Whitland won the Thomas Scourfield and Sons Harrison-Allen Bowl at the first attempt, with a comprehensive 79-run victory over First Division leaders Carew in the final played at Cresselly on Sunday.

Although the team had no previous experience of playing in the Bowl final, the majority of the Whitland team had established the cup winning habit in the successful Ormond Youth Cup teams over the years and they used this background to perform at the top of their game and showed no sign of Bowl final nerves before the sizeable crowd of spectators.

Invited to bat, in the first innings of this 22 overs per side of this gripping two innings contest, Whitland attacked from the outset, to take the game away from Carew and notch up the formidable total of 170-3.

Openers Edward John and Owain Evans, both scored 25 and gave the Bowl final newcomers a great start, with an opening stand of 49.

John stroked the ball for four fours and one six in his innings before he was caught by Matthew Phillips off the bowling of Rhys Davies, who also dismissed Evans when he was caught by Scott Helmich.

Jonathan Thomas and David Dunfee then boosted the total with a third wicket partnership of 97, before Thomas fell for 50, but Dunfee was undefeated at the end after scoring 52 from just 29 balls with four sixes and three fours.

After seizing the early initiative, Whitland continued to dominate, by restricting Carew to a total of 121-9 to establish an important lead of 49 runs, which made it difficult for Carew to get back into the game.

Adam Chandler was the only Carew player to reach 20 in a strong batting line-up as each of the four Whitland bowlers picked up at least one wicket as they gave little away.

Could Whitland repeat their impressive first innings performance? It was a bit much to ask, but again openers Edward John and Owain Evans came up trumps to put on 51 for the first wicket, with John scoring 37.

Excellent bowling by left-hander Scott Helmich caused problems for the Whitland middle and lower order with his seam movement off the pitch, but Iestyn Scourfield answered the call with a determined innings of 37no, which helped his team to reach a more than useful total of 146-8.

Scott Helmich ended with a deserved return of 4-32.

Carew needed 196 to win, but it soon became apparent that the task was beyond them on the day.

Tim Hicks, leading the side in the absence of Robert Hicks, led by example with a stylish hard hitting innings of 55no, which included five sixes, but no other batsman could match his example as wickets fell in the fruitless search for runs.

Mark Lee capped a fine performance to take 4-29, to rip the heart out of the innings, aided by a spectacular catch at long-off by his brother David to dismiss the dangerous Rhys Davies.

In addition, teenager David Dunfee showed his all-round value to the team by taking 3-36.

It was a thoroughly deserved win for the Whitland side which enabled skipper Matthew Davies to receive the coveted Bowl on behalf of his team, when the final Carew wicket fell for 116 as Martin Scourfield lost his leg stump when Mark Lee picked up his fourth wicket.

After the match, County Club chairman Dave Loosmore congratulated both teams on reaching the final and Whitland for winning the competition. He also thanked the supporters of both teams and other spectators for the way in which they behaved.

He thanked Glyn Cole and the rest of the Cresselly ground staff for their efforts in preparing the pitch, which produced such good cricket.

In addition, he thanked the umpires and scorers for the way in which they carried out their duties, the ladies who had provided such an excellent tea and Trefor Evans for operating the excellent public address system.

He also thanked Mr Hugh Harrison-Allen for sponsoring the tea, as he does each year, and director Michael Scourfield representing the competition sponsors, Thomas Scourfield and Sons, for their invaluable financial support.

He added that he was most grateful to all the members of the county executive committee for their work in connection with the final plus the local media for their cricket coverage

Mr Hugh Harrison-Allen presented the magnificent Harrison-Allen Bowl to a delighted Matthew Davies, the Whitland captain, and medals were presented to both teams by Mr. Harrison-Allen and Mr. Michael Scourfield, of Thomas Scourfield and Sons.

Commemorative medals were also presented to the umpires, Allan Hansen, of Neyland, and Dave Brandon, of Moylegrove, who is unattached, together with medals to the two scorers, Janice Webb, of Whitland, and Mark Hicks, of Carew.

Adjudicators James Buckle, of Lawrenny, and Simon Cole, of Cresselly, nominated Whitland all-rounder David Dunfee as the man-of-the-match for his superb all round display.

He was presented with the John Cole Memorial Man of the Match Trophy by Simon Cole, grandson of the late Mr John Cole.

Speaking to Observer Sport after the presentation ceremony, jubilant Whitland skipper Matthew Davies said: "It is unbelievable really. Most people wrote us off, but we came here and put an excellent score on the board. We then bowled and fielded well to obtain a lead of 49 runs at the interval.

"In our second innings, we struggled a bit midway through, but Iestyn Scourfield put us back on track when he played well for his important 37no.

"A combined total of 195 was always going to be a good score, but we knew that with the likes of Tim Hicks in the batting line-up, that Carew were capable of passing that total.

"However, I don't know if we have ever bowled and fielded so well. It was a superb display and I still cannot believe it!

"The other bonus is that we will be in the Duggie Morris Cup next season for the first time."