Neyland are champs (From Western Telegraph)

Neyland are champs

Neyland A produced the goods when it mattered as they fielded superbly and batted well to beat off the challenge of Haverfordwest A and Whitland in the final round of matches in the 2006 Indoor League so superbly organised by Wendy Bradshaw.

What made it a unique triumph for Neyland was the fact that not only did indoor skipper Greg Miller deservedly receive the trophy from County Club president Stanley Richards, since they finished with a 100% record, but the club's talented young B team came runner-up with just one defeat from their six matches.

A feature of their play has been their enthusiasm in the fielding stakes and nowhere was this more evident than in their last game, against previous champs Whitland, whose innings was decimated by five run outs from direct hits on the stumps.

Patrick Hannon also took a fantastic catch to get rid of Whitland top scorer Matthew Davies as he turned what looked all over a six into a wicket as he got his fingers to a strong drive, pushed the ball upwards and pouched it with a spectacular dive.

Neyland A started with a clear cut win over a Haverfordwest A team that was also undefeated but were shot out for 87 despite an excellent unbeaten 49 by Karl Rhead. Jeremy Charles marked his return with two wickets and The Town were never able to maintain any momentum as Neyland swarmed over them in the field.

Then Paul Murray and Andrew Miller reached 25 before having to retire - and it was left to Greg Miller and Charles to see Neyland A home without losing a single wicket.

Haverfordwest A also lost to Whitland, who batted first and reached 110 for 3 thanks to good innings by Edward John (31 not out) and Owain Edwards (30 not out) alongside Shane Morgan's 16 not out late on.

Morgan also took two good stumpings. Haverfordwest had innings of 35 and 25 respectively from openers Danny Potter and Phil Kirkby but crashed to 91 all out.

It left a last match where Whitland needed a win to make it a three-way tie with the two Neyland teams but only 'Titch' Davies withstood the pressure exerted in the field by Neyland A.

But even then the drama wasn't quite over because when Neyland A reversed their batting order they lost early wickets as the Hannon twins departed cheaply, quickly followed by Charles, who was run out by some good fielding by Edwards.

Andrew Miller also went early but Greg Miller maintained his proud record of not being out in any of his six innings and was joined by Paul Murray in seeing Neyland to victory and the title.

Greg Miller deservedly received the trophy from Mr Richards, who thanked everyone for making the short indoor season a successful one, including the umpires, especially Alan Hansen. He also paid tribute to Wendy Bradshaw and sponsor Martin James.

Haverfordwest A v Neyland A

\Haverfordwest Batting: K Rhead not out 49 D Potter run out 1 P Kirkby b J Charles 11 I Lloyd b J Charles 1 C Tucker ct G Miller b P Hannon 12 S Williams st P Murray b A Miller 0 Extras 13 Total (5 wickets) 87 Neyland bowling: G Miller 0-6; J Charles 2-9; A Miller 1-17; P Hannon 1-25; S Hannon 0-16.

Neyland Batting: P Murray not out 25 A Miller not out 26 G Miller not out 15 J Charles not out 8 Extras 15 Total (0 wicket) 89 Haverfordwest bowling: S Williams 0-14; P Kirkby 0-20; I Lloyd 0-10; C Tucker 0-23; D Potter 0-8.

Whitland v Haverfordwest A

Whitland Batting: M Davies st K Rhead b S Williams 3 D Lee st K Rhead b S Williams 15 E John not out 31 M Lee ct P Kirkby b D Potter 6 O Edwards not out 30 S Morgan not out 16 Extras 9 Total (3 wickets) 110 Haverfordwest A bowling: P Kirkby 0-16; S Williams 2-22; I Lloyd 0-23; D Potter 1-18; C Tucker 0-22

Haverfordwest A batting: D Potter ct M Lee b O Edwards 35 P Kirkby b E John 25 K Rhead st S Morgan b D Lee 6 I Lloyd run out 4 S Williams st S Morgan b D Lee 0 C Tucker run out 7 Extras 14 Total (all out) 91 Whitland Bowling: M Davies 0-27; O Edwards 1-6; M Lee 1-17; E John 1-15; D Lee 2-11. Whitland v Neyland A

Whitland batting: D Lee run out 4 M Davies ct P Hannon b A Miller 28 E John run out 0 M Lee run out 7 O Edwards run out 1 S Morgan run out 13 Extras 15 Total (all out) 68 Neyland A bowling: A Miller 0-22; J Charles 0-21; S Hannon 0-7; A Miller 1-8; P Hannon 0-2.

Neyland A batting: S Hannon b M Davies 1 P Hannon run out 12 J Charles run out 0 G Miller not out 28 A Miller ct S Morgan b D Lee 1 P Murray not out 18 Extras 9 Total (4 wickets) 69 Whitland bowling: M Davies 1-11; M Lee 0-17; O Edwards 0-17; E John 0-9; D Lee 1-8.