Jubilee Cup: Haverfordwest (161 for 7) beat Neyland (160 for 8) by 3 wickets

HALF centuries from Paul Tough and Danny Potter helped Haverfordwest complete a golden few weeks for the club by beating Neyland in the Jubilee Cup at The Racecourse.

Both sides picked youthful line ups, and after Neyland made 160 for 8 in their allotted 30 overs, The Town chased down the total with three wickets and seven balls in hand.

It was home skipper Potter who won the toss and elected to field, and his side got a good start when Kieron O’Connor bowled Nick Koomen (2).

But then Gregg Miller joined opener Patrick Bellerby in a stand of 86, before Bellerby was caught by Potter off Dan Cole for 61 having struck three fours and four sixes.

His dismissal proved a big turning point as Steve Murray was then caught by Ben Field off Simon Holliday (1 for 22) for a duck, and Andrew Miller (2) soon followed – with Cole taking his second wicket thanks to a superb one handed diving catch by Nitin Mathias.

Neyland skipper Sean Hannon (13) joined Miller in restoring some momentum, but he also fell to Cole thanks to a catch from Nigel Delaney - before Sean’s brother Patrick (4) was skittled by the same bowler, giving Cole figures of 4 for 29.

Callum Power was run out by O’Connor without getting off the mark, before the resilient Miller final fell for 61, caught by Potter off the bowling of O’Connor (2 for 31) having hit two fours and a six in his patient knock.

Jamie Smith (2 not out) and Lewis Paige (4 not out) scrambled a few late runs as Neyland finished 160 for 8, a total that appeared below par given they were 100 for 1 at one stage in the 17th over.

But Hannon’s men got off to a flier with the ball – as Patrick Hannon had the dangerous Holliday caught by Koomen for 2, and the same bowler had Mathias caught by Gregg Miller for a duck to leave the home side 8 for 2.

But it was then that Potter and Tough entered the fray, sharing a stand of 96 before the captain went for 55 (six fours) – caught by Murray off Tom Pritchard.

That raised Neyland hopes as Pritchard then bowled Field (0) on his way to 2 for 26, and Dan Cole (8) was caught by Sean Hannon off brother Patrick to leave Haverfordwest 124 for 5.

Hannon struck again when he had Mathias (1) caught by Andrew Miller, but Tough took The Town to the brink of victory, before he became Hannon’s (5 for 35) fifth and final victim having hit six fours in his 55.

But Nigel Delaney (3 not out) and O’Connor, who struck three successive boundaries on his way to 14 not out, finished off the job as Potter’s men added the Jubilee Cup to the Harrison Allen Bowl and Division One title for they secured earlier this summer.

The Pembroke County Cricket season concludes this Sunday when Neyland face Cresselly in the DR Morris Cup final at Oatfield Park, Burton (11am) – while at Hook CC, the Under 19 T20 Finals Day also takes place.

Neyland batting:

Nicholas Koomen  B Kieron O’Connor 2

Patrick Bellerby c Danny Potter B Dan Cole 61

Gregg Miller c Jack Scrvien B Kieron O’Connor 61

Steve Murray c Ben Field B Simon Holliday 0

Andrew Miller c Nitin Mathias B Dan Cole 2

Sean Hannon c Nigel Delaney B Dan Cole 13

Patrick Hannon B Dan Cole 4

Callum Power Run out (Kieron O’Connor) 0

Jamie Smith Not out 2

Lewis Paige Not out 4

Extras: 11

Total: 160 for 8

Haverfordwest bowling: Kieron O’Connor 6-0-31-2; Simon Williams 6-0-27-0; Simon Holliday 6-0-1-22; Nigel Delaney 6-0-47-0; Dan Cole 6-0-29-4.

Haverfordwest batting:

Simon Holliday c Nick Koomen B Simon Holliday  6

Nikhil Mathias c Gregg Miller B Patrick Hannon 0

Paul Tough B Patrick Hannon 55

Danny Potter c Steve Murray B Tom Pritchard 55

Ben Field B Tom Pritchard 0

Dan Cole c Sean Hannon B Patrick Hannon 8                             

Nitin Mathias c Andrew Miller B Patrick Hannon 1             

Nigel Delaney    Not out 5

Kieron O’Connor Not out 14

Extras: 17

Total: 161 for 7

Neyland bowling: Patrick Bellerby 6-0-30-4; Patrick Hannon 5.5-0-35-5; Jamie Smith 6-0-42-0; Andrew Miller 6-0-24-0; Tom Pritchard 5-0-26-2.

Umpires: Steve Blowes and Arthur Brady.

Scorers: Jayne Cole and Kirsty Hannon.