Tomorrow (Saturday, May 2), the first games will be played this season in the Antur Insurance Pembroke County Cricket League.

Defending Division One Champions Haverfordwest, Carew and Cresselly the top three teams last season will be firm favourites for the 2009 race for the top with possibly St. Ishmaels and Whitland as outsiders.

As the statistics prepared by Paul Webb, of Whitland, indicate, Haverfordwest and Carew are the best all-round teams, but the defending champions will be without influential skipper and all rounder Nick Dyer this season as the former captain had decided to retire. Wicket-keeper Huw Scriven has taken over as the new skipper.

Carew will continue to be led by Robert Scourfield and Cresselly will be under a new skipper as early order batsman Simon Cole has taken over at the helm. 

Cresselly's challenge wilted last season as the bowling attack did not match the strength of batting and this will be the first priority for the new skipper - to get more out of his bowlers this season.

Tomorrow, Haverfordwest are home to Cresselly in a top of the table clash and Carew are home to Hook who were promoted from Division Two last season. 

The defending Division Two champions, Carew Seconds, will start the new season with a testing away fixture at Burton who were relegated from Division One last season.

Division Two newcomers Cresselly Seconds will be home to Haverfordwest Seconds and the other promoted team Stackpole will be home to Herbrandston.

Division Three will be fascinating to watch this season with Llanrhian and Llechryd moving down from Division Two, with Crymych and Narberth Seconds moving up from Division Four.

On paper, there are no obvious weak teams and at this stage of the season each of the ten teams could fancy themselves for a top two position.

Fixtures

Tomorrow's (Saturday's) fixtures are as follows:

Division One: Carew v Hook; Haverfordwest v Cresselly; Lawrenny v Llangwm; Neyland v Narberth; Whitland v St. Ishmaels.

Division Two: Burton v Carew II; Cresselly II v Haverfordwest II; Johnston v Pembroke; Saundersfoot v Fishguard; Stackpole v Herbrandston.

Division Three: Camrose & Spittal v Pembroke Dock; Hundleton v Llechryd; Llanrhian v Lamphey; Narberth II v Crymych; St. Ishmaels II v Whitland II.

Division Four: Haverfordwest III v Burton II; Herbrandston II v Neyland II; Hook II v Kilgetty; Llangwm II v Lawrenny II; Pembroke II v Johnston II.

Division Five: Carew III v Whitland III; Llangwm III v Camrose & Spittal II; Llechryd II v Cresselly III; Manorbier v Saundersfoot II; St. Florence v Llanrhian II.

Division Six: Crymych II v Stackpole II; Fishguard II v Burton III; Kilgetty II v Hundleton II; Lamphey II v Haverfordwest IV; Narberth III v Llanrhian III.