Davies leads Town to victory (From Western Telegraph)

Davies leads Town to victory

Haverfordwest 2nds (94 for 5 and 158 for 2) beat Carew 2nds (117 for 7 and 120 for 7)

Umpires: Bob Flute and Hilliard Davies Scorers: Martin Scourfield and Ros Phillips Venue: Treleet, Pembroke

An inspired innings of 71 not out by Dai Davies helped Haverfordwest Seconds come back from a 23-run first innings deficit to beat their counterparts from Carew in a match that had twice before been postponed because of the weather.

That the match finally took place to round off another cricket season was due in no small part to the work of Kevin Jenkins and Lloyd Norris on the Pembroke Ground - and Haverfordwest skipper Rob Summons finally held the trophy aloft to deny Carew a cup double since they had pounded Burton the previous season.

It looked as if they might gain another comfortable win at half time after they had restricted The Town to 94 for 5 and then scored 117 for 7, a lead of 23 runs a big one in terms of 22-over innings.

But then teenager Davies showed his true batting form as he found early allies in Summons and Danny Potter before Steve James strode to the crease and smashed an unbeaten 40 in only 22 balls in an unbroken stand of 80 runs. It set The Villagers a target of 136 and though they battled hard it was always just a few runs to many.

James was also the hero of the Haverfordwest first innings after skipper Summons had departed second ball of the match to a juggling catch by Wes Cole in the gully off Steve Ive, a high top edge that is never easy to take.

Dai Davies was run out in a silly mix-up for 14 and Mark White tried to cut a ball which kept low so that they stood shakily on 35 for 3. James was joined by Danny Potter and they put on 45 runs before Potter was bowled by Brace in a tidy spell for the veteran Carew bowler which earned him figures of 2 for 28.

It was generally felt that the score was about 20 runs short and that is just how it turned out as Carew started well via old hands Gerald Hicks and Dai Sefton, who put on 42 before the latter was well caught by young wicket-keeper Richard James off Davies for 20.

Wes Cole contributed 13 in taking the score to 64 before he became Davies second victim but Hicks found a partner in James Hatton as they advanced to 90, Hicks bowled by Colin Williams for 33 and Jeremy Griffiths also bowled by the former Welsh international without scoring.

At this stage it seemed as if Carew might have a few runs lead but then Hatton exploded two quite enormous sixes off Davies in the same over before he became Williams third scalp for only 24 runs, Stephen H Phillips shifting Martyn Cole and Steve Ive in the inevitable late run chase which gave Carew a good score and a 23-run advantage.

Haverfordwest made a much better start in their second innings as skipper Summons with Davies belted two fours in a lively 18 before he fell to a well-disguised slow ball by Martyn Cole. Potter added a useful 21 from 30 balls before he was caught at mid-on by Wes Cole off Ceri Davies - and then mayhem broke out as Dai Davies and James indulged in some excellent running between the wicket and some huge hitting which saw James blast three fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 40 - and Davies belying his diminutive stature as he also clouted two big sixes and two fours.

Gareth Brace was the bowler attacked heavily and his five overs conceded 51 runs as The Town were delighted by their 158 for 2 scoreline.

A target of 136 was a big one and it soon assumed gigantic proportions as Stephen H Phillips shifted Sefton, Wes Cole and Hicks in quick succession, all aided by catches from Steve Buckets James, including an excellent effort at long on off Cole.

It left Carew in dire straits at 22 for 3 and although Hatton (32) and Jeremy Griffiths put on 52 runs for the fourth wicket they were behind the clock. They were back in bother when Griffiths was run out in a daft mix-up on 74 and three runs later danger man Hatton was removed as Stephen H Phillips continued his involvement with a fine catch at short mid-on off the crafty medium pace stuff trundled out by Mickie Phillips, who bowled really well against Hatton when the pressure was on.

From then on it was only a matter of time as Carew battled bravely on through skipper Davies, who smashed a straight six in his unbeaten 30 before running out of overs on 120 for 7, giving Rob Summons team victory by 15 runs.

In the absence of sponsor Dickie Parry (Dyrham Service Station) Summons received the cup from Pembroke chairman Dai Williams, with County Club president Cyril Venables presenting the medals to both teams, umpires and scorers.

The man of the match award, sponsored by Mike and Pat Leighs, was adjudicated by Hugh Davies and his choice of Dai Davies was a popular one, the teenager pipping Steve James as he scored 14 and 71 not out, and claimed hauls of 2 for 38 and 2 for 31 with his leg-spin bowling.

PICTURED: Man of the match Dai Davies