally a ‘blaster batter’ with his array of attacking strokes but on this occasion he showed self-discipline as he stroked 8 fours and 3 sixes, in an excellent unbroken century partnership with Morgan Scale, who is showing this campaign what a good all-rounder he is.
Then it was over to Mr Ridge with a splendid 5 for 13 spell to help Burton to a 19-point haul to stay ahead of Herbrandston in the table!
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
4. Paul Nicholas (Herbrandston versus Llanrhian)
 
Herbrandston are the other clear leaders in Division Two and this week it was one of their veterans, alongside his talented twin sons, who saw them stay 35 points ahead of third-placed Carew 2nds. Paul ‘Pickles’ Nicholas had stepped down into the seconds a while ago but he is still an asset at this level because his accurate medium pacers are still very effective, as he proved at Llandigige Fawr with his 5 for 20 analysis that reduced Llanrhian to 93 all out before twins Harry and Paul Nicholas (31 not out and 17 respectively) helped see to it that Herbie won by 8 wickets. What some of his younger team-mates might not be aware of is the fact  that in Paul’s younger days he was also a very good rugby player with Milford Havem, having the unusual ability to play really well at either hooker or full back!
 
 
 




 
 
 
5. Jack Harries (Pembroke versus Johnston)
 
Jack Harries maintained his excellent recent form as he  as his top score of 120 helped Pembroke fend off a strong challenge from  Johnston, with 16 fours and three sixes coming off 104 deliveries. Pembroke stood at 12 for 2 early on but then Jack joined forces with Phil Hay, now making a welcome return to cricket, in a partnership of 170 out of a massive final tally of 269 for 4as Phil Jones and Andrew ‘Sparky’ Hay finished things off in style with an unbeaten 50 partnership.
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
6. Lee Summons (Johnston v versus Pembroke)
 
In the same game at Treleet there was another centurion as Lee Summons continued his heavy scoring with an excellent 109 that was packed with boundaries – and he also had great support from Lewis Boswell, who struck 89 quick runs despite Bowyn Clarke’s 4 for 51. It meant that Johnston were in contention for much of their innings but in the final analysis they needed someone else who could have made a useful score in support of this two as Pembroke eased home by 25 runs.
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
7. Jake Davies (Pembroke Dock versus Llechryd)
 
Just a couple of miles away there were two more centuries on the excellent batting track at Imble Lane before Pembroke beat Llechryd by 31 runs. Dock opener Jake Davies scored exactly 100 as 55 runs came in the last five overs as Nick Daley and Tom Grimwood gave a measure of support. Then Llechryd lost early wickets to Nick Daley and Co but Joe Mansfield scored a cracking 100 not out for the visitors but lacked major support from any other batsman as The Dock leap-frogged over their opponents in the table as reward for their victory.
 
 
 
 

 




 
 
8. Richard Cope and Richard Webb (Kilgetty versus Cresselly 2nds)
 
There were two outstanding performances as Kilgetty accounted for Cresselly Seconds at Kingsmoor, with Richard Cope showing what a forceful run-maker he can be with a superb innings of 145 not out that contained a pile of boundaries and some big hitting on a very good track. His innings helped take Kilgetty, who last weekend won the Alan Brown Cup, reach a very big score and Cresselly were in trouble from the outset as Richard Webb, a very good all-rounder for Kilgetty, grabbed 6 for 12 to ensure victory by 132 runs.
 
 
 
 



 
 
9. Callum Power – (Herbrandston Seconds v Stackpole)
 
Congratulations to my young pal Callum Power on his excellent innings of 110 for Herbrandston in this good win over their counterparts from Stackpole, with 18 fours and a six as proof of his ability. Callum shared an opening stand of 109 with Johnny ‘Bap’ Lewis and actually made him run se3ven twos before Johnny was out for 38, probably exhausted! Then Calum found another willing partner is his younger brother Rhys Power, who smashed loads of boundaries and sixes to reach 93 before he was caught trying to reach  three figures like big brother. But never mind Rhys, at your age you’llreach that coveted century mark one day, probably sooner than later!
 
 


 
 
 
 
 

10.  Ian Milsom (Herbrandston Seconds versus Stackpole 2nds)
 
If there was an award for the most enthusiastic cricketer in Pembrokeshire then my vote would go to Ian ‘Minky’ Milsom, who loves playing for Herbrandston 2nds and is one of the main organisers of the Pembrokeshire Seniors’ Cricket that is enjoyed by a lot of old fogeys. So, I am delighted to finish off with mention of his splendid 6 for 25 haul as they beat Stackpole Seconds – and even more chuffed for him that his analysis included a hat-trick; all clean bowled! I use my favourite pic of ‘Minky’ which I have seen him wear at a test match and Harrison-Allen Bowl Final because it reflects the sense of fun he brings to the game – and long may he continue to grace Pembrokeshire Cricket!
 
 
 
 



 
 

Just Missing Out:

 









Jake Wicks (Superb batting for Hook 2nds)
 
 
 
 















 
Scott Newton (74 not out for Whitland)
 
 
 
 
 
















Harry Thomas (Held the Lawrenny innings together in win over Pembroke)
 
 
 
 










 
Mikey Jones (85 for Haverfordwest in their defeat against Lawrenny)
 
 
 
















 
Bradley Flood 5 for 18 for Kilgetty 2nds