Hook hold on for tame draw (From Western Telegraph)

Hook hold on for tame draw

Lawrenny ((203 for 6) drew with Hook (121 for 7)

Umpires: David Loosemore and John Williams Scorers: Joe Dring and Arthur Green

Lawrenny moved off the foot of the table as they gained by far the better of the draw against visitors Hook, scoring a huge 203 for six wickets after being asked to bat first by opposing skipper Jamie Phelps.

It was always going to a big task for Hook to get anywhere near such a score on a damp pitch but a disappointing final tally of 121 for 7 meant that Hook conceded all the draw points to the home side.

Leading the way for Lawrenny in the batting stakes was all-rounder Ian Jenkins, who came in at No 5 and scored an unbeaten 52, reaching his half century in glorious style with a big straight six off the last ball of the 45 overs, jetting his side past the 200-mark in the process.

It was a good recovery for Lawrenny because they lost opener Adrian Harries without a run on the board, well caught in the slips by Gary Martin off the left-arm bowling of brother Geoff.

But Chris Vincent and James Buckle advanced the score to 69 before the former was adjudged lbw to Gary Martin, having stroked eight fours in his 41 runs - and Buckle departed at the same total for a watchful 20 as the busy Gary Martin took a diving catch off Alister Plattens spin.

Steve Lewis and Ian Jenkins set about restoring their advantage and the pair added another 47 runs in good time before Lewis was bowled for 27 in only 26 balls (four fours) by Platten.

Home skipper Rob Williams helped maintain the momentum with a six and four in his 22 off 23 balls and although Andrew Cole (junior) mishit a ball to Gary Martin at long on, the Hook all-rounder taking another superb low catch, there was a productive stand between Jenkins (three fours and two sixes) and Iain Williams (23 not out) as 53 runs flowed in the last five overs that took Lawrenny to such a good score.

Hook desperately needed a good start but home skipper Rob Williams dented their chances as he shifted both Alister Platten and Phelps with only 19 runs on the board, the former out to a fine catch by veteran keeper Dai Jones, making a welcome return to first team action, and the latter given out leg before.

Mick Haltam and Martin Rowlands took the score beyond 50 but both were victims of Steve Lewis for respective scores of 28 and 24.

Keith James contributed 26 but Geoff Martin was forced to retire with a leg injury before brother Gary and Matthew Holder steered Hook to a tame draw.