Despite a magnificent effort, Cresselly were unable to score the 174 runs required to win in the second innings of Saturday's Harrison-Allen Bowl FInal at Cresselly and went down to Haverfordwest by just nine runs in a match which was always enthralling. Considering the batting potential of each team, the first innings of the final was a rather low-scoring affair, with Cresselly reaching 108 for 9 in reply to a Haverfordwest total of 130 for 3. Haverfordwest accumulated runs steadily and following an opening stand of 20 between Karl Rhead and Danny Potter, 55 runs were added for the second wicket in the partnership between Rhead and Phil Kirkby, before Rhead was trapped leg before wicket by Richard Harris for 32. Although unable dictate terms, Kirkby played a controlled innings of 48 not out and with the help of David Davies took the total to 115 before Davies was caught at deep cover by Adam Chandler off the bowling of Stefan Jenkins for 18. Lyn Richards, Stefan Jenkins and Richard Harris each finished with one wicket for Cresselly. Hopes of Cresselly getting off to a flying start were soon dashed by Haverfordwest spinner Clive Tucker bowling from the school end. He bowled Julian Arthur for one and Ryan Lewis fell when Andrew Phillips held on to a swirling catch at cover, again off the bowling of Tucker, for eight. Although Adam Chandler and Richard Harris both helped Simon Cole to retrieve the situation slightly, Chandler was bowled by Simon Williams for five and Harris fell leg before wicket to spinner Mathew Johns for two, leaving Cresselly on 46 for 4. Lyn Richards came to the crease and in tandem with Cole gave the Cresselly innings some stability in a fifth wicket partnership of 40, which ended when Cole was bowled by Stephen Phillips from the first ball of the 18th over, just when Cresselly were in a situation to accelerate. Cole had scored an attractive 39 at a run a ball, including six 4s. Although Richards remained firm, Damian Arthur was bowled two balls later for two, again by Phillips, who finished with 4 for 13 in just three overs, as Cresselly slumped to 108 for 9. Lyn Richards was left high and dry on 32 not out as he was denied much of the strike in the closing overs. Simon Williams bowled quickly and accurately to finish with 2 for 24, Clive Tucker picked up 2 for 24, spinner Mathew Johns had the important wicket of Richard Harris in a brief spell and Adrian Griffiths bowled five tight overs. It was clear that Haverfordwest had done their homework on the Cresselly batsmen with Griffiths once again demonstrating his ability to juggle the bowling attack to meet the demands of the situation and four of the wickets fell either in the first over bowled by a particular bowler or when a bowler came back for a second spell. Haverfordwest sat down to a lavish tea at the hall across the field with a cushion of a 22 runs lead after the first innings. After the tea interval, the runs came quickly. Karl Rhead and Danny Potter had an opening stand of 48, during which Karl Rhead put the Cresselly bowlers to the sword. The partnership ended when Potter was leg before wicket to spinner Ryan Lewis for eight and Rhead went on to score 45 from just 30 balls, including three 6s and five 4s, before he was well-taken by wicket-keeper Neilson Cole off the bowling of Cresselly skipper Lyn Richards with the total on 60. In the next over, Phil Kirkby was trapped with his pads in front of the wicket by Ryan Lewis before the total had moved from 60 and Cresselly were back in the game. David Davies and Stephen Phillips took the total to 95 before Davies was run out by Simon Cole for 12 and two runs later, with the total on 96, Andrew Phillips was stumped by Neilson Cole off the bowling of Richard Harris for one. Just as the pendulum was swinging more in Cresselly's favour, Stephen Phillips produced a stunning innings of 62 not out from just 36 deliveries. Although he hit two towering sixes and nine 4s, it was an innings of the highest quality as Phillips played each ball on its merits. He had some help from Huw Scriven before Scriven was stumped by Neilson Cole off the bowling of Richard Harris for 10, much to the delight of the Cresselly 'keeper! Mathew Johns then helped Stephen Phillips take the Haverfordwest total to 151 for 6. Ryan Lewis was the pick of the Cresselly bowlers as he teased all of the Haverfordwest batsmen with his flight and spin. He ended with 2 for 12 from his six overs and Richard Harris took 2 for 27. Cresselly needed 174 to win. As in the first innings, Haverfordwest opened with the pace of Simon Williams from the pavilion end and the spin of Clive Tucker from the school end. Cresselly's second innings started like the first with the fall of two quick wickets as Ryan Lewis was leg before to Simon Williams without scoring and Julian Arthur holed out to Mathew Johns at long-on off the bowling of Clive Tucker for four. Simon Cole and Adam Chandler then brought the final to life with an excellent third wicket partnership of 93, during which they stroked the ball to all parts of the ground and had Haverfordwest supporters biting their nails. However, they had to maintain the run rate to have any chance of overtaking the Haverfordwest total and in the search for quick runs Cole fell to a catch at deep mid-wicket by Danny Potter off the bowling of Adrian Griffiths for 58. Chandler and Cresselly skipper Lyn Richards then took the total to 142, before Chandler was leg before wicket to Adrian Griffiths for 46, but Cresselly were still in the hunt with Lyn Richards at the wicket. A huge effort was still needed for Cresselly to win and 25 runs were required off the last two overs. Adrian Griffiths, who had already dismissed Simon Cole and Adam Chandler, then played a trump card as he bowled Lyn Richards for 29 and hopes of a Cresselly victory more or less vanished when he bowled Richard Harris in the same over for one. Paceman Simon Williams was brought back to bowl the last over from the school end with Cresselly needing 20 to win. Phil Williams and Damian Arthur did not give up, but they were not able to plunder enough runs and the Cresselly innings ended at 164 for 6, just 10 runs short of the winning target. Adrian Griffiths finished with 4 for 42, which with his accurate spell in the first innings, and his superb leadership on the day gave him the Man of the Match accolade awarded by adjudicators Ian Poole, of Saundersfoot, and Paul Webb, of Whitland. It was a glorious day and spectators enjoyed the facilities at the Cresselly ground as well as the cricket played by both teams. In the final analysis, the Haverfordwest first innings lead of 22 runs proved critical, although Cresselly produced a much better batting performance in the second innings to show why they are pushing Haverfordwest in the Division One title race. Possibly the main difference between the teams was the greater experience inside the Haverfordwest camp. However, the younger Cresselly players will have learnt a lot from the experience of playing in the final and are good enough to get Cresselly back to the final again over the next few years. During the post-match presentation ceremonies, county chairman Philip Thomas congratulated both teams on reaching the final and for providing so much entertaining cricket. He thanked Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Harrison-Allen for sponsoring the final and Graham Jewson for sponsoring the competition, saying: "Without such sponsorship we would not be able to put on cricket in the county in the manner that we have become accustomed to." In addition, he thanked the Cresselly club for making their facilities available, Glyn Cole, Tony Arthur and the ground staff team for preparing the wicket and outfield "which looks a picture," the umpires, Ray Kane and Barry Wood, and the scorers, Jayne Cole and Lois Howlett-Dyer, for the way in which they carried out their duties, Janet Cole and her helpers for the magnificent tea, members of the county executive committee, together with Bill Marchant and Clive James for preparing the match programme. Last but not least, he thanked St. John's Ambulance for their attendance. Mr. Richard Fanus, of Graham Jewson, presented Haverfordwest captain Adrian Griffiths with the superb Harrison-Allen Bowl Trophy and the medals to both teams. County president Stanley Richards presented medals to the umpires and scorers. Man-of-the-match adjudicators, Ian Poole, of Saundersfoot, and Paul Webb, of Whitland, nominated Haverfordwest skipper Adrian Griffiths as Man of the Match. In making the announcement, Paul Webb said that it was not only for his bowling, but also for the way in which he captained the Haverfordwest team on the day.
