Cresselly lost their grip on the Dyrham Service Station Alec Colley Cup, which they had won for the five previous seasons, when Haverfordwest won a low scoring final at Pembroke Cricket Club by 11 runs.

In the first innings of 22 overs, Haverfordwest scored 94-8. Following the cricket washout the previous day, it was hardly surprising that boundaries were few and far between with the sluggish outfield.

However, the low total was also due to the accuracy of the Cresselly bowlers, and the support provided by the fielders.

Haverfordwest suffered a body blow when their prolific scoring opener Simon Holliday was caught by Rhydian Rees off the bowling of Richard Harris before making any impact on the total.

His opening partner and Town skipper Richard Scriven scored 23 and Ajay Revu held the middle of the innings together in his innings of 24, backed up by Ashley James with 14.

All-rounder Richard Harris bowled a miserly five-over spell of 1-11, skipper Matthew Lewis took 3-27 with his left arm seamers and Richard Arthur took 2-34.

A first wicket partnership of 75, between Cresselly openers Andrew Harris and Scott Arthur, paved the way for the villagers to score 101-3 and gain a first innings lead of seven runs.

Although the lead gave the villagers a psychological advantage at the tea interval, with the benefit of hindsight it was considered to be at least 20 runs shy of what could have been a winning total.

As all former players know, cricket becomes an easy game when you retire and are watching a match. You know how to play each ball, where to bowl if your team is fielding and how to set the field.

On the park it is a different kettle of fish and, although Cresselly had wickets in hand, the batsmen were concentrating on building up a total to give their team the lead, in conditions which were not ideal to play through the line.

In the second innings, Haverfordwest upped the momentum to reach 128-6. Simon Holliday was not going to fail twice and his vital innings of 40 proved to be the top score of the match.

He added 69 in a second wicket partnership with another doctor, Ajay Revu, who supported with 29.

Richard Harris was economical again, only conceding 17 runs in five overs, Richard Arthur took 3-39 and Matthew Lewis 2-40.

Cresselly needed 122 to win, but were restricted to 110-8 as they lost vital wickets in the run chase. Left arm spinner Simon Holliday took 3-31, with James Morris and Avron Roulstone picking up a brace each.

Left arm spinner and early order batsman, Ajay Revu was nominated man-of-the-match by the adjudicators Mike Leighs and Tony Scourfield, for his all-round contribution to the Haverfordwest cause throughout the match.

He received the award from Mike Leighs, the donor of the trophy.

The umpires were Allan Hansen, of Neyland, and John Austin, of Saundersfoot, and the scorers were Ros Phillips, of Haverfordwest, and Des Brace, of Cresselly.