Neyland consolidated their position at the top of division one of the Thomas Carroll Pembrokeshire County Cricket League with a convincing victory over visiting Cresselly on Saturday.

In what was probably the pick of the day’s matches (on paper anyway), the villagers posted a total of 200 for 8 in their allotted overs.

Mainstay of the innings was Phil Williams with a fine knock of 80, while Simon Cole, Dan Sutton and Alex Bailey all chipped in with useful contributions of 35, 32 and 29, respectively.

As it turned out, though, that was never going to be enough as Patrick Bellerby set about the visiting attack with avengence smashing a superb unbeaten century as he helped his side home to victory with seven wickets to spare.

For their efforts, Neyland picked up another 29 league points, but that enabled second placed Lawrenny to close the gap at the top slightly as they themselves pouched a maximum 30 points for their own big win at Whitland.

Whitland were first to the crease, but could only muster a disappointing total of 120 all out, Dylan Blain 23 and Iestyn Scourfield 23 being the only batsmen to offer any real resistance against the lively Lawrenny attack.

Main damage was caused by Brad McDermott Jenkins, who returned fine figures of 4 for 29, while Jamie Lewis also picked up three wickets at a cost of 46 runs.

When Lawrenny batted, the chase proved something of a cakewalk, Kurtis Marsh remaining unbeaten on 59 and Harry Thomas adding 46, as they cruised home with nine wickets in hand.

Carew also enjoyed a comfortable victory and bagged 30 points when they entertained struggling Llangwm.

The accurate Ceri Brace with figures of 4 for 31 and Simon Wood with 3 for 13 made sure the visiting batsmen would struggle for runs and their final total of 130 was never likely to cause too much trouble for their home team counterparts.

And so it proved, Tom Davies again leading the charge with an unbeaten 65 and Nic Scourfield 25 and Luke Hicks 20 not out giving useful support as Carew eased their way home to a seven-wicket success.

The Haverfordwest batsmen at last regained some form with the willow in their match with neighbours Burton, Simon Holliday cracking a superb 127 and Ben Field adding 56 as the Town posted a total of 229 for 5.

The total may have looked a formidable one for a team languishing near the bottom of the table, but Burton were more than up to the task as they chased it down for the loss of just four wickets, Toby Hayman being the main run-getter with 77 and Jon Venables weighing in with 60.

A century-maker the previous week, Nicky Cope was again in good form with the bat on Saturday, this time hitting an excellent half century to help Saundersfoot to a total of 178 for 5 at St Ishmaels.

And he also turned his arm over to good effect, snapping up four wickets for 46 runs as Tish replied, but try as they might, the seasiders could not winkle out the determined home batsmen, who settled for a draw on 146 for 8.

There was also plenty of entertaining action in the lower divisions and none more so than in the division two clash between Cresselly Seconds and Pembroke Dock.

The Cresselly outfit must have thought they were on their way to victory when they batted first and piled up a total of 232 for 6, Matthew Venables with 80 and Scott Arthur with 78 being the main run-getters.

But Pembroke Dock obviously had other ideas, Scott Griffiths leading the chase with 75 not out and Jake Griffiths adding 55 as they achieved their target with three wickets to spare.

Highest score of the day, though, came in division three where a magnificent 141 by Gary Phillips helped Llangwm Seconds to a huge total of 289 for 9, with Phil Llewellyn also chipping in with 63.

Not surprisingly that was too big an ask for visiting Haverfordwest Thirds who gave it a go, but were skittled out for 109, some 180 runs short, Kevin Roberts finishing with 4 for 14 and Andrew Harries bagging 3 for 28.

FIXTURES

Tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) fixtures are as follows:

Division One: Burton v Neyland; Cresselly v Saundersfoot; Haverfordwest v Whitland; Lawrenny v Carew; Llangwm v St Ishmaels.

Division Two: Carew II v Haverfordwest II; Hook v Cresselly II; Johnston v Llechryd; Kilgetty v Narberth; Pembroke Dock v Pembroke.

Division Three: Haverfordwest III v Herbrandston; Lamphey v Llangwm II; Llanrhian v Lawrenny II; Narberth II v Laugharne; Whitland II v Stackpole.

Division?Four: Carew III v Llanrhian II; Llechryd II v Haverfordwest IV; Neyland II v Burton II; Saundersfoot II v Hook II; St Ishmaels II v Crymych

Division Five: Herbrandston II v Whitland III; Neyland III v Cresselly III; Pembroke II v Pembroke Dock II; Stackpole II v Hundleton