Alec Colley Cup final:

Lawrenny (173 for 7 & 92 for 4) beat Whitland 2nds (125 for 8 & 138 for 9) by 6 wickets

Lawrenny Seconds claimed their first-ever success in the Alec Colley Cup Final and at the same time prevented their counterparts from Whitland completing a hat-trick, having previously won the lovely trophy in 2015 and 2016.

A large and appreciative crowd created a real family atmosphere, alongside some innovative work by Richard Scriven with his announcing and music, whilst Pembroke worked really hard to have the ground in very good condition; and both sides deserve every credit for the way that the game was played in a competitive, but always friendly, atmosphere.

Whitland battle hard to build a decent total

Whitland skipper Mark Lee won the toss and elected to bat first and Greg Sleep and Paul Oeppen made a solid start before Lawrenny fought back as Harry Thomas removed Oeppen and Ed John in a good spell that saw him finish with 2 for 22 from his five overs.

Sleep survived a dropped catch but eventually departed for 29 (three fours), but the runs continued to come comfortably thanks to Jack Bowen and Adam Davies (25 apiece), the latter belting four boundaries.

Geraint Phillips (13 not out) also batted well and with extras also in double figures (11) Whitland ended their 20 overs on 125 runs.

Lawrenny openers run amok

Lawrenny opened their innings with the experience of Steve Lewis and Harry Thomas and there was some huge hitting, allied to a couple of dropped catches that put the pressure on the Whitland bowlers.

They sped to 84 with Lewis already on 58 from only 32 balls, with three massive sixes and four fours, before he went for one big hit too many and was well caught by Geraint Phillips on the boundary off the bowling of Gethin Scourfield.

As so often happens with big partnerships, Thomas departed 12 runs later for 26 runs, including three classy boundaries, but the onslaught had already continued by another very experienced player in Julian Arthur, who smote three equally big sixes and added five fours for good measure in his 57, also off 32 balls, as Lawrenny were level with Whitland with six overs still to go.

Arthur became one of Greg Sleep's three victims as wickets fell in an inevitable late chase for runs but by then the damage was done as Lawrenny had raced to 173 for 7; a massive lead at tea of48 runs.

Whitland recover well from slow start to second innings

Even worse was to follow for Whitland at the start of their second innings as Greg Sleep was bowled for a duck by Harry Thomas in their first over, and they also lost Paul Oeppen and Jack Bowen to stand precariously at 28 for 3.

It wasn't until the eighth over that they drew level but then some loose Lawrenny bowling saw Ed John (31) and Geraint Phillips (32) saw them accelerate the run rate with 62 runs coming from five productive overs.

Adam Davies (14) and skipper Mark Lee (16 not out) made useful contributions but Lawrenny fought back,  as Harry Thomas finished on 2 for 28 and Steve Cole claimed 4 for 28 to limit Whitland to 138 for 9 and set a target of 91 to win in the final Lawrenny innings.

Early shocks for Lawrenny

But that target suddenly seemed to grow immeasurably as Mark Lee had Steve Lewis caught in the covers by Oeppen in his first over - and Julian Arthur departed for 13, stumped by Adam Davies off Gethin Scourfield, to leave Lawrenny looking a little shaky at 20 for 2.

But Harry Thomas contributed a classy 25 before he was adjudged lbw to Greg Sleep and Lawrenny played another trump card with the introduction of James Phillips, who had scored 119 (90 in boundaries) the previous day and continued his destructive hitting with three sixes and a four; finishing the match in style with a mighty six over to Treleet Cottages corner.

Post-match presentations

Pembroke County Club chairman conducted the post-match presentations in typical style and after the necessary thanks introduced the competition’s new sponsor, Ken Davies of Tees R Us, who presented medals to both teams and the trophy to Lawrenny skipper Hugh Griffiths, who concluded his speech by dedicating the win to Lance Osborn, a second team player who sadly died earlier in the year.

Harry Thomas was a popular choice as man of the match and the perpetual trophy, plus a memento, was presented as usual by Mike Leighs.

FIRST INNINGS:

Whitland Batting

Greg Sleep b Steve Lewis 29

Paul Oeppen b Harry Thomas 7

Ed John ct Chris Buckle b Harry Thomas 3

Jack Bowen st Harry Griffiths b Steve Cole 25

Adam Davies ct Hugh Griffiths b Steve Lewis 25

Geraint Phillips b Steve Lewis 13

James Thomas not out 5

Gethin Scourfield b Steve Lewis 1

Mark Lee ct Steve Campbell b Steve Cole 5

Jamie Thomas not out 1

Extras 11

Total (8 wickets) 125

Lawrenny Bowling:

Harry Thomas 5-0-22-2; Alistair Edwards 5-0-23-0; Steve Lewis 5-0-35-3; Julian Arthur 2-0-25-0; Steve Cole 3-0-18-2.

Lawrenny Batting:

Harry Thomas ct Jack Bowen b Geraint Phillips 26

Steve Lewis ct Geraint Phillips b Gethin Scourfield b 58

Julian Arthur st Adam Davies b Greg Sleep 57

James Phillips ct Jack Bowen b Gethin Scourfield 4

Matthew Lewis lbw b Geraint Phillips 0

Steve Campbell ct Jamie Thomas b Greg Sleep 0

Tom Campbell ct Paul Oeppen b Greg Sleep 1

Hugh Griffiths not out 1

Steve Cole not out 5

Extras 21

Total (7 wickets) 173

Whitland Bowling:

Mark Lee 5-0-33-0; Greg Sleep 5-0-51-3; Gethin Scourfield 5-0-41-2; Geraint Phillips 5-0-38-1.

SECOND INNINGS:

Whitland Batting:

Greg Sleep b Harry Thomas 0

Paul Oeppen ct Steve Lewis b Alistair Edwards 8

Ed John ct Steve Lewis b Harry Thomas 31

Jack Bowen b Alistair Edwards 6

Adam Davies ct James Phillips b Steve Lewis 14

Geraint Phillips b Steve Cole 32

James Thomas st Hugh Griffiths b Steve Lewis 9

Gethin Scourfield ct Matthew Lewis b Steve Lewis 5

Mark Lee not out 16

Jamie Thomas b Steve Cole 0

Gethin Benjamin not out 2

Extras 15

Total (9 wickets) 138

Lawrenny Bowling:

Harry Thomas 5-0-28-2; Alistair Edwards 5-0- 31-1; Steve Lewis 5-0-46-1; Steve Cole 5-0-28-4.

Lawrenny Batting:

Steve Lewis ct Paul Oeppen b Mark Lee 0

Harry Thomas lbw b Greg Sleep 25

Julian Arthur st Adam Davies b Gethin Scourfield 13

James Phillips not out 38

Steve Campbell run out 3

Hugh Griffiths not out 1

Extras 12

Total (4 wickets) 92

Whitland Bowling:

Mark Lee 4-1-17-1; Gethin Scourfield 5-0-28-1; Geraint Phillips 3-0-26-0; Greg Sleep 3-0-14-1; Jack Bowen 1-06-0

Umpires: Allan Hansen & Robert Ridge.

Scorers: Phil Williams (Lawrenny) and Jenny Davies-Scourfield (Whitland).

Venue: Treleet Ground, Pembroke.

Man of the Match: Harry Thomas (Lawrenny).

Adjudicators: Ray Kane & Eifion Powell (former Pembroke players).

Announcer: Richard Scriven.