Pembrokeshire Under 12s cricket team recently took on the might of the Cardiff and the Vale team in a 40 overs per innings match at Kilgetty. With the Kilgetty ground looking in great condition, Pembrokeshire captain, Scott Arthur (Hundleton), won the toss and elected to field.

The visitors' opening batsman and Welsh international, Ian Jenkins, dominated their innings from the start with a variety of strokes all round the wicket. He used his feet quickly to get into a good position to execute each well-chosen stroke. He contributed a brilliant 92, which included 15 fours, and nobody would have begrudged him getting his 'ton'. However, Pembrokeshire change-bowler Lee Summons (Johnston) had other ideas, and trapped him 'leg-before' with a ball that deceived him off the pitch.

Jenkins apart, the other Cardiff batsmen failed to impress, with eight runs being the next highest individual score. In fact, tight county bowling restricted the Welsh capital's team to just 143 runs all out in the 34th over.

Summons was easily the best Pembrokeshire bowler, returning figures of four wickets for 13 runs in his four overs - a just reward for his accurate 'line-and-length' seamers.

Earlier, Carew pacemen Rhys Davies (1 for 10) and Scott Helmich (0 for 9) had kept Jenkins and Co. reasonably quiet during their respective four-over spells. Further wickets by Jacob Davies (Cresselly), Matthew Kiff (Llangwm), Nick Davies (Johnston) and Rhys Davies (Llangwm), aided by some good fielding throughout, all helped to bring about the Cardiff demise.

Jacob Davies, Simon Stanford (Saundersfoot) and Nick Davies, notably, took some critical catches.

After an excellent tea prepared by Rob Simons (Caterers), of Narberth, the Pembrokeshire opening batsmen, Scott Arthur and Rhys Davies (Carew), proceeded steadily against a strong Cardiff attack which had an impressive mixture of pace and spin bowling.

With useful contributions by Arthur (10), Kiff (10), Jacob Davies (12) and Stanford (15), which included three attractive fours, the Pembrokeshire total progressed to 78 for 6 after 31 overs. Then disaster struck in the form of Nigel Tonks, the Cardiff medium pacer, who took a hat-trick to bring the Pembrokeshire number 11 batsman, Helmich ,to join Summons at the crease.

Amazingly, this pair batted out the last 10 overs with gritty determination and took the Pembrokeshire total to 91 for 9 at the close to gain a creditable draw for their team and complete, for young Lee Summons, a very fine all-round performance.

LOW-SCORING DRAW

In an earlier fixture, played at the famous Maesteg Celtic Cricket Club, against Mid Glamorgan, captain Scott (Arthur) won the toss and put the Glamorgan side in to bat on a fairly soft pitch, a slow outfield and generally cold damp conditions, with rain never very far away.

Mid Glam scored 92 for 7 in their rain-reduced 35 overs, Ryan Gibby top-scoring with 20 not out.

Scott Helmich, Rhys Davies (Carew) and James Salter (St. Ishmaels) each took a brace of wickets. Rhys Davies (Narberth), although not taking a wicket, commanded great respect from the early order batsmen, going for just three runs off the bat in his opening four-over spell.

In reply, Pembrokeshire could only muster 76 for 5 in their allotted 35 overs to earn themselves a respectable 'losing' draw. Arthur accumulated a dour 19 runs, while Joe Allen (Narberth) acquitted himself with 12 runs which included two fours.