Town sneak home in gripping final (From Western Telegraph)

Town sneak home in gripping final

In their 13th appearance in the Harrison-Allen Bowl Final, Haverfordwest won by just nine runs against Cresselly in an absorbing contest.

A full house of spectators basked in the sunshine and the Cresselly ground looked a picture. Conditions appeared to be ideal for the start of the 56th Harrison-Allen Bowl final.

In the first innings, Haverfordwest reached a total of 130 for three, which was possibly 15 or 20 short of their intended target.

Although the Cresselly bowlers were unable to penetrate, they were able to keep the run-scoring within reasonable bounds. Openers Karl Rhead and Danny Potter put on 20 for the first wicket before Potter fell to a catch at long off by Simon Cole off the bowling of Cresselly skipper Lyn Richards.

The second wicket partnership between Rhead and Phil Kirkby prospered and the pair added 55 runs before Rhead was trapped lbw by Richard Harris for 32.

Although quieter than usual, Kirkby had a solid innings of 48 not out and initially with the help of David Davies, who scored 18 and Stephen Phillips towards the end, he ensured that the Town posted a reasonable first innings total.

Lyn Richards was the most accurate of the Cresselly bowlers, but spinner Ryan Lewis also bowled well without much luck.

Cresselly had a disastrous start with pinch-hitting openers Julian Arthur and Ryan Lewis both back in the pavilion by the time the total had reached 11.

As might be expected the stylish Simon Cole steadied the ship and although he lost Adam Chandler and Richard Harris fairly quickly he found a willing ally in skipper Lyn Richards. The pair added 40 for the fifth wicket before Cole was bowled by Stephen Phillips for 39, including six fours, at the start of the 18th over.

Phillips struck again in that over when he bowled Damian Arthur at the stage when Cresselly would have looked to accelerate. Although Lyn Richards finished with 32 not out he was denied much of the strike as wickets fell at the other end with Stephen Phillips taking four for 13.

With a crucial lead of 22 runs Haverfordwest started the second innings as if there was no tomorrow with Karl Rhead dominating an opening partnership of 48 in a blistering innings.

Danny Potter provided valuable support until he was trapped leg before wicket by Ryan Lewis for 8. Karl Rhead went on to score 45 with three sixes and five fours before he fell to an excellent catch by wicket keeper Neilson Cole off the bowling of Lyn Richards with the score on 60.

Haverfordwest then suffered another blow when Kirkby was lbw to Ryan Lewis for three. Suddenly two of the best batsmen in the Haverfordwest team were out of the equation. David Davies helped Stephen Phillips put on 35 for the fourth wicket, before Davies was run out by Simon Cole for 12, but Phillips remained at the crease until the end of the innings for a superb knock of 62 not out from just 36 deliveries, during which he hit two sixes and nine fours.

It was an innings of genuine class as Phillips treated the good balls with respect, looked for the opportunity of quick singles and made sure that the bad balls received the treatment that they deserved.

Although he lost his brother Andrew from a quick piece of stumping by Neilson Cole off Richard Harris, he had brief support from wicket keeper Huw Squiven who hit one huge six towards the school end off Richard Harris, before being smartly stumped by Neilson Cole off the same bowler for 10.

Ryan Lewis caused problems for all of the Haverfordwest batsmen during his six over spell and ended with two for 12.

Haverfordwest's total of 151 for six left Cresselly needing 174 to win. Once again they had a disastrous start. Both openers Julian Arthur and Ryan Lewis were quickly back in the hutch with the score on 13 for two.

Simon Cole and Adam Chandler then came together for the highest partnership of the match. The left handed Cole and the right handed Chandler initially treated the bowling with respect but gradually got on top to raise an element of doubt in the minds of the Haverfordwest supporters watching the match.

Both batsmen produced some scintillating stroke play before Adrian Griffiths broke through. He picked up the wicket of Cole, courtesy of a good catch by Danny Potter fielding at deep mid wicket for 58. Chandler and Lyn Richards then took the total to 142 before Chandler was lbw to Griffiths for 46.

Cresselly still had hopes of a win with Lyn Richards at the crease but when he was bowled by Adrian Griffiths for 29 trying to increase the tempo and Griffiths also claimed the prize scalp of Richard Harris the writing was on the wall.

With two overs remaining Cresselly needed 25 to win and even the most enthusiastic home fans kew it was all over. Griffiths bowled both Lyn Richards and Richard Harris in the 21st over during which only five runs were scored.

Phil Williams and Damian Arthur were left needing 20 to win off the last over. Despite a valiant effort it was beyond them and the Cresselly innings ended on 164 for six, 10 runs short of the winning target.

On the day, Haverfordwest showed that they were the better all round team and their experience also showed at times as did the inexperience of some of the talented Cresselly players who will surely play in this final again during the next few years.

FIRST INNINGS:

HAVERFORDWEST K. Rhead lbw b R. Harris 32 D. Potter c S. Cole b L. Richards 14 P. Kirkby not out 48 D. Davies c A. Chandler b S. Jenkins 18 S. Phillips not out 4 Extras 14 Total (for 3 wkts) 130 Bowling: L. Richards 6-0-22-1; S. Jenkins 5-0-27-1; R. Harris 6-0-33-1; R. Lewis 4-0-31-0; N. Gregory 1-0-12-0.

CRESSELLY J. Arthur b C. Tucker 1 R. Lewis c A. Phillips b C. Tucker 8 S. Cole b S. Phillips 39 A. Chandler b S. Williams 5 Harris lbw n M. Johns 2 R. L. Richards not out 32 D. Arthur b S. Phillips 2 P. Williams lbw b S. Williams 1 N. Cole lbw b S. Phillips 0 S. Jenkins b S. Phillips 3 N. Gregory not out 0 Extras 15 Total (for 9 wkts) 108 Bowling: S. Williams 6-0-24-2; C. Tucker 5-0-24-2; A. Griffiths 5-1-23-0; M. Johns 3-0-14-1; S. Phillips 3-0-13-4. SECOND INNINGS:

HAVERFORDWEST K. Rhead c N. Cole b L. Richards 45 D. Potter lbw b R. Lewis 8 P. Kirkby llb R. Lewis 3 D. Davies run out 12 S. Phillips not out 62 A. Phillips st N. Cole b R. Harris 1 H. Scriven st N. Cole b R. Harris 10 M. Johns not out 3 Extras 7 Total (for 6 wkts) 151 Bowling: L. Richards 6-0-40-1; S. Jenkins 6-0-56-0; N. Gregory 1-0-15-0; R. Lewis 6-2-12-2; R. Harris 3-0-27-2.

CRESSELLY J. Arthur c M. John b C. Tucker 4 R. Lewis lbw b S. Williams 0 S. Cole c D. Potter b S. Griffiths 58 A. Chandler lbw b A. Griffiths 46 L. Richards b A. Griffiths 29 D. Arthur not out 2 R, Harris b A. Griffiths 1 P. Williams not out 11 Extras 13 Total (for 6 wkts)1 64 Bowling: S. Williams 6-0-40-1; C. Tucker 5-0-33-1; A. Griffiths 6-0-42-4; S. Phillips 2-0-16-0; M. Johns 1-0-15-0; P. Kirkby 2-0-15-0.

UMPIRES: Ray Kane and Barry Wood

Final score: Haverfordwest (130 for 3 and 151 for 6) beat Cresselly (108 for 9 and 164 for 6)