Jubilee Cup:

Haverfordwest (190-5) beat Neyland (186-7) by 5 wickets

AN innings of 88 not out from opener Simon Holliday steered Haverfordwest to the Jubilee Cup as The Town defeated Neyland at The Racecourse to bring the curtain down on the 2014 Pembrokeshire cricket season.

The game, annually played between the previous year’s Harrison Allen Bowl and Division One champions, has traditionally served as the curtain raiser to the league campaign - but this year organisers chose to bring it forward from April 2015 to provide a finale to the 2014 season.

It meant that Neyland, who beat Cresselly last month in a Jubilee Cup game that was postponed from April 2014, held the trophy for just 23 days.

In sunny conditions, it was Sean Hannon’s men who won the toss and elected to bat, but they started slowly, reaching 18-0 before Patrick Hannon (8) was caught on the boundary in the seventh over by Jonathan Strawbridge, off the bowling of Clive Tucker (1-20).

Hannon’s opening partner Nick Koomen (12) was trapped LBW by Holliday (1-21), before Avron Roulstone struck a big blow for The Town when he had the in-form Ashley Sutton (10) caught at mid off by home skipper Danny Potter.

That left Neyland 35-3 but then Nathan Banner and Henry Durrant rebuilt matters with a stand of 94, and the pair took 24 of one Roulstone over before Durrant was caught on the boundary by Potter off Kashif Ijaz (1-31) for 41 (five fours and a six).

But Banner continued his assault, while Andrew Miller (13) provided brief support before being run out by Holliday.

Visiting skipper Hannon was bowled by Roulstone (2-50) for a duck, but Banner went on to make 90, a knock that included eight fours and five sixes, before being bowled final ball of the innings by Wilment (1-26) as Neyland finished 186-7 in their 30 overs.

In The Town’s reply, Holliday showed his intent as he hammered Patrick Hannon’s first ball to the boundary, but his opening partner Ijaz was bowled by Gary Lloyd (1-35) for 8 after hitting an early six.

No 3 Dai Davies (24) then joined Holliday in a stand of 42, before the former miscued a Durrant (1-20) delivery to Lloyd at mid wicket.

However, that did little to deter Holliday as he and skipper Potter scored quickly, putting on 88 for the third wicket to take the score to 144-2 before the latter was bowled by Miller for 49, after striking six fours and a maximum.

Jonathan Strawbridge made sure the home side didn’t lose momentum however, as he hit Nick Koomen for successive sixes in the 26th over, before being caught on the boundary by Banner off Miller (2-38) for a brief 15.

Ben Field was trapped LBW by Banner for 2, but Holliday kept his composure to steer The Town to 174-5 off 28 overs, leaving them needing 13 off 12 balls to win.

But with Roulstone 0 not out at the other end, Holliday needed just four deliveries to finish matters, going 4, 2, 6, 4 off Miller to settle the game and finish 88 not out, a knock that incorporated 10 fours and two sixes.

It helped give The Town their first win over rivals Neyland in four attempts in 2014, having lost out in both league games and the Duggie Morris Final.

After the game, Pembroke County Cricket Club chairman Tony Scourfield thanked both teams for their willingness to play the game and field strong sides, and also paid tribute to former Haverfordwest Chairman Hary McEntee, who sadly died last week.

Haverfordwest skipper Potter then received the trophy from Pembroke County Cricket Club President Dai Morris, to bring the curtain down on another season of local cricket.

Umpires: Arthur Brady and Steve Blowes

Scorers: Natalie Thomas and John Laugharne

Between innings, both sides observed a minute’s silence in memory of Harry McEntee, who was instrumental in the development of the current facilities at The Racecourse. He served as club Chairman from 1977-1983, and then took on the role of President in 1984. We at Telegraph Sport send our condolences to Harry’s family.