Whitland are safe - Llangwm must wait (From Western Telegraph)

Whitland are safe - Llangwm must wait

Whitland (227 for 9) drew with Llangwm (157 for 9) Umpires: Les Hastings and John Williams Scorers: Richard Merriman and Jeff Saies

Whitland made sure of their own First Division survival as they gained the better of the draw against fellow basement battlers Llangwm, who now go into their local derby against Hook knowing that they need to perform to a higher level than they did in this tussle, where Whitland were put in to bat, amassed a huge 227 for 9 and then took their chances in the field to finish with 23 points against their opponents ten points.

Yet Llangwm made a bright start as young Chris Inward struck early by having key batsman Paul Webb caught by Henry Thomas for just a single - and father Martyn struck at the other end to have the equally important wicket of Paul Davies, caught by Mark Davies to leave the homesters shaky on 15 for 2.

But Whitland have gained in experience in a hard season and Dave Lee found a willing ally in teenager Rhyddian Harries as they advanced the score by 70 runs before Lee was bowled by Andrew Phillips for a gritty 45 that included eight boundaries.

Harries scored 53 in 62 balls, with eight fours and a six before he departed with the score on 124, Harries again the bowler as keeper William Beresford pouched the catch.

Huw Davies contributed a typically solid 16 and Matthew Davies decided attack was the best sort of defence as he whacked four fours and two big sixes for someone known as Titch, his vital 42 coming in only 36 deliveries.

Colin John chipped in with a stylish 23 and although Andrew Phillips claimed 4 for 55 and Andrew Harries 2 for 22, Whitland were good value for their 227 for 9 in 45 overs.

Llangwm needed a good start but lost Beresford at 21, caught by young keeper Adam Davies off another teenager in Huw Devonald - and anchor man Ian Gow followed with the total at 36 as he chipped a catch to Colin John at deepish point off Titch Davies.

Davies struck again when he bowled Henry Thomas for 10 and it needed a resolute innings by Andrew Harries to give some balance to the Llangwm innings.

Mark Davies the Llangwm skipper, was caught on the fence by Mark Lee off Harries and when Ackie Harries was bowled by Huw Devonald for a fine 49 (five fours) the Llangwm score stood at 113 for 6, Richard Scriven was unable to trouble the scorers before Chris and Martyn Inward came together.

They looked capable of building a good partnership but Inward junior fell to a diving catch by Paul Davies off Mark Lee when hed scored 14 - and Lee set the Llangwm alarm bells ringing again when he had Darren Brick caught behind for a duck, finishing with an excellent 2 for 28 return from his 12 overs.

Matthew Hughes also went cheaply and it was left to Martyn Inward and Andrew Phillips to play out the last 16 balls, with Inward hitting a big six and four late on to grab a bonus point that might prove vital next week, ending up with 25 not out to show his worth to the side in adversity.