Top table clash ends in draw (From Western Telegraph)

Top table clash ends in draw

Lamphey (186 for 7)

drew with

Carew (161 for 5)

Umpires: Dennis Venables and Dave Brandon

Scorers: Helen Hodges and Martin Scourfield

Lamphey gained the better of the draw in the top of the table clash against Carew and in doing so pushed their rivals for the title off the top of the table, albeit by only two points.

Carew had won the previous game between the teams chasing a big score and they were in with a chance until late in their innings, when Dave Lovell joined with Greg England in turning the screw so that although Carew were never in danger of losing they were just off the pace to record a win.

Skipper Lovell lost the toss and was asked to bat by opposing Carew captain Robbie Hicks - and was soon involved in getting his side off to a good start, with the assistance of Daniel Sutton.

This pair put on 81 in good time before Lovell (five fours and a six in his 31) misjudged the spin of John Canton and pushed a low catch to Adam Chandler at gully - and Sutton followed at the same total as he lobbed a gentle catch back to Rob Scourfield having scored seven fours in his excellent 43.

But the respite was only temporary for Carew because Craig Nutty (34) joined Gareth Lewis and launched three big sixes and a couple of fours, Lewis also had three fours in his 27 and at 147 for 4 it was already a good score on a damp pitch before a late 16 not out by Hywel Gibbs helped them to 186 for 7.

Hicks pouched three catches for Carew, two of them off James Owen as Rob Scourfield returned the best figures of the day with a 4 for 48 spell. Carew also made a solid start before Ian Sefton (17) departed with the score on 29, caught by keeper Craig Nutty off Nathan Gage. Nicky Scourfield maintained his good form as he and skipper Hicks put on 82 but both departed close together as Scourfield was caught at mid-on by Ian Kerrison for 46 (seven fours) and Hicks was bowled by Lovell for 34 (four fours) just as Carew looked likely to launch an attack.

Barry Ansell was well caught at deep square leg by Sutton and Chandler nudged a Gage delivery into Nuttys gloves - and Carew decided that discretion was the better part of valour as Steve Cole and Tim Hicks batted out for the draw.

LAMPHEY

D. Lovell c A. Chandler b J. Canton 37 D. Sutton c&b R. Scourfield 43 G. Lewis c R. Hicks b J. Owen 27 C. Nutty lbw b R. Scourfield 34 N. Gage c R. Hicks b R. Scourfield 9 B. Hall c R. Hicks b J. Owen 1 G. England st B. Ansell b R. Scourfield 8 H. Gibbs not out 16 P. Hall not out 4 Extras 7 Total (for 7 wkts) 186

Bowling: D. Thomas 12-3-31-0; J. Owen 12-2-55-2; J. Canton 11-2-45-1; R. Scourfield 10-2-48-4.

CAREW I. Sefton c C. Nutty b N. Gage 17 N. Scourfield c I. Kerrison b G. England 46 R. Hicks b D. Lovell 34 B. Ansell c D. Sutton b G. England 11 A. Chandler c C. Nutty b N. Gage 4 S. Cole not out 12 T. Hicks not out 8 Extras 29 Total (for 5 wkts) 161

Bowling: N. Gage 11-1-33-2; P. Hall 5-1-14-0; H. Gibbs 3-0-16-0; T. Haggar 6-2-19-0; D. Lovell 10-1-20-1; G. England 10-1-35-2.