Summons steers Town to seconds' cup (From Western Telegraph)

Summons steers Town to seconds' cup

Haverfordwest 2nds (129 for 6 and 108 for 4) beat Narberth 2nds (77 all out and 82 all out) Umpires: Dai Morris and Alan Hansen Scorers: Ros Phillips and Idwal Vincent Venue: Treleet, Pembroke

A superb first-innings 75 by veteran wicket-keeper/batsman Rob Summons helped Haverfordwest Seconds retain the Alec Colley Cup at the expense of their counterparts from Narberth, who lost skipper Richard Howell with a nasty cut hand in the first few overs and were always on the back foot after Summons had benefited from some loose fielding early on, being given lives at 28 and 31.

Howell had won the toss and put The Town into bat on a damp wicket that was only playable thanks to the yeoman work of groundsmen Kevin Jenkins and Lloyd Norris.

The hoped-for early break through came as Danny Potter holed out to Mike Scale at mid-wicket off the bowling of Jason Oatley in the second over - but Robbie Thomas gave support as he was also dropped at least twice.

Summons pounded anything loose, reaching a fine fifty with a six to mid-wicket before he finally holed out to Gary Hughes, sub Tim Scale taking a lovely catch in the deep after at least four chances had gone down from high balls.

Hughes finished with 4 for 43 but teenager Simon James was unbeaten on 16 (two fours) and Summons had taken The Town Stiffs to 129 for 6, with nine fours and two sixes, a marvellous innings compiled from only 72 deliveries.

Narberth started well enough as Michael Scale looked a big threat with his array of shots - but Haverfordwest took their catches so that although Scale (18), Jason Oatley (15) and Gary Hughes managed double figures, Narberth were always chasing the run-rate required to get close.

Steve James, Robbie Thomas (2), Mickie Phillips, Colin Williams and John Tooze pouched catches alongside Summons, so that Simon James (2 for 24) and Stephen H Phillips (2 for 26) made the initial inroads before Mickie Phillips enthusiasm was rewarded with 3 for 11 and skipper Williams chipped in with 2 for 12.

Narberth finished on 77 and didnt use 4.5 of their overs with captain Richard Howell receiving three stitches in Haverfordwest.

A lead of 52 was a massive boost for Haverfordwest but Narberth deserve credit for battling hard as Oatley again shifted the listless Potter for two and removed Robbie Thomas for a duck via a catch by Gary Hughes which was twice juggled before ending up trapped neatly between his feet!

Summons was beautifully caught by Clive James off Gary Hughes, running around the long-on boundary just as the big hitter was looking to cut loose after hitting a quick 18.

But at 26 for 3 Jamie Jenkins took over with Steve James, stroking the ball around and advancing the tally to 82 before James (18) holed out to keeper Clive Jones for the second time, this time from a huge top edge which seemed to have snow on it.

But Jenkins reached a deserved half century from only 55 balls (four fours) and with Richard Davies surviving a couple of chances the pair reached 108 for 4, setting Narberth a daunting target of 161 to win.

Narberth were desperate for a good start but Simon James bowled Clive Jones and Jason Oatley in quick succession before Colin Williams and Mickie Phillips did the rest, sharing the duties as Williams claimed 4 for 15 and Phillips completing a good match with 2 for 24.

Williams also took two good return catches, one where he had to make up a lot of ground, and a third off Phillips to leave Mike Scale again the top scorer with a gritty 34 (three fours) to show his potential as Narberth were all out for 82 and leave Haverfordwest celebrating victory by 68 runs.

The trophy and momentoes were presented to Haverfordwest captain Colin Williams and his team by County Club president Cyril Venables in the unavoidable absence of sponsor Dickie Parry (Dyrham Service Station, Robeston Wathen), with Pembroke chairman Dai Williams presenting the runners-up awards.

As usual, Mike Leighs provided the man of the match award and adjudicated with Tony Scourfield (Carew) - their popular choice being Rob Summons for that splendid first-innings knock on a wicket that wasnt easy after all the overnight rain.

ALEC COLLEY CUP FINAL FIRST INNINGS HAVERFORDWEST SECONDS R. Summons ct Sub b G. Hughes 75 D. Potter ct M. Scale b J. Oatley 2 R. Thomas ct K. Davies b G. Hughes 14 ST. James ct C. Jones b M. Davies 1 J. Jenkins b G. Hughes 7 C. Williams ct D. Hughes b G. Hughes 3 SI. James not out 16 R. Davies not out 1 Extras 10 Total (for 6 wkts) 129 Bowling: K. Davies 5-0-28-0; J. Oatley 6-1-24-1; G. Hughes 6-0-43-4; M. Davies 5-0-31-1. NARBERTH SECONDS C. Jones ct ST. James b SI. James 6 M. Scale ct R. Thomas b S. H. Phillips 18 P. Hughes ct C. Williams b S. H. Phillips 7 J. Oatley ct M. Phillips b SI. James 15 M. Davies b M. Phillips 7 G. Hughes ct R. Thomas b M. Phillips 10 D. James ct R. Summons b M. Phillips 2 K. Davies ct J. Tooze b C. Williams 0 C. James b C. Williams 2 D. Hughes not out 0 R. Howell injured did not bat 0 Extras 10 Total (for 10 wkts) 77 Bowling: SI. James 5-0-24-2; S. H. Phillips 5-0-26-2; M. Phillips 4-0-11-3; C. Williams 3.1-0-12-2. SECOND INNINGS HAVERFORDWEST SECONDS R. Summons ct C. James b G. Hughes 18 D. Potter ct D. James b J. Oatley 2 R. Thomas ct G. Hughes b J. Oatley 0 J. Jenkins not out 50 ST. James ct C. Jones b J. Oatley 18 R. Davies not out 8 Extras 12 Total (for 4 wkts) 108 Bowling: K. Davies 6-0-29-0; J. Oatley 6-1-25-3; G. Hughes 5-0-21-1; M. Davies 5-0-26-0. NARBERTH SECONDS C. Jones b SI. James 6 M. Scale ct J. Jenkins b M. Phillips 34 J. Oatley b SI. James 1 P. Hughes run out 7 G. Hughes b C. Williams 2 M. Davies ct + b C. Williams 0 D. James ct S. H. Phillips b C. Williams 5 C. James ct + b C. Williams 20 K. Davies ct C. Williams b M. Phillips 0 D. Hughes not out 0 R. Howell absent injured 0 Extras 7 Total (for 10 wkts) 82 Bowling: SI. James 5-0-19-2; S. H. Phillips 5-0-19-0; M. Phillips 5-0-24-2; C. Williams 4.4-0-15-4.