Four weeks ago Neyland were top of division one with a 30 point lead. Now, at the halfway point of the season they have dropped to fourth, 39 points off Haverfordwest who beat them with ease on Saturday.
This year’s division one tite is a topsy turvy one and cricket is all the better for it. No team is safe as Cresselly found out to their cost on the weekend.
With their all-powerful batting line-up, Cresselly would have had hopes of overhauling Lawrenny’s 184 all out but they come unstuck against this season’s giant slayers.
Two weeks ago they knocked Neyland off their perch and now this week they claimed the local bragging rights down the Quay with a 41 run win against the early season favourites to the division one crown.
Dan James took 3-37 for Cresselly while Mike Shaw and Tom Arthur had two apiece while for Lawrenny, Harry Thomas top scored with 59.
It was Brad McDermott-Jenkins who stole the show in the reply taking 4-24 as Cresselly crumbled, Phil Williams scoring 30 and Neilson Cole 21 not out while Jamie Lewis was also in the wickets taking 3-52.
At Kilgetty, the home team were all out for 143 against Whitland despite Liam Cullen’s fine 49 and Ross Hardy’s 45. Dan Harri and Matthew Davies took three apiece for the Borderers.
In reply they romped to a win as Dylan Blain hit 57 and Jonathan Strawbridge 42.
There was frustration in Pembroke after star bat Phil Hay was dismissed for 99 in their match against Stackpole.
His dismissal summed up the game perfectly for the home side as they had to settle for a draw, ending agonisingly close on 189-5 in reply to the Lilies’ 191-9.
Josh Davies scored 69 not out for the visitors while Richard McKay took 3-48.
For Pembroke, away from Hay’s excellence, his brother Andrew scored 54.
Has any team ever finished the season with over 500 points? Carew are on course to do just that as they finished the halfway point of the season on 253 following an eight wicket win over Haverfordwest seconds.
In another easy victory for the Rooks, they dismissed Haverfordwest for 90 and passed it for the loss of two as Tim Hicks scored 45 and Nic Scourfield 21 not out. They’ll be bolstered even further next week with the return of Brian Hall following his early season suspension.
Bottom club Whitland went down to yet another defeat following a loss to Hook.
Whitland were all out for 108, although Hook made life difficult for themselves losing seven wickets in the chase.
Ed John scored 24 for Whitland while Geraint Phillips and Gethin Scourfield both took three wickets.
Narberth are second in the league going into the second half of the season after a narrow win over Llechryd.
Narberth were dismissed for 128 with Louis Davies hitting 59 not out and Dan Hughes 20 while Llechryd fell just five runs short in their chase after they were dismissed with the end on sight.
Ben Quartermaine took 3-27.
Cresselly seconds went down to Saundersfoot who won by six wickets.
Cresselly were all out for 177, Lyn Richards hitting 72 and Stefan Jenkins 30.
John Mansbridge and Neil Powling both took three wickets for the visitors.
In reply the in-form Sam Franklin hit 87 not out while Phil Jones scored 39.
Biggest match of the day in division three was at Lamphey as the Stags hosted table toppers Pembroke Dock.
Lamphey batted first and made a good start before losing a flurry of wickets, Rob Hearne coming on to take a hat-trick in his only over!
The Stags were all out for 109 with Lewis Haines hitting 42. Connor Carroll, Billy Wood and Nic Daley both took two wickets for the Dock.
They lost two quick wickets in the reply but Daley’s 42 saw them home by six wickets.
Carew seconds enjoyed and easy seven wicket win at Llechryd seconds who were all out for 64 as James Hinchcliffe took 4-16.
In reply Haydn Shapcott scored 27 in the routine run chase, Lawrenny secured a quality winning draw at Llanrhian who held on at 155-9 in reply to Lawrenny’s 174-8.
Steve Campbell hit 91 for Lawrenny while in reply, Julian Arthur and Matthew Kidney took a brace each while Will Davidson-Randell took 3-19.
There was a shock in Haverfordwest as Narberth seconds went down to their thirds.
Despite beating Carew seconds earlier in the season, Narberth went down to the second from bottom side after a six wicket defeat.
Narberth scored 164-5 after Andrew Williams’s 52 and Davy John’s 36 not out but the hosts passed it with ease.
Laugharne’s quest for a second successive promotion looks on track after their fourth win of the season. They beat Burton seconds narrowly by five runs.
Laugharne hit 161-7 with Callum Davies hitting 68 while in reply James Stephenson and Craig Wade both took three wickets.
The game between Saundersfoot seconds and Llanrhian seconds was abandoned while Hundleton lost at home to St. Ishmaels’ seconds by five wickets after being bowled out for just 80, Steve Williams top scoring with 20 while in reply, Chris Stapleton took 4-14.
In division five, Carew thirds had the bragging rights over Cresselly thirds winning by 29 runs.
Carew scored 169-9 with Simon Gronow hitting 43 and Ashley Smith 30 while Corey Hill took 3-38 for Cresselly.
In reply, Mark Meyrick and Steve Davies hit 23 but Creselly could only reach 140-8 after Smith took 3-21.
Stackpole seconds went down to Haverfordwest fourths by 28 runs being dismissed for 72 John Harries scored 20 not out for Stackpole while Russell Roberts took 4-15.
Pembroke seconds had a bye while in the game between Whitland thirds and Pembroke Dock seconds, victory went with Whitland by five wickets after the Dock were all out for 130.
Phil Scott hit 33 for the hosts and Adam Phillips 27. Tom Boothroyd took 3-9 for the winners while Rob Owen hit 66 not out.