Carew have won the Harrison-Allen Bowl for the ninth time after defeating Haverfordwest by 35 runs in the final at Cresselly on Saturday. Darren Thomas and his team-mates also achieved their personal ambition to win back-to-back finals.
It was a glorious day at Cresselly and the ground staff had worked really hard to get the ground in top condition after the rain during the week. The large crowd enjoyed basking in the sunshine.
Whereas the final lacked the thrills and spills that many spectators crave, it was an absorbing game of cricket between the top two teams in Pembrokeshire.
Fortunes changed frequently throughout the game, but somehow or another the Carew players made things happen at vital moments when Haverfordwest appeared to be on top and the victory was a triumph for team effort and will power.
Haverfordwest skipper Jonathan Twigg won the toss and invited Carew to take first knock. The early order batsmen found runs at a premium and at the same time found it difficult to keep their wickets intact.
Haverfordwest paceman Simon Williams did the early damage with a spell of 3 for 18 in six overs, but he was ably supported by spinners Clive Tucker and Mathew Johns.
Opener Ian Sefton was deceived by the flight of a ball from Clive Tucker as he advanced down the track and Huw Scriven whipped off the bails. Then anchor man Nick Scourfield was caught behind by Scriven off the bowling of Williams without scoring.
Simon Wood staged a mini recovery before he was bowled by Simon Williams playing an over-ambitious shot after he made 16.
When Steve Cole and Phil Jones perished quickly, Carew were reeling at 36 for 5.
Tim Hicks played well for 21 before being trapped leg before wicket by Mathew Johns and when skipper Darren Thomas was well caught at long on by Phil Sutton, again off the bowling of Johns, for four, Carew were rocking at 77 for 8.
Aled Davies had come into the side as a late replacement for the injured Steve Ive. It was now time for Davies to make his presence count and he scored 34 not out from 26 deliveries, including four 6s in the process.
In tandem with wicket-keeper Barry Ansell, he plundered 34 runs from the final two overs to boost the Carew total to 111 for 7 to give the bowlers something to defend.
Mathew Johns bowled his off-spinners well and took 3 for 35, with 17 of the runs coming off his last over, and Clive Tucker took 1 for 24.
Haverfordwest proceeded cautiously and with the benefit of hindsight might have regretted trying to equal the Carew score rather than forget it and play their normal game.
Phil Sutton was trapped with his pads in front of the wicket by Darren Thomas for 14 with the total on 24, Karl Rhead departed in the same manner off the bowling of Simon Wood for three and Jonathan Twigg's watchful innings ended when he was caught by Tim Hicks off Robert Scourfield for 10.
When David Davies was bowled by Simon Wood the Town were 47 for 4.
Phil Kirkby had been scratching around on arriving at the crease, but when he was joined by Stephen Phillips the score advanced to 89, with Kirkby starting to open his broad shoulders.
Phillips was bowled by Scourfield on 89 and then Mathew Johns played the supporting role as Kirkby attacked everything during their unbroken sixth-wicket partnership which took the Haverfordwest total to 124 for 5.
Haverfordwest scored 27 runs off the last over bowled by Tim Hicks as Kirkby hit some massive sixes. One went over the car park behind the clubhouse and another, a huge six over the pavilion. He ended with 57 not out, an innings which included six 6s and two 4s, from just 36 balls.
Darren Thomas and Simon Wood bowled very accurately for Carew to impose an early grip on the run rate. Thomas finished with 1 for 8 from six overs and Wood took 2 for 11 in his six-over spell.
Trailing by 13 runs after the first innings, Carew batted with more purpose in the second innings and were given a solid foundation with an opening partnership of 50 between Ian Sefton and Nick Scourfield.
The stand was broken when Nick Scourfield was run out through a brilliant throw by Jonathan Twigg and then Sefton fell to a towering catch by Karl Rhead deep on the square leg boundary off the bowling of Mathew Johns.
Johns followed up with two other quick wickets when Aled Davies was stumped by Huw Scriven and then Tim Hicks fell to a catch at long on for four.
The Town were on top again and the Carew Castle looked like crumbling with the Bowl holders on 57 for 4.
Steve Cole and Simon Wood had other ideas, however, and in an unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 77 they steered Carew to a total of 134 for 4.
Steve Cole finished with 45 not out from 26 deliveries after hitting three 6s and three 4s and Wood was 30 not out from 24 deliveries.
For Haverfordwest, Mathew Johns finished with 3 for 36.
Haverfordwest required 122 to win, but fell behind the clock when they were again pinned down by some accurate bowling from Darren Thomas and Simon Wood in particular.
Not only did Wood tie the batsmen down, but he also took four early wickets and the Town never recovered from being 41 for 4.
Opener Phil Sutton scored 15 and later Stephen Phillips scored 10, but no other batsman reached double figures as wickets fell in an attempt to reach the required run rate.
John Canton bowled steadily from the school end when the bowlers were changed and Robert Scourfield prevented any thoughts of a late recovery by taking 3 for 17 in his four overs as Haverfordwest were bowled out for 86.
Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremonies County chairman Philip Thomas said: "Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Harrison-Allen, sponsors, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, on behalf of the County Club, I would like to thank-you all very much for coming here today and hope you have all enjoyed yourselves. Before we start the presentation, I would just like to say a few words.
"This year sees the playing of the 55th Harrison Allen Final, though not the 55th presentation of the Harrison Allen Bowl.
"When this competition was first organised, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison-Allen, of Cresselly, agreed to donate a trophy for the winners.
"The very first final took place in 1949 between Narberth and Cresselly.
"Unfortunately, the Bowl as we know it today was not ready in time, so Mr. and Mrs. Harrison-Allen purchased a cup which was then presented to Peter Davies, of Narberth, the captain of the winning team.
"Mr. Davies took the cup home after the final and there it stayed until his death earlier this year.
"In 1950, the Harrison-Allen Bowl replaced the cup and the original cup was forgotten about.
"During the early part of this year when sorting out her late husband's effects, Mrs. Davies gave the cup to her son, Wynne Davies, of the Sports Centre Sports Shop, Narberth (an ex-Cresselly cricketer), who in turn offered it back to the County Club.
"Today it is the intention of the County Club to present the cup to Cresselly Cricket Club for safe keeping in their clubhouse.
"Could I therefore call upon Glyn Cole, chairman of Cresselly CC, to accept this trophy from the County Club.
"Can I also congratulate both Carew and Haverfordwest on reaching today's final and for giving us all so much entertaining cricket.
"Thanks should firstly go to Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Harrison-Allen for their sponsorship today, along with the generous one from Graham Jewson, Builders Merchant. Without such sponsorship we would not be able to put on cricket in the county in the manner we have been accustomed to. Thank you very much indeed.
"For those lucky enough to have had tea with us today, I am sure you will join me in thanking Mrs. Janet Cole and her helpers for a truly magnificent spread.
"To the Cresselly Club, we thank-you for making your facilities available to us today and to Glyn Cole and all his helpers for once again preparing the wicket and outfield, which looks an absolute picture despite all the inclement recent weather
"For all their work today, to the umpires and scorers, well done for the way in which you have carried out your duties.
"To all the members of the executive, thank-you for all your help today and special thanks should go to our Bill Marchant. He has put a tremendous amount of work into arranging all the cup competitions and especially today's final, so could you please show your appreciation in the usual way.
"Last, but not least, I would like on your behalf to thank the crew of the St. John Ambulance for their attendance here today.
"That is all the thank-yous, now to the presentation. Mr. Hugh Harrison-Allen will present the winning captain with the trophy and the players from the winning team with their medals.
"Could I therefore ask Darren Thomas, the captain of Carew, to come up and receive the trophy and after that, the rest of the winning team to receive their medals."
In accepting the magnificent trophy, Darren Thomas said: "It has been a great game It was very tense on the field and you have seen the best two teams in the county, with both teams giving 100 per cent effort.
"We were out of the game for long periods, but got back into it and it turned out to be a good toss to lose!
"We have a great set of boys in the Carew squad who give 100 per cent in every game. No match is ever over until it is over. It is a fantastic feeling to win back-to-back finals.
"Thanks to Haverfodwest. It was a great game and I am sorry that there had to be a loser."
Continuting, Philip Thomas said: "Unfortunately there has to be a runner-up. Could I now call upon Jonathan Twigg, the captain, and the rest of the players from Haverfordwest to receive their medals from Mr. Richard Fanus, of Graham/Jewson.
Mr. Hugh Harrison-Allen will present the umpires and scorers with their medals. So could I ask Les Hastings and Hilliard Davies, our umpires, to come up and receive their medals, and after, Jayne Cole and Sue Phillips, the scorers, to receive theirs."
Brian James, of Llangwm, and Glynn Pawlett, of St. Ishmaels, were the adjudicators of the John Cole Man-of-the-Match Award. After praising both teams for their performances and mentioning the contributions made by Phil Kirkby, Steve Cole and Mathew Johns, the adjudicators nominated Carew all-rounder Simon Wood as the man-of-the-match.
Wood had made an enormous contribution to the Carew win with his all-round performance in each innings of the match with both bat and ball and it was clear that his nomination was a popular choice.