Pembrokeshire's cricket season starts in earnest this weekend with the postponed Jubilee Cup match between Cresselly and Haverfordwest being played at Cresselly tomorrow (Saturday) and the Imperial Garages Pembroke County Cricket League starting on Bank Holiday Monday.

In addition, the first round matches in the Harrison Allen Bowl will start on Tuesday, May 16, when Whitland will be home to Narberth and Carew home to Herbrandston. For weeks, local cricketers have been practising in the nets and some clubs have been involved in friendly matches last weekend and this coming weekend. What are the prospects for the division one clubs and some of our local teams?

Haverfordwest, Cresselly and Carew were the big three teams in division one last season, with Haverfordwest being the champions followed by Cresselly and Carew.

The same three are likely to challenge for the league honours this season, although they could be joined in the frame by Neyland, who impressed many impartial observers with their general play last season. Haverfordwest have the same squad as last season, strengthened with the signing of Scottish international spinner Nick Dyer. Scott Arthur had a good season with Hundleton last year and in age group cricket. The talented young all-rounder has decided to join Cresselly this season to follow in the family tradition and could soon challenge for a first team spot to play alongside his cousins Julian and Damien. Huw Neal has returned to the club from Carew.

Cresselly skipper Lynn Richards said: "We are looking forward to the season. Winning the Harrison Allen Bowl last year has removed the Albatross from the club and hopefully we can now show the same level of intensity in other competitions, particularly the league."

Carew have been boosted with the news that Nick Scourfield has returned to fitness, together with his opening partner Ian Sefton. In their absence, Brian Hall and Martin Scourfield did an excellent job in the Carew early order in 2005, to give skipper Rob Scourfield and his co-selectors selection problems of the right kind.

Footballer Wayne Cannon looks to be a steady batsman and bowler who could give some stability to the team.

Pembroke are back in division one after an absence of some years and skipper Mathew Mitchell will be concentrating on staying in division one and developing some of the younger players such as Perry Phillips, Anton John, Daniel Scourfield, together with the very promising teenagers, such as all-rounder Sean Powell and batsman Rob Weston. Remarkably, 80 youngsters turn up for practice at the club each week.

Hugh Griffiths has moved a few miles down the road from Cresselly to play first team cricket for Lawrenny under new captain, all-rounder Steve Lewis. Barry Phillips has also decided to move to Lawrenny from Saundersfoot and he could play alongside his son James in the Lawrenny team. St. Ishmaels will miss both Steven and his brother Andrew Williams, as both all-rounders are unavailable to play for the club this season.

Having consolidated their position in division one, Whitland will be looking to get something in the trophy cabinet this season, while near neighbours Narberth will be concentrating on retaining a division one spot.

Whitland skipper Paul Webb said: "We will be trying to win something this year as we have moved on from simply staying in Division One.

"Ideally we would like to win the Division One Championship, but more realistically we may have a chance of getting to the final of the Harrison Allen Bowl.

"We have a home draw against Narberth in the first round on Tuesday, May 16, and the winners will be home to Saundersfoot the following week.

"Last season we won six games in Division One for the first time since our return to the upper echelons and you only need to win five games to win the Bowl!".

New Narberth captain Marc Hughes wants to make sure that his team can stay in Division One. He said: "After the relegation scares of last season, we need to consolidate our position in Division One, so our best shot may be in cup cricket. We have a big game away to Whitland in the first round of the Harrison Allen Bowl and if we win we will have another local derby at home to Saundersfoot.

"Kyle Quartermaine could make the breakthrough as a batsman this season and his brother Ben, who opens the bowling for the second team, could also push for a first team spot.

"If Joe Allen has time in between his footballing duties for Swansea City, he could solve the wicket- keeping problem and we are delighted to know that all-rounder Ollie Cook will be available to play regularly this season.

"The reliable Richard Howell bowled well towards the end of the season and his experience will be most useful on the softer wickets at the start of the season."

Saundersfoot will have the same squad as last season apart from Barry Phillips. The chief reason for relegation last season was the lack of a settled side, but skipper Chris Parker will be hoping for more stability this season. His son Yannick could push for a first team spot as a medium-paced bowler, as could spinner Simon Stanford. Another team relegated from division one, Lamphey, may not have the same chance as Saundersfoot of bouncing back, but will be looking to consolidate under new skipper Robert Mathias.

Hook have moved back to division one where they have the potential to remain if the talented players in the squad apply themselves.

Kilgetty will have a new look this season, with opening bowler Richard Prout joining the club from Narberth and wicket-keeper batsman Lee Tucker making a welcome return to cricket.

Steve Merchant has retired and Duane Reynolds has moved to Whitland.

St. Florence held on to a division five spot last season and will be looking to bring along some of the younger players at the club under new skipper Steve Wilkins.

Former Cresselly wicket-keeper and match-winning batsmen Huw Evans had been linked with Cresselly, Haverfordwest and Carew in the pre-season rumours of players changing clubs.

At the time of going to press, it is understood that the stylish left-hander has decided to remain at Ammanford - or has he?

MONDAY'S FIXTURES

Division One: St. Ishmaels v Cresselly; Whitland v Carew; Neyland v Pembroke; Lawrenny v Haverfordwest; Hook v Narberth. Division Two: Haverfordwest v Johnston; Carew II v Lamphey; Llanrhian v Burton; Stackpole v Llangwm; Saundersfoot v Herbrandston.

Division Three:Camrose & Spittal v Fishguard; Hundleton v Whitland II; Narberth II v Llechryd; Manorbier v Maenclochog; Burton II v Neyland II. Division Four: Llangwm II v Lawrenny II; Lamphey II v Kilgetty; Pembroke Dock v Burton III; Cresselly II v St. Ishmaels II; Pembroke II v Crymych.

Division Five:Haverfordwest III v Stackpole II; St. Florence v Carew III; Whitland III v Hook II; Johnston II v Camrose & Spittal II; Llechryd II v Llanrhian II. Division Six: Stackpole III v Llanrhian III; Kilgetty II v Hundleton II; Crymych II v Saundersfoot II; Fishguard II v Haverfordwest IV; Llangwm III v Pembroke Dock II; Letterston v Narberth III; bye - Herbrandston II.