Hook 80 for 3 beat Whitland 78 for 6 by 7 wickets

 
Man of the Match: Oscar Willington (Hook)
Adjudicator: Phillip Tallett (Bosherston & Stackpole CC)
Sponsor: Philip Lloyd & Family
 
Umpires: Steve Williams & Ian Gow
Scorers: Alys John, Darren Bujega & Jon Willington
Venue: Lawrenny Cricket Club





 
Hook secured the Ormond Youth Plate as they survived an early scare in their batting reply to Whitland to eventually run out comfortable winners.
 
Whitland fell a few runs short of a competitive total but early wickets saw the game in the balance until Hook pulled away to win with plenty of overs and seven wickets in hand.
 

Tight start from Hook puts Whitland under pressure

 
Hook elected to field first and opening bowlers Joe Phillips and Lewis Miller reeled off three consecutive maidens to put the Whitland openers under early pressure. But slowly runs started to come and the score advanced to 19 before Harri Jones was adjudged lbw to Dom Asson for 7. Asson then struck a massive blow as next ball he clean bowled key run gatherer Jacob Owen, eventually returning excellent figures of 2 for 10.
 

Owen and Bujega lead the recovery

 
Luc Owen came in to join opener Oli Bujega and these two steadily began to rebuild the innings with some positive shots and good running between the wickets. Oli struck three boundaries in a patient 21 as these two took the Whitland score to 56 in a vital 37 run partnership. Rhys Phelps then grabbed the wicket of Bujega, caught at the wicket by older brother Owen in a good spell of 1 for 15.
 
Owen continued to play positive cricket but the Hook bowlers did not let up from bowling an excellent line and length throughout, backed up by very good ground fielding. Oscar Willington then came into the attack and bowled the key spell of the match to turn things in Hook’s favour. First he clean bowled Owen, who hit four boundaries in a classy 34, then repeated the dose to remove Ethan Ryan first ball, and snapped up the wicket of Dafydd Lewis for 1, thanks to a sharp catch from Niall Griffiths, to finish with excellent figures of 3 for 10.
 

Hook have a shaky start . . .  but recover well

 
The Whitland total of 78 looked a few runs short on a good pitch and fast outfield. But the Whitland team came out firing and in a repeat of the first innings, the opening bowlers, Luc Owen and Charlie Bujega, put the batters under pressure with tight bowling. Owen struck early to remove Owen Phelps for 1 and with the score on 15 Bujega matched his feat to remove Lewis Miller for 9.
 
The Whitland team were visibly lifted and felt they were back in the contest. Harry Makepeace and Joe Phillips looked to settle and rebuild but Cian Rees came into the attack to strike another blow for Whitland, clean bowling Phillips for 2 to leave Hook at 28 for 3 after 7 overs and the game in the balance.
 
But Makepeace, alongside Dom Asson, had other ideas and these two quickly took the game away from Whitland. With a combination of attacking shots and quick running, these two added 52 in the space of five overs to seal what ultimately turned out to be a comfortable victory. Makepeace hit 30 not out from 31 balls including four boundaries, Asson with 19 not out including two boundaries and a big six in the 13^th over to seal the win.
 

Presentation and awards

 
Following the game, which was played in great spirit, it was County Chairman Richard Merriman and Phil Lloyd, whose family continue to kindly sponsor the competition, who presented the trophy to delighted Hook skipper Owen Phelps.
 
Man of the match adjudicator Phil Tallett then complimented both teams on their performance, singling out Luc Owen and Harry Makepeace for their batting performances. But it was young Oscar Willington who picked up the man of the match trophy for his bowling spell of 3 for 10, warmly applauded by a good crowd who enjoyed an excellent game of cricket.
 

SCORECARD

 
Whitland Youth Batting
Harri Jones lbw Dom Asson 7
Oli Bujega ct Owen Phelps b Rhys Phelps 21
Jacob Owen b Dom Asson 0
Luc Owen b Oscar Willington 34
Ethan Ryan b Oscar Willington 0
Cai Lewis not out 1
Dafydd Lewis ct Niall Griffiths b Oscar Willington 1
Charlie Bujega not out 1
Extras 13
Total (for 6 wickets) 78
 
Hook Youth Bowling
Joe Phillips 3-2-2-0 Lewis Miller 4-1-21-0 Dom Asson 4-0-10-2 Harry Makepeace 2-0-16-0 Oscar Willington 4-0-10-3 Rhys Phelps 3-0-15-1
 
Hook Youth Batting
Lewis Miller b Charlie Bujega 9
Owen Phelps b Luc Owen 1
Harry Makepeace not out 30
Joe Phillips b Cian Rees 2
Dom Asson not out 19
Extras 19
Total (for 3 wickets) 80
 
Whitland Youth Bowling
Luc Owen 3.2-0-19-1 Charlie Bujega 3-1-10-1 Cian Rees 3-0-18-1 Jacob Owen 2-0-19-0 Ethan Ryan 1-0-12-0