Kilgetty U15s 97-8 beat Neyland U15s 61 all out

The Pembroke County Cricket Club Under 15 Junior League Final (sponsored by Colin John, Llewelyn Davies Chartered Accountants) was played at St. Ishmaels last Wednesday between Kilgetty and Neyland.

Neyland won the toss and invited Kilgetty to bat. They could not have wished for a better start, with Harry Nicholas bowling Tom Cole with the first ball of the game. With William Hughes keeping things tight at the other end and Nicholas picking up another wicket in his third over, Kilgetty were 17-2 after 5.

It was then that umpires Robert Ridge and Glyn Pawlett had to bring the players off for rain and, although restarting shortly after, another shower forced play to stop again. It was their determination, together with both teams and coaches’ enthusiasm to get the game played, that succeeded in getting a result on the night.

Having returned to the field of play for the third occasion, it was now the turn of Kilgetty to fight back, with Matthew Lewis (11), Ollie Gamble (26), including one six, Kairon Allen (15 ) and Harri Phillips (15) not out at the end, together with 19 extras, seeing them finish on 96-8.

For Neyland, Harry Nicholas finished with 2-17, William Hughes 1-10, Ben Fairbairn 3-21, Ieuan Hawkins 1-6 and Jake Booth 1-6.

Opinion was divided at the interval as to whether this was enough runs against what was a strong Neyland batting line-up. However, coach Stuart Allen’s half-time team talk did the trick and Kilgetty came out in determined mood.

Indeed, inspired spells of bowling, of four overs each, by paceman Ryan Morton (2-9), who bowled a good length and line, and spinner Ollie Gamble (3-14), who impressed with his guile and craft, together with two wickets from Matthew Lewis’s first over, left the Neyland innings in tatters at 29-8 in nine overs, with no batsman in double figures. It was only Ben Mathias and Jay Power who batted resolutely and took the game to Kilgetty, who raised Neyland hopes.

With time and overs running out, Mathias (17) was bowled by Kairon Allen and with the inevitable run out in the chase for runs, Power was left undefeated on 11.

Lewis ended up with 2-15, Allen 1-3 and Tristan Thomas 1-12.

This left Kilgetty as deserved winners for an all-round team performance.

In the presentation after, Martin Jones (Junior organiser) thanked St. Ishmaels for hosting the final, the officials, Glyn Pawlett and Robert Ridge, scorers Hazel Poole and John Laugharne, groundsmen Mel Williams and Chris Bradshaw.

He also thanked Wendy Bradshaw and Pat Williams for laying on a tremendous tea for the players after the game, which was sponsored by Ian Milsom, of Haven Fish Restaurant.

He congratulated both sides on getting to the final, with both teams being a credit to themselves, their clubs and coaches, and also remarked on the way the game was played in a competitive manner, but in an excellent spirit and good sportsmanship.

The plaques and runners-up shield where presented by Colin John, league sponsor, who was thanked for his generous support of Pembrokeshire cricket. The winners’ trophy was donated by the late Stan Richards and John Bowen family 42 years ago. Tom Richards also gave a short speech, highlighting the fact that both his father and John Bowen were keen sportsmen and supporters of youth cricket. In fact, over the 42 years, over 900 youngsters had played in the final, let alone those who had played in the league itself.

In a unique moment of history, the great-grandson of John Bowen, fourth generation Ollie Rees, aged nine, presented the trophy to the winning captain of Kilgetty, Ollie Gamble. It’s worth noting that young Ollie, himself a keen sportsman, is following in his grandfather’s footsteps and is a member of the successful Hook CC academy.