Talented batsman Dave Lovell is certainly in a rich vein of form for Lamphey in the Ocky White Pembrokeshire County Cricket League.

Having already bagged two centuries in the previous two weeks, he made it a superb hat-trick of tons on Saturday when the reigning champions travelled to play Cresselly.

But of the three, this must surely have been the best, for the Lamphey skipper was in imperious form as he smashed a scintillating 169 not out.

The shellshocked Cresselly bowlers had no answer to the power and skill of Lovell, whose magnificent knock included eight towering sixes and 18 fours - several of them coming late on as he closed the innings with an incredible 42 off the last 10 balls.

It helped Lamphey to a massive total of 262 for 4 in their allotted overs, a total which they must have thought had victory written all over it.

But Cresselly obviously had other ideas. Whereas their bowlers had struggled, so did the Lamphey attack as the Cresselly batsman also took a liking to their home track.

Admittedly they never looked like forcing a win as they were always behind the clock, but they were rarely in trouble as they held out for a comfortable draw at 196 for 3.

Leading the resistance was Lyn Richards, who collected 13 well struck boundaries in his solid 69, while other useful contributions came from Richard Harries, with an unbeaten 33, and Simon Cole with 24.

Just down the road, another batsman with his eye in was Chris Vincent, who played a starring role for Lawrenny in their match with Whitland.

The home side were in a spot of bother at 67 for 4 when he came to the crease, but by the time the innings closed their worries had eased somewhat, with Vincent still there on 121 not out and the Lawrenny total having moved on to 222 for 5.

Again it was an impressive knock littered with big hitting and a bagful of boundaries, including four 6s, 15 fours and even a five! Vincent also shared in an impressive fifth wicket partnership of 157 with Ian Jenkins, who was last out on 58.

Like Lamphey before them, however, despite amassing a formidable total, it was still not enough to earn Lawrenny victory, with Whitland showing dogged determination as they held on for a nail-biting draw with their last pair at the wicket and their total on 139 for 9.

Indeed it was a day of drawn matches, and that was again the outcome in the clash between Kilgetty and Haverfordwest, despite fortunes seemingly fluctuating throughout.

The Town were first at the crease and were quickly in trouble as the Kilgetty bowlers set about their task with relish, reducing the visitors to a rather perilous 94 for 6.

The villagers must have had the scent of victory in their nostrils, but when Philip Sutton came to the wicket he soon set about reducing the strength of that sweet smell of success.

Repairing the early damage with a hard-hitting 68 not out, including a six and eight fours, he eventually helped the visitors to a useful total of 170 for 6, with more than a little help coming at the other end from former Kilgetty man Adrian Griffiths with 20 not out.

For Kilgetty, Gareth 'Curtley' Hughes bagged three wickets at a cost of 45 runs, while Simon Wood bowled with great accuracy to return fine figures of 2 for 31 off his 12 overs.

The Town attack also bowled tidily, however, keeping the Kilgetty batsman on a tight rein, to such an extent that they could never increase the tempo sufficiently enough and in the end had to be content with a share of the spoils with their score progressing to a solid, if not spectacular, 139 for 4.

Ian Poole top scored with 43 off 89 balls, including a six and four 4s, while Paul Mansbridge weighed in with 31 and Geraint Davies with 24.

For the Town, Darren Brick was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 20 off 12 overs, four of which were maidens.

Elsewhere, Narberth had much the better of their match with Pembroke, but again had to settle for a draw.

Batting first, Narberth rattled up a healthy total of 187 for 6 in their allotted overs, Jason Oatley top scoring with a quickfire 49 not out at the death.

Other useful contributions came from openers Wayne Howells, who weighed in with 40, and Mike Johns with 37, as the pair shared in a healthy first wicket stand of 77

Chris Thomas was the most successful Pembroke bowler with figures of 4 for 53.

When Pembroke began their reply they quickly found themselves in trouble, with Mark Fraser and Mathew Mitchell both back in the pavilion in the first three overs, neither having troubled the scorers.

With their hopes of victory having been well and truly dented, it meant a rearguard action for Pembroke for the remainder of the match, and with Nigel Phillips keeping the Narberth attack at bay with an unbeaten 24, the draw was eventually secured.

Ian Hughes was the pick of the Narberth attack, doing the early damage with a spell of 3 for 18 off 12 overs.

Only victory in division one was registered by Carew, who consolidated their position at the top of the table with a comfortable eight-wicket success against basement club Burton.

Burton were first to the crease and could only post a relatively modest total of 132 for 8 in their allotted overs.

Main reason was the accurate bowling of James Owen who restricted them early on and finished with impressive figures of 2 for 15 off his 12 overs, five of which were maidens.

John Canton also picked up a couple of wickets, while Richard Hayman and Andrew Cromwell were Burton's main run-getters with knocks of 34 and 32 not out, respectively.

The Burton total posed few problems for high-riding Carew, who knocked off the runs with plenty of time and wickets to spare, Nicky Scourfield (46) and Robert Hicks sharing in a match-winning second wicket stand of 119.

In the process, they picked up 28 points to take them 28 points clear of nearest rivals Lamphey with Cresselly a further 33 points adrift in third place.

Results

Division One: Lawrenny (24) 222-5 drew with Whitland (6) 139-9; Pembroke (9) 129-8 drew with Narberth (22) 187-6; Cresselly (8) 196-5 drew with Lamphey (21) 262-4; Kilgetty (11) 139-5 drew with Haverfordwest (18) 170-6; Carew (28) 134-2 bt Burton (5) 132-8.

Division Two: Narberth II (30) 175-8 bt Johnston (8) 149-10; Spittal (3) 95-10 lost to Llangwm (28) 96-1; St. Ishmaels (7) 90-10 lost to Hook (30) 156-9; Neyland (13) 121-7 drew with Carew II (17) 149-9; Haverfordwest II (19) 174-7 drew with Stackpole (13) 166-8.

Division Three: Llechryd (28) 135-2 bt Cresselly II (5) 134-9; Saundersfoot (19) 191-10 drew with Lawrenny II (15) 184-8; Haverfordwest III (5) 123-9 lost to Herbrandston (28) 124-2; Fishguard (7) 97-10 lost to Llanrhian (29) 147-9; Hundleton (29) 141-4 bt Cardigan (6) 139-10.

Division Four: Llangwm II (5) 84-10 lost to St. Ishmaels II (30) 153-7; Hook II (9) 135-5 drew with Crymych (20) 193-7; Whitland II (27) 118-4 bt Pembroke II (5) 117-9; Burton II (8) 140-9 drew with Manorbier (23) 203-7; Maenclochog (18) 132-10 drew with Kilgetty II (14) 121-9.

Division Five: Letterston (8) 118-10 lost to Dinas (30) 231-10; Lamphey II (30) 157-7 bt Llechryd II (6) 99-10; St. David's (29) 144-4 bt Spittal II (6) 143-10; Stackpole II (29) 146-10 bt Burton III (8) 113-10; Llanrhian II (5) 42-10 lost to Neyland II (28) 117-9.

Division Six: Crymych II (27) 78-10 bt Haverfordwest IV (7) 64-10; Herbrandston II (7) 64-10 lost to Letterston II (28) 99-10; Stackpole III (27) 83-10 bt Saundersfoot II (6) 43-10; Narberth III (21) 200-7 drew with Hundleton II (9) 148-6; Carew III (30) 177-6 bt Llangwm III (7) 124-10; Pembroke Dock (27) 130-5 bt Whitland III (6) 129-7.

Fixtures

Division One: Lawrenny v Burton; Lamphey v Narberth; Kilgetty v Cresselly; Whitland v Pembroke; Haverfordwest v Carew.

Division Two: Narberth II v Stackpole; Hook v Llangwm; Neyland v St. Ishmaels; Johnston v Spittal; Carew II v Haverfordwest II.

Division Three: Llechryd v Cardigan; Herbrandston v Lawrenny II; Fishguard v Haverfordwest III; Cresselly II v Saundersfoot; Llanrhian v Hundleton.

Division Four: Llangwm II v Kilgetty II; Pembroke II v Crymych; Burton II v Whitland II; St. Ishmaels II v Hook II; Manorbier v Maenclochog.

Division Five: Letterston v Neyland II; Spittal II v Llechryd II; Stackpole II v St. David's; Dinas v Lamphey II; Burton III v Llanrhian II.

Division Six: Whitland III v Llangwm III; Saundersfoot II v Letterston II; Stackpole III v Johnston II; Haverfordwest IV v Carew III; Hundleton II v Pembroke III; Pembroke Dock v Narberth III.