Hook (82-8) beat
Stackpole (45 all out)
by 37 runs
The Pembroke County Cricket Club Under 13 Junior League Final was played at Cresselly last week between Hook and Stackpole.
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Both sides had done well to reach the final with 100 per cent records in their groups, with the more experienced Hook team defeating Neyland in the semi-fnals (121-7) to (84-5) and a relatively new Stackpole side defeating Llechryd. (101-2) to (43-4).
Stackpole won the toss and invited Hook to bat. There was a tight opening spell of five overs by Kieran Smith and Euan Mcdonald which contained the Hook openers, Ioan Roberts and Lewis Miller. Miller departed for 14 and Roberts for five.
New bowlers, Ben Davies and George Smith continued the good work for Stackpole. However, in a crucial partnership, new batsmen Jacob Owen and Owen Phelps led the fightback for Hook. Jacob batted with positive intent for his 31 retired (three 4s) and Phelps nine, together with 18 extras, saw Hook end on 82-8.
Kieran Smith (1-16) Euan Mcdonald (1-19) together with the spin of George Smith (2-17) kept Stackpole in the game. There was also a marvellous spell of bowling by Ben Davies (3-7), just missing out on a hat-trick, with Mcdonald helping with two catches, in a double-wicket maiden. Tom Corbett bowled well at the end with no luck. The ground fielding was of a high standard.
Stackpole took to the field to face the varied and experienced attack of the Hook bowlers, Ioan Roberts and Jacob Owen. Owen soon took the first wicket and ended with 1-7.
Tom Wheeler (8) stood firm for Stackpole and batted for 15 overs for his runs, with wickets falling around him. He and George Smith (16) provided the resistance to the Hook attack.
Callum Jenkins (4-7), including a triple-wicket maiden, again narrowly missing out on a hat-trick, was aided by three remarkable catches by Jacob Owen, the third being superb for such a young man.
Welsh international Ellen Miller (1-4), Luke Owen (2-6) and Finlay Elerick (1-4) were the other wicket-takers and with 14 extras, Stackpole ended on 45 all out.
Both sides played with an excellent team spirit and there was some high quality fielding by both sides. In addition, there was some excellent bowling and good batting techniques displayed by a number of the players.
Both sides were a credit to their coaches, Lee Smith and Jon Willington.
Whilst this was a good all-round Hook performance, one young man stood out, namely Jacob Owen. Coming in to bat when Stackpole were just about getting on top, he displayed extreme skill and confidence as he scored 31 runs (retired). He then opened the bowling, finishing with impressive figures of 1 for 7, and cappped it all with three tremendous catches.
In the presentation after, Martin Jones (Junior organiser) thanked Cresselly for hosting the final, the officials, Dennis Chiffi and John Williams, scorers Phillip Tallet and Paul Davies, and groundsmen Richard Arthur, Glyn Cole and Dennis Chiffi.
He also congratulated both sides on getting to the final, with both teams being a credit to themselves, their clubs and coaches and the way the game was played in a competitive manner, but in an excellent spirit and good sportsmanship.
As well as the good work by both coaches, Lyn Childs, of Stackpole, was also recognised for his 42 years of coaching at the club, having recently been presented with a coaching award by Nasser Hussain.
The plaques and runners-up shield where presented by Colin John, league sponsor, who was thanked for his generous support of Pembrokeshire cricket.
It left captain George Smith to collect the runners-up shield donated many years ago by Betty and Cyril Venables (Burton CC) and Ellen Miller the winners trophy donated by Sports and Leisure Billy Ledwood.