Once again rain ravaged Pembrokeshire's schedule of league cricket matches in the Imperial Garages Pembroke County Cricket League and only two matches were played, both in Division One. As it happened, the two matches involved the top three clubs, with Cresselly home to Harrison-Allen Bowl winners St. Ishmaels and Carew home to Neyland. The match of the day was at Cresselly where the visitors St. Ishmaels needed to win to keep their dreams of the double alive and to put Cresselly out of the running. Tish achieved this in dramatic fashion when Stewart Kimpton picked up two wickets in the final over, both courtesy of excellent catches by Danny Howells when Cresselly needed 16 runs to win at the start of the over with two wickets in hand. Two wickets interspersed with the batsmen crossing for two runs twice gave Tish the spoils. A draw was no good for Cresselly who had to win to stay in the race, which is now down to the wire, with Carew away to Haverfordwest on Saturday and Tish home to Lawrenny. For once, St. Ishmaels did not win the toss when vice-captain Jonathan Pawlett failed to call correctly and the visitors were invited to bat. The match was delayed to allow the pitch to dry out and was reduced from 45 to 36 overs per side, as was the case down the hill at Carew. Stefan Jenkins gave Cresselly the ideal start, with Peter Bradshaw and Jonathan Pawlett both being bowled for nought. However 14-year-old Andrew Salter scored 24, all- rounder Stewart Kimpton 30 and Andrew Williams had a solid innings of 22 before being caught by Damian Arthur off the bowling of Ryan Lewis. An unbroken sixth wicket partnership of 70 between Andrew Palmer and Michael Symons pushed the Tish total up to 163 for 5 in their allotted overs. Michael Symons was 48 not out, an innings which included four 6s and two 4s, and Andrew Palmer scored 36 not out. For Cresselly, Stefan Jenkins took 2 for 45 and Ryan Lewis 2 for 52. A number of the Cresselly batsmen got in, but got out before being allowed to consolidate with good individual scores. Openers Julian Arthur and Andrew Harris scored 18 and 10, respectively, with both falling to James Salter. Andrew Chandler and Damian Arthur had an important fourth wicket partnership of 58, which was broken when Chandler was caught by Daniel Howells off the bowling of Kimpton for 35. Arthur continued to keep the bowling at bay and picked up runs quietly before he was caught behind by Tish skipper Peter Bradshaw off the bowling of Stewart Kimpton for 31. Skipper Simon Cole continued to give the orders to go for the runs as it was a must-win match for the Cresselly team. Stefan Jenkins scored 11 before being caught by Peter Bradshaw off the bowling of James Salter in his second spell and Cresselly's hopes were dampened when Richard Harris had to retire hurt with a leg injury. Neilson Cole continued to attack, but perished in the last over when he was caught by Daniel Howells at wide long-on off the bowling of Kimpton. When the ninth wicket fell, Richard Harris returned to the fray and batted with a runner. He did not face a ball as Huw Neale fell in identical fashion to Nielson Cole from the fourth ball of the last over, much to the jubilation of the St. Ishmaels players. Stewart Kimpton had a good all-round match and finished with 5 for 34, with opening bowler James Salter taking 3 for 33. Before the tea interval it was a similar story down the road at Carew where the home team reached a total of 169 for 5 in their 36 overs. Predictably, Carew were given a solid start by openers Ian Sefton and Nick Scourfield, who put on 45 before Sefton was caught by Jeremy Charles off the bowling of spinner Phil Davies for 29 at shortish mid-on. Scourfield continued to accumulate runs in his effective way and had support from Simon Wood in a third wicket partnership, which produced 103 runs. Wood was eventually caught by Greg Miller at long- on off the bowling of Patrick Hannon for 57 after finding the boundary six times and Scourfield was undefeated on 67 at the end of the innings, having hit four 4s and a six. For the visitors, spinner Gary Lloyd took 2 for 31. The Neyland innings did not get going and the visitors seemed more intent on keeping their wickets intact after losing wickets early on. Jeremy Charles scored 17, Sean Hannon 10 and Phil Davies was 15 not out as Neyland eventually reached 69 for 8. Spinner John Canton took 3 for 16, the promising Rhys Davies took 2 for 14 and Simon Wood 2 for 20. Although Carew failed to bowl Neyland out, because of the difference of 100 runs between the totals of the respective teams, Carew were awarded maximum draw points and came away from the match with a total of 24 points in the bag. It is all to play for now tomorrow in what should be a thrilling finale to the season. Haverfordwest will provide difficult opposition for Carew and are still a good team without having reached their normal heights this season. Lawrenny started the season with a bang when they were top of the table for a number of weeks. It is a question of whether or not Lawrenny will end the season with a bang to deny Tish the title or whether the all-round strength and enthusiasm of the young team from St. Ishmaels will be sufficient to come out on top and to gain the double for the first time in the club's history. At the bottom of the division one table, Pembroke, Burton and Narberth are in the battle to avoid relegation. If Haverfordwest Seconds finish second in division two, only one team will be promoted and that team will be Llangwm as division two champions. In that case only one team will be relegated, so it will be a straight fight between Pembroke and Burton. Tomorrow (Saturday), Burton are home to Neyland and Pembroke have a daunting away fixture against Cresselly. Narberth should be safe, but to make certain of another season in division one, they need to acquire at least five points from their away match at Whitland. In division two, Stackpole and Lamphey are the favourites to be relegated. Mathematically, Fishguard are also in the equation, but if Fishguard get four points from their home match against Llechryd it should ensure division two cricket again next season. Lamphey have a tough home fixture against Llanrhian, who have an outside chance of catching Haverfordwest Seconds, and Stackpole are away to Saundersfoot, who will finish the season in a top six spot. There will be an exciting finish to the season in division three where three teams, Herbrandston, Johnston and Cresselly Seconds, are involved in the promotion race, with Neyland Seconds, Kilgetty and Narberth Seconds fighting to avoid the drop to division four. On Saturday, Herbrandston are home to mid-table Camrose and Spittal, Johnston are away to bottom- of-the-table Neyland Seconds and Cresselly Seconds are away to Narberth Seconds. Cresselly Seconds need to win to have any chance of promotion and Narberth Seconds also need a win to avoid relegation. The top two places in division four are also still up for grabs, with St. Ishmaels Seconds leading the table with a lead of 15 points over second-placed Crymych, who in turn have a lead of five points over third-placed Pembroke Dock. St. Ishmaels Seconds are away to bottom club St. Florence, but the division four match of the day will be at Crymych where Pembroke Dock are the visitors in a winner take all game. At the bottom of the table, Pembroke Seconds and St. Florence will be relegated. In division five, Johnston Seconds and Llanrhian Seconds will be promoted, with both teams going for the championship. At the other end of the table, Lamphey Seconds, Narberth Thirds, Herbrandston Seconds and Burton Thirds are involved in a fight for survival. Theoretically, Carew Thirds are also in the equation and face a tricky away fixture against Llanrhian Seconds. Lamphey Seconds need 30 points from their away match against Narberth Thirds, who in turn need to win to avoid the drop to division six (a). Herbrandston Seconds are away to mid-table Camrose and Spittal Seconds. In division six (a), only one team will be promoted, with Fishguard Seconds, Hook Seconds and Llangwm Thirds involved in a battle for the championship. As it happens, the top two teams play each other, with Hook Seconds home to Fishguard Seconds, but Llangwm Thirds have an outside chance of pipping them to the post with a home game against Crymych Seconds, who have yet to win a game this season. In division six (b), Haverfordwest Fourths and Cresselly Thirds are involved in a straight fight and the teams meet in the last league match of the season, with Cresselly Thirds making the visit to Haverfordwest to play Haverfordwest Fourths. Whatever happens, it should be an exciting end to the Pembrokeshire League season and after such a rain interrupted summer there is every prospect of good weather for the issues to be settled on the field rather than by the elements. Cup Finals
The Dyrham Service Station Alec Colley Cup Final, due to have been played on Sunday (August 19) between Haverfordwest and Llangwm, was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch and will now be played at Pembroke on Sunday, September 2. On Sunday, August 26, the Tony Pidgeon Ormond Youth Cup Final between Whitland and Llangwm will be played at Carew. On Bank Holiday Monday, August 27, Haverfordwest will play Neyland at Burton in the final of the Duggie Morris Cup. On Sunday, September 2, three cup cricket finals will be played. As reported above, the Dyrham Service Station Alec Colley Cup Final will be played at Pembroke and the Ormond Youth Plate Final will take place at Lawrenny. In addition, the postponed Tavernspite Garden Centre Alan Brown Cup Final between Crymych and Herbrandston will be played at Whitland. The Ken Morris Cup Final will be played at Narberth on Sunday, September 9, between Haverfordwest and either Whitland or Cresselly.
Duggie Morris Cup Final
On Bank Holiday Monday, August 27, Haverfordwest will play Neyland at Burton in the final of the Duggie Morris Cup. Wickets will be pitched at 12.30 pm. The umpires are Trefor Sandy, of Haverfordwest, and Walter Dash, of Camrose and Spittal. Admission prices are £4 for adults and £2 for pensioners or children.