Division One

Brunell University student Robert Merriman was the toast of Whitland on Saturday after bowling his team to an unexpected win at Cresselly by 31 runs. The visitors batted first and reached a total of 194 for eight. Opener David Lee laid the platform for the total with a well-judged innings of 66 which including six fours before he was bowled by underused spinner Simon Cole. His brother Mark supported with 26 and Kevin Pearce had a quick fire innings of 24 before being caught by Lyn Richards off the bowling of spinner Ryan Lewis. Four other batsmen got into double figures with Edward John scoring 18, Paul Webb 15, Shane Morgan 11 and Mathew Davies 10. Shane Morgan fell to a brilliant boundary catch at midwicket by Cresselly opening batsman Andrew Harris off the bowling of Simon Cole. Unfortunately for his Cresselly team mates Harris dislocated a finger while taking the catch and was unable to take any further part in the match after having hospital treatment. Simon Cole took three for 16 and there were two wickets each for Stefan Jenkins and Ryan Lewis. Although Cresselly were reduced to ten batsmen most spectators would have banked on Cresselly getting the winning runs. At first there was little sign of the upset that was to follow. Openers Julian Arthur and Neilson Cole proceeded nicely with Arthur playing some attractive shots in his innings of 30. The partnership ended when Merriman was brought into the attack from the school end. With his very first ball Merriman enticed Arthur to play a lofted off drive which fell into the safe hands of David Lee at long off. Later in the same over Merriman picked up the prized scalp of Simon Cole who was caught behind by Shane Morgan and from that point onwards wickets fell at regular intervals. Adam Chandler looked good in his innings of 29 before falling to a Paul Collingswood style catch by Mark Lee above his head at short cover again off the bowling of Merriman, Neilson Cole fell for 11 and Cresselly were in trouble. The two elder statesmen of the team Richard Harris and Lyn Richards then battled hard to pull things around before both became victims of Merriman. Richard Harris scored 42 before being caught of a skier by Shane Morgan off the bowling of Merriman who had been brought back from the clubhouse end. With Lyn Richards still at the crease all was not lost for Cresselly who were still chasing the runs although a little behind the clock. Richards tried to hit Merriman over long off but the ball was intercepted by Dave Lee. Richards was out for 26 and it was all over bar the shouting. In two fine spells of controlled seam bowling Merriman ended with figures of seven for 33 and Whitland skipper Paul Webb claimed the last wicket to fall, in his twelfth over when he bowled Stefan Jenkins to end with figures of two for 25. Whitland's win in this match has given Cresselly's championship hopes a big set back but there are still three league games left and next Saturday's clash between Haverfordwest and Carew could decide which team picks up the championship at the end of the season. Merriman has played for Whitland First's, Second's and Third's since he returned home this summer but this performance at Cresselly should have cemented his place in the first team for the rest of the season. Haverfordwest had a comfortable win at Pembroke after bowling out the home team for 115. Phil Stevens top scored with 32 supported by William Davies with 14. Nick Dyer was the major threat to the Pembroke batsmen in his five for 29 spell and there were two wickets each for paceman Simon Williams and off spinner Clive Tucker. Haverfordwest had a poor start with Phil Kirkby being caught by Phil Hay off the bowling of Anton John without scoring and Danny Potter being trapped leg before wicket by John for six. However an unbroken third wicket partnership of 108 between David Davies and Adam Raymond gave the visitors victory by eight wickets. Davies scored 69 not out with one six and nine fours and Raymond 36 not out with six fours and one six. Lawrenny opening batsmen Andrew Cole and Simon Cole put on 43 for the first wicket at Carew and the visitors ended with a more than decent total of 187 for eight. Simon Cole was caught by Nick Scourfield off the bowling of Wayne Cannon for 14, Andrew Cole went on to score 48 with seven fours and Barry Phillips top scored with 49 including five fours but pulled a calf muscle during his innings. Chris Buckle also got into double figures with 18 and helped Phillips put on 51 for the fifth wicket. Carew skipper Robert Scourfield took three for 36 and Wayne Cannon two for 42. In the absence of Ian Sefton the Carew innings was opened by Nick Scourfield and Brian Hall. The pair scored 90 during their first wicket partnership before Hall was bowled by James Buckle for 50 after hitting seven fours. Scourfield went on to score 84 to continue the fine form he has shown this season. He hit eight fours and one six and had a second wicket partnership of 88 with his brother Martin who was 37 not out. Nick Scourfield was caught by substitute fielder Ben Cole, who had replaced Phillips, off the bowling of Robert Williams and then Tim Hicks with 12 not out joined Martin Scourfield as the pair took Carew to a winning total of 190 for two. Hook were bowled out for 141 at St. Ishmaels. All rounder Andrew Salter who had his 13th birthday in June destroyed the Hook innings with his flighted off spinners as he took six for 35 supported by all rounder Andrew Williams with three for 32. Ben Field scored 38 for the visitors backed up by Brennan Lay with 32 and Keith James with 18. A second wicket partnership of 61 between Jonathan Pawlett and Andrew Williams was instrumental in Tish winning by eight wickets. Jonathan Pawlett was 64 not out with ten fours and one six, Andrew Williams scored 34 before giving a return catch to Ross Martin and Andy Palmer was 22 not out at the end. Earlier Peter Bradshaw had scored 21 before giving a return catch to Keith James. After indifferent start Narberth reached a total of 175 before being all out at home to Neyland. At one time Narberth were 51 for five after John Jones and Henry Durant had made the early breakthrough. Kyle Quartermaine with 15, Marc Hughes with ten and Mathew Johns with 13 each got into double figures in the middle order but it was left to the lower order batsmen to give the Narberth bowlers something to defend. Ian Hughes had a fighting innings of 46 from 52 deliveries which included two sixes and five fours before being bowled by off spinner Phil Davies and he had support from all rounder Ollie Cook batting at number nine who scored 38 at a run a ball with one six and five fours. Cook and Ben Hughes also added 31 vital runs for the last wicket. John Jones took three for 17 in nine overs, Phil Davies three for 45 and leg spinner Gary Lloyd two for 41. The Neyland batsmen were never let off the leash. The Neyland innings mirrored the start of the Narberth innings with the first three batsmen failing to get double figures as they fell to the combined efforts of Ben Hughes and Ollie Cook. Later five batsmen got into double figures but none of them could score 20. Greg Miller was caught by Marc Hughes off the bowling of Ian Hughes for 15, Andrew Miller was run out by Tom Richards for 14, Sean Hannon was bowled by Ben Hughes for 13 and then at the end Henry Durant and Gary Lloyd made the game safe for the visitors with their respective undefeated knocks of 15 and 10. The game ended with Neyland on a total of 105 for eight. Ben Hughes had an excellent 12 over spell and took four for 21 and there was a wicket each for Ollie Cook, Ian Hughes and spinner Mathew Johns who only conceded 17 runs in ten overs.

Division Two

Saundersfoot took a step closer to Second Division safety with an impressive six wickets win away the Haverfordwest Seconds who had scored 177 for five. Teenager Julian James held the Haverfordwest innings together with his knock of 89 with included ten fours supported by Steve Price with 31 and John Tooze with 26. David Parcell was the pick of the Saundersfoot bowlers and took four for 47. In reply Saundersfoot got to 180 for four with nine balls of the match remaining. Jason Llama scored 42, Paul Mansbridge 56 including seven fours and Steve Cole 44 not out including eight fours. The key partnership for Saundersfoot was the third wicket stand of 75 between Mansbridge and Cole. Lamphey showed a bit more resolve to hold out for a draw at home to Stackpole in response to the visitor's total of 161 for nine. Robert Jones benefited from four dropped catches to score 56 including five fours and one six before being caught by Paul White off the bowling of Hywel Gibbs. Darrell Willington scored 30 before being bowled by Grant James and the other batsmen in double figures were Anthony Canton with 18 and Jeremy Garlick with 16. For Lamphey spinner Hywel Gibbs took three for 29 in 12 overs, Grant Cole two for 31 and Jason Oatley two for 33. In reply Lamphey found run scoring more difficult but did reach 130 for eight at the close. Gareth Nicholas scored 33, skipper Robert Matthias 17 and Paul White 15. Andrew Skeels and Lewis Haines played out the last five overs for a draw as Alan Webster took four for 40 and Richard McKay two for 14. Carew Seconds would have been sitting uncomfortably at the tea interval at Johnston after being bowled out for exactly 100. Kerry Waters top scored with 18 and the other batsmen in double figures were Nick Cope with 17, Scott Helmich with 14, Gareth Brace with 10 not out and opener Adrian Harries with 11. For Johnston, Lee Summons took four for 24, Gary James two for 20 and Stev Jenkins theo for 28. However the visitors went home happy after Johnston had been bowled out for 87. Darren Thomas was the key to success in his four for 23 spell. Nick Cope, Gareth Brace and Kerry Waters also chipped in with two wickets each. Brace had the excellent figures of two for 11 in 12 overs. For Johnston both John Summons and Richard Lawrence scored 19, supported by Mike Davies with 13. In the Division Two match of the day the top of the table clash at Burton ended in a nine wickets win for Llangwm. Burton were bowled out for 88 and Llangwm reached 90 for one in reply. Llanrhian won by 43 runs at Herbrandston who were bowled out for 101 chasing a Llanrhian total of 144 for nine.

Division Three

It is tight at the top of Division Three with first placed Fishguard on 265 points followed by Whitland Seconds on 258 points with Hundleton and Llechryd level pegging on 242 points each. Whitland Seconds still have their sights on promotion after winning by three wickets at home to Manorbier who were held to a total of 166 for seven, which skipper Mike May thought was 30 runs light. Jeremy Smith had another excellent innings this time of 50 with six fours before giving a return catch to Simon Davies, Paul Oeppen scored 28 with three fours and two sixes and wicketkeeper Phil Lawrence had a useful innings of 20. He had a quick 40 runs partnership with Paul Oeppen in five overs Simon Davies ended with figures of three for 41. Two early strikes from Neil Powling gave Manorbier real cause for optimism, but some sensible batting and two dropped catches saw Whitland regain initiative. Although Whitland had a bit of a wobble as Manorbier picked up some late wickets, it was a worthy win for Whitland, on a good wicket which also gave some help to the bowlers. Nick Davies top scored for the Whitland team in reply with his innings of 49 which included a six and seven fours and James "Cub" Davies scored 36 with six fours before being run out. Other batsmen in double figures were Simon Davies who showed his all round qualities with 21 not out, Martin Thomas with 17 with both Iwan Bevan and Duane Reynolds scoring 16. For the visitors Neil Powling took four for 46 and Jeremy Smith two for 29. Narberth Seconds skipper Gary Hughes was delighted with the way in which the younger players stepped into the breach in his team's away game at Neyland. Four regular players were missing but Joel Davies took this opportunity to shine with a powerful innings of 58 which included six fours and one massive six. In playing this knock Davies could have put himself into contention to gain a place in the Alec Colley Cup Final on Sunday, although his has not been available for any of the earlier rounds in the competition. Ben Quartermaine was promoted in the order to number five and justified the promotion with his innings of 40. The experienced pair of Clive Jones and Richard Howell also played important parts with respective knocks of 26 and 20 not out. For Neyland Seconds Jay Dunsford took four for 49 and former Cresselly bowler Mike Tennick took two for 15. The match ended in a draw with Neyland Seconds on 166 for seven. Jay Dunsford scored 38, Phil Sutton 37 and Nicholas Kooman 36. Richard Howell took four for 50 in 12 overs and Gary Hughes two for 45. Fishguard reached a total of 200 for four at home to Hundleton who scored 175 for six in reply. David Haynes dominated the Fishguard innings with a splendid knock of 128 not out supported by Jonathan Strawbridge with 26. Jonathan Williams took two of the wickets to fall and then top scored in the Hundleton innings with his knock of 35. Rob Kemp was pick of the Fishguard bowlers and finished with figures of three for 44.

Division Four

In all probability Cresselly seconds have clinched the division four championship following their six wickets win at Kilgetty in Saturday's top of the table clash. Cresselly totalled 163 for nine. The early order batsmen found it difficult to get the Cresselly bowlers away. Openers Allen Hurst and Jake Marsh scored 22 and 19 respectively before both fell to Philip James and after being pinned down Kilgetty skipper Graham Jenkins was well caught by Steven Thomas at mid off, off the bowling of Cresselly skipper Richard Arthur. In the last ten overs Anthony Bevan and Richard Prout opened their shoulders. Bevan scored 37 with five fours of 42 balls before giving a return catch to Steven Thomas and Prout supported with 26 before becoming Arthur's second victim. The other batsman in double figures was Gareth Edwards with 12. Phil James took two for 27, Steven Thomas two for 20 and Richard Arthur two for 45. Teenage opening batsman Scott Arthur led the Cresselly victory bid with an excellent innings of 83 not out from 87 balls after hitting 12 fours. He dominated the Cresselly innings to such an extent that the next highest score was 23 not out by Jim Kinnear. The other batsmen in double figures were Simon Allen-Clark with 17 and Steven Thomas with 15. Brian Slate took two for 54 for Kilgetty. Kilgetty remain in second place as promotion rivals Pembroke Dock lost their away match to Crymych by 56 runs. Crymych only had nine players on the field and two of those were injured but nevertheless built up a commanding total of 187 for six. Openers Bevis Stanford and Elgan Vittle had a first wicket partnership of 82. Stanford hit 62 with two sixes and eight fours and Vittle 48 with nine fours. They were backed up by Rhydian Wyn with 21. For the Dock John Davies took three for 31. In reply the visitors were bowled out for 131. Craig Nightingale and Murray Briggs were the bowlers who did the damage despite the efforts of Peter Jones with 23 and James Olyott with 25 not out. Nightingale who is six foot five inches tall took five for 52 and Briggs two for 21. Pembroke seconds have moved 22 points clear of the relegation zone with a tense three wickets win away to Llangwm seconds. Ian Phillips scored 49 for Llangwm before being bowled by Leigh Jenkins and skipper Paul Morgan 29 in a Llangwm seconds total of 143 for nine. The pair were backed up by Owain Davies with 18. Leigh Jenkins had an excellent spell of five for 41 supported by Gwyn Griffiths with two for 16 and Chris Thomas with two for 13. Tim Gould scored 51 and Colin Kaijaks 28 to give the visitors an excellent start but the innings stuttered. Rob Weston scored 14 but spinner John Brock took three for 21and Mathew Kiff two for 18 to pose problems for the Pembroke batsmen until the visitors attained the winning total of 145 for seven. Lawrenny seconds made short shrift of their nine wickets win at home to Lamphey seconds after bowling out the visitors for 48. Peter McGilloway was the only batsman in double figures with 10 as Ben Cole took four for 25 and Brad Jenkins two for 15. Jonathon Beff scored 26 not out with one six and four fours and Allan Colluns 14 not out in the Lawrenny total 50 for one. Peter McGilloway took the only wicket to fall.

Division Five

St Florence reached a total of 144 for eight in their away match against Stackpole seconds. Peter Hall and Peter Rice had an opening stand of 57 with Hall scoring 37 including six fours and Rice 28 including five fours. Adam John maintained the momentum in his innings of 36 but no other batsman reached double figures as Mathew Jackson took three for 34, John Willington two for 18 and Simon Bevan two for 41. Stackpole seconds were 14 for four but a fifth wicket partnership of 41 between John Willington and Simon Edwards led to a partial recovery before the visitors had the last word by dismissing Stackpole seconds for 90. Simon Edwards scored 26 and Jonathan Willington 20 with the other batsmen in double figures being Julie Garlick with 15 and Phil Tallett with 12. Ben McDonnell took three for 17, Tommy Roberts three for 30 Richard Jones two for 11 and John Davies two for 30. Carew thirds skipper Gethin Evans scored 46 in his team's total of 153 for six at home to Johnston seconds. Teenager Ieuan Davies supported with 24 and there were other useful knocks of 19 by Rob Whitfield and 12 by Stefan Davies. For the visitors Steven Mills junior took two for 25 and Andrew Page two for 37. The game ended in a draw with Johnston seconds on 136 for seven. Steven Mills junior followed up his good bowling to top score with 56 supported by Mathew Stephens and Nicky Davies who both scored 21. Talented teenage leg spinner Ceri Brace celebrated his selection for the Welsh Under Thirteen team by taking all the wickets to fall and finished with figures of seven for 24. Whitland thirds reached a total of 179 all out in their away match against Llanrhian seconds. Mathew Webb top scored with 35, Aled Davies scored 31, Carl Stevens chipped in with 18 and Gwyn Phillips scored 16. Former Glamorgan leg spinner David Lewis took six for 59 and Andrew Plant two for 45. Llanrhian seconds held on for a draw with a total of 153 for eight. Richard Reed was 54 not out and David Lewis scored 28 before being run out. Ashley Evans took three for 24 and Tom Edwards two for 33.

Division Six

Promotion seeking Narberth thirds scored 182 for three at home to Crymych seconds. The total was boosted by the unexpected appearance of first team player Davey Johns who had picked up a football injury the night before. Johns showed his full range of shots to score 102 not out with four sixes and 12 fours. The only other batsmen in double figures were Neil Rossiter with a hard hitting 35, skipper Huw Simpkins with 11 not out and Mathew Davies with 10. John Williams, Nitai Durey and Llion Williams were the wicket takers for the visitors who avoided defeat by reaching a total of 147 for nine. Tudor Harries showed his experience to score 47 with seven fours supported by Nitai Durey with 34 and Vernon Beynon with 18. John Owen took four for 39 and spinner Neil Rossiter two for 38. Jack Bevan had not reached double figures all of the season. Quite often he's been in the Kilgetty first team and not had much chance of a knock but he played for the club's second team in an away match against LLanrhian thirds on Saturday. Batting at number seven Bevan attacked the bowling from the outset and had an outstanding innings of 101 not out with 15 fours. He had support from Grant James batting at number eight who scored 53 with six fours and one six. Their batting set up a 97 runs win for the visitors after Llanrhian thirds were bowled out for 145. Aled Harries scored 53 and Andrew Houghton 31 but a devastating spell of four for four by Duane Rossiter made sure of a Kilgetty win. Hundleton seconds were dismissed for 188 at home to Fishguard seconds who drew the match by scoring 143 for four in reply. Craig Williams top scored for the home team with 78 and his father Dean scored 32. Ryan Hughes took five for 54 for the visitors. Russell Jones took the Fishguard seconds team to safety with his undefeated knock of 56 as David Pratt took three for 22. Saundersfoot seconds were bowled out for 90 at home to Haverfordwest fourths for whom Ross Dewstowe took six for 26. The young players in the Saundersfoot team found the pace and short pitched bowling of Dewstowe rather difficult to handle. Left hander Roger Stanford did his best to hold things together for the Saundersfoot team in his gritty innings of 38, which included six fours. He had some help from number ten David Dunffee with 10 and the pair added 50 invaluable runs for the tenth wickets. Earlier opener Paul Brooks scored 15 The visitors won by ten wickets with Stephen H Phillips 61 not out.