2022 Harrison-Allen Bowl Final:

 
 

(Haverfordwest (126 all out and 162 all out) lost to Llangwm (207 for 2 & 82 for 4) by 6 wickets

 
Umpires: Glyn Cole & Allan Hansen
Scorers: Janice Brick (Llangwm) & Jayne Cole (Haverfordwest)
Venue: Cresselly CC
 
Man of the Match: Joe Phillips (Llangwm)
Adjudicators: Phil James & Tim Phillips
 
 
Joe Phillips was the toast of his Llangwm’s team-mates and supporters after the talented teenager grabbed nine wickets to  help send Haverfordwest tumbling out of contention and take the coveted trophy back to Llangwm for the first time since 1993.
 
He was joined by other star performers with the bat like Steve Mills, Joseph and Matthew Kiff, who skippered the side well as they bowled, batted and especially fielded better than their opponents.
 
The Town deserved credit under skipper Dai Davies for not throwing in the towel but it was perhaps easy to see why Llangwm finished second in division one and Haverfordwest lost their status there for the first time in 45 years.



 

FIRST INNINGS:

 

Town struggle after a bright start

 
Haverfordwest captain Dai Davies won the toss and showed his team’s positive intent by batting first and after three overs it looked as if it was the ideal choice because Adam James and Mikey Jones scoring 35 runs – but then James, having belted tow boundaries, was caught by Chris Inward at short mid-wicket off Joe Phillips for 9.
 
It was a big blow because of James’ ability to influence play but then Jones, who had looked in terrific form with three fours and two big sixes in his 26,  left to a diving catch by Joseph Kiff  - and The Town slumped to 44 for 4 as Phillips completed his 3 for 26 spell as Steve Inward caught Dai Davies (3) and Noah Davies removed  Ben Field (5) with the assistance of a brilliant catch on the long-on boundary by Steve Mills.
 
As a result, Haverfordwest’s slump continued as only 23 runs came in ten overs and in that time Jake Merry (3) and Chris Phillips (two fours in his 11) departed at the same score of 58 for 6.
 
Archie Thomas stroked a lovely six over long off in his 13 runs but he fell to one of the moments of the day as Joseph Kiff made 20 yards at long on to pouch a diving catch – and it was some excellent batting by wicketkeeper Jack Scriven that took The Town to their final tally of 126 all out, with four boundaries - but he was run out in the inevitable late chase for runs, as were Ashley James (12) and Jonny White (0)
 
Talented teenager Phillips was the pick of the Llangwm bowlers with support from Noah Davies (2 for 31), Chris Inward (1 for 41) and Steve Mills (1 for 22) – and a measure from the Llangwm fielding can be gauged from the fact they took seven catches and executed three run outs!
 
Haverfordwest Batting:
Adam James ct Steve Inward b Joe Phillips 9
Mikey Jones ct Joseph Kiff b Joe Phillips 26
Ben Field ct Steve Mills b Noah Davies 9
Dai Davies ct Steve Inward b Joe Phillips 3
Jake Merry ct & b Noah Davies 3
Chris Phillips ct & b Chris Inward 11
Archie Thomas ct Joseph Kiff b Steve Mills 13
Jack Scriven run out 40
Ashley James run out 12
Jonny White run out 0
Clive Tucker not out 0
Extras 4
Total (all out) 126
 
Llangwm Bowling:
Noah Davies 6-1-31-2; Joe Phillips 6-0-26-3; Chris Inward 5-0-41-2; Steve Mills 5-0-22-1.




 

Llangwm build a huge score after steady start

Llangwm also made a useful start to their reply as Joseph Kiff and Steve Inward scored 32 runs in five overs but at 44 The Town’s hopes were raised when Inward was caught by keeper Scriven off Archie Thomas for 13.
 
But Steve Mills strode to the crease and raised the tempo in a stand of 64 that saw Kiff survive a strong appeal for caught behind and a reprieve from a splendid diving catch by Chris Phillips, running back at midwicket – but the delivery was adjudged to be above waist height and Kiff went on to score the first half century of the game with seven fours and two sixes in his 54 before he was bowled by Jonny White.
 
If The Town felt they might be on the way to a fight-back with the Llangwm score on 106 for 2 their hopes were quickly dispelled as Steve Mills and skipper Matthew Kiff sent the ball across and over the boundary rope with such regularity that once they had gone into the lead with  five overs left another  81 runs flew from Mill’s and Kiff’s bats, with Mills 76 not out coming off 34 balls, with four fours and five sixes, one a monster over the nets, and skipper Kiff reached a deserved 50 not out in only 22 deliveries as he stroked two boundaries and another five sixes – and at tea there was an 80-run gap between the teams!



 

SECOND INNINGS:

 

The Town battle to a decent total

 
Haverfordwest needed a heap of runs in their second innings and after only two overs they had 32 on the board, with Adam James having blitzed four fours, two sixes and a single in his 29 – but he was then bowled by Noah Davies.
 
Mikey Jones (three fours in his 24 before he was bowled by Chris Inward) and Archie Thomas (run out for 19)) ensured that at the half-way stage of their innings The Town were 13 runs ahead at 93 for 3. Ben Field stroked 33, including three fours and a six but then was caught by Steve Inward at the start of a six-wicket haul for the rampant  teenage pace man.
 
From then on Dai Davies (13) and Chris Phillips (two sixes in his 18) were the only batsmen to manage double figures as Phillips was helped by catches from Matthew Kiff and Luke Brock, plus a screamer of a one-handed reflex effort off his own bowling – and The Town ended on 162 all out from their final ball, leaving Llangwm with the seemingly simple task of reaching 82 for victory.
 
Llangwm Batting:
Joseph Kiff b Jonny White 54
Steve Inward ct Jack Scriven b Archie Thomas 13
Steve Mills not out 76
Matthew Kiff not out 50
Extras 14
Total (2 wickets) 207
 
Haverfordwest Bowling:
Adam James 6-1-54-0; Clive Tucker 4-0-21-0; Archie Thomas 4-0-41-1; Jonny White 4-0-39-1; Ashley James 2-0-23-0; Chris Phillips 2-0-27-0.
 

The Town battle to a decent score

 
Haverfordwest Batting:
Adam James b Noah Davies 29
Mikey Jones b Chris Inward 24
Archie Thomas run out 19
Ben Field ct Steve Inward b Joe Phillips 33
Dai Davies ct Matthew Kiff b Chris Inward 13
Ashley James b Joe Phillips 8
Jack Scriven ct & b Joe Phillips 2
Jake Merry  b Joe Phillips 0
Chris Phillips ct Luke Brock b Joe Phillips 18
Johnny White b Joe Phillips 6
Clive Tucker not out 0
Extras 10
Total (all out) 162
 
 Llangwm Bowling:
Noah Davies 5-0-58-1; Joe Phillips 5-0-41-6; Steve Mills 6-0-27-0; Chris Inwards 6-0-33-2.





 

And Haverfordwest cause a few batting tremors for Llangwm

 
But The Town are nothing if not battlers, with Jonny White shifting Steve Inward (1) and Joseph Kiff (12) and with Adam James and Clive Tucker also picking up a wicket apiece from Steve Mills (9) and Matthew Kiff (6) it meant that Llangwm stood on 28 for 4, with 54 still needed.
 
But Llangwm showed their batting strength in depth as Luke Brock and Noah Davies steadied things down in a slow period for their club but one that wasn’t important because they had plenty of time.
 
Then Brock just cleared the boundary from a straight-driven shot that just evaded the fielder nearby, and then sent two more soaring over the rope in the same over – and Llangwm were within inches of their first Bowl win since 1993
 
He finished on 27 not out and Noah Davies, who bats with a maturity beyond his years, chipped with un unbeaten 20 – and Llangwm were victors by 6 wickets and 7.5 overs still in hand!
 
Llangwm Batting:
Steve Inward ct Jake Merry b Jonny White 1
Joseph Kiff ct Adam James b Jonny White 12
Steve Mills lbw b Adam James 9
Matthew Kiff ct Chris Phillips b Clive Tucker 6
Luke Brock not out 27
Noah Davies not out 20
Extras 7
Total (4 wickets) 82
 
Haverfordwest Bowling:
Jonny White 3-0-22-2; Adam James 6-0-22-1; Clive Tucker 4-0-30-1; Archie Thomas 1-0-8-0; Ashley James 0.1-0-1-0.
 

And finally . . .

 
The post-match presentations were conducted by County Club chairman Richard Merriman and he made all the necessary thank yous, including the teams, umpires, scorers, Cresselly Cricket Club for use of its superb pitch, sponsors Puffin Produce, Glyn Cole for sponsoring the man of the match award and Mr Hugh Harrison-Allen for sponsoring the teas for both teams and officials.
 
Joe Phillips’ choice as man of the match was widely acclaimed for his three and six-wicket hauls and Matthew Kiff received the Harrison-Allen Bowl from Hugh Harrison-Allen to round off a memorable day for Llangwm, with Haverfordwest clearly disappointed but deserving great credit for the way they battled away and their after-match congratulations for Matthew Kiff and his team, especially for the outstanding Joe Phillips.