Ken Morris Memorial Cup final: Neyland 3rds (132-8 and 100-3) beat Haverfordwest 3rds (105-8 and 124-6) by 7 wickets

For the first time since 2011, there is a new name on the Ken Morris Memorial Cup after Neyland third team skipper Sam Laugharne smashed his side over the line against Haverfordwest.

After restricting the holders to 105-8 in 20 overs, a hard hitting 51 from Stephen Murray helped Neyland to 132-8, and a 27 run lead at the interval. The Town responded with 124-6 in their second innings and with scattered rain showers making batting increasingly difficult, Neyland were left with a potentially tricky chase of 98 to win.

They seemed up against it after falling to 62-3 in the 15th over but then it was Laugharne and Ben Mathias-Milsom who upped the ante when it mattered most, and in the penultimate over the captain himself smashed a one bounce four off Matthew Vaughan to seal victory.

It secured his club the trophy for the first time and in the process, ended The Town’s dominant run of eight successive competition wins.

The final day delivers:

The Ken Morris was the last silverware to be decided in this shortened Pembrokeshire season, and the fact it the final went ahead as planned was testament to the ground staff of host club Narberth.

Following what has become a familiar theme this past fortnight, the heavy rain of the previous week left the outfield saturated but Bobby Simons, Matthew Johns, Alan Davies and Cup organiser Richard Howell worked tirelessly throughout the morning to ensure excess water was removed – with stumps pitched as planned at 12pm.

Haverfordwest 105-8 – Jenkins takes The Town past three figures:

It was Neyland skipper Laugharne who called right at the toss and it was of no surprise that he asked Jason Phillips and co to bat.

The Town’s line up had no shortage of experience but although Aidan Rees started nervously with three wides in the first over, Dai Haynes and Neill Crawshaw began cautiously with first boundary not coming until the fourth over when the latter took Murray to the fence.

But very next ball, spinner Murray clean bowled the opener and then when No 3 John Ebeneezer holed out to Phil Sutton in the deep, off the slow stuff off Rhys Beavis, Haverfordwest were struggling at 23-2.

That became 29-4 as Ashoka Senavirathna spooned a catch to Murray at mid-off to give Laugharne his first wicket, and in what would become a feature of the final Beavis combined with keeper Callum Power to notch a run out as Max Rodrigues went for a duck.

Beavis was back in the action to remove Haynes, the opener reaching 20 before trying to smash a long hop into the leg side – only to be brilliantly caught by a diving Rees.

Wickets continued to fall as Phillips played onto his stumps to give opposite number Laugharne a second wicket, and although Richard Davies tried to stem the tide with 21 (three fours) he was bowled by Beavis to give him figures of 3-35.

Matthew Vaughan came in and lifted Laugharne over the in-field for four but when he was then caught by Joe Campdonic off Rees, the score stood at 88-8.

With the help of No 10 Simon Williams though, Jenkins took advantage of being dropped by Mathias-Milsom off Murray by hammering the bowler for a straight six in the final over, before also cutting to the fence to finish 21 not out and take his side over the 100 mark.

Neyland 132-8 – Murray’s mint knock puts Neyland in command:

It was Jenkins who then struck early for The Town as he skittled Callum Power, but Murray responded by coming in and hitting him for two fours and also did the same to spinner Dean Flood at the other end.

Flood did bowl opener Phil Sutton (13) though and then Mathias-Milson was caught behind by Ebeneezer trying to slog sweep Williams.

But with the score 58-3 Murray kept accelerating, hitting Vaughan for a maximum over cow corner and then a four to the same area, and he continued the assault later with a straight six – only to drive a catch back to the bowler very next ball.

By that time though he’d made 51 and Neyland had a platform, and had shared a stand of 43 with Laugharne who soon followed for 26 (four fours), caught by Rodrigues off Williams.

Richard Davies bowled Nathan Sutton and then spinner Williams continued his terrific spell by removing Campadonic as Jenkins took a calm catch inches inside the rope, and then bowled Beavis for a 4-24 haul.

But at 118-8, like The Town, Neyland also found late impetus and a six by youngster Rees off the final ball from Davies handed them a 27 run lead.

Haverfordwest 124-6 – Davies and Phillips give Haverfordwest hope:

The Town altered the order in the search for early runs and sent Ebeneezer out with Crawshaw, and the pair showed their intent as Crashaw lofted Murray for four in the second over, before doing the same to Rees with a neat leg side flick.

But with the score on 29-0 Murray struck as Ebeneezer holed to Mathias-Milson, and then had Rodrigues snaffled by Sutton as he finished with a tight 2-16 in five overs.

The holders then shot themselves in the foot, twice, with almost identical run outs.

Ashoka and then Crawshaw (18) both tried to steal a single to Beavis at deep backward point, but both times he threw quickly to Power who took the bails off and at 41-4 in eight overs, The Town were again in trouble.

Davies and skipper Phillips turned the tide though. The former hit a straight six off Beavis who threw down three wides in the same over, and despite a heavy shower play continued as Phillips hooked the same bowler to the fence.

The pair put on 63 before Beavis recovered to take a return catch off Phillips (21), and then had Davies caught by Sutton after he’d made 40, a knock that included six boundaries.

Jenkins and Haynes added late runs though and a wasteful total of 26 extras, 17 of which came in wides, left Neyland needing a tricky 98 to win.

Neyland 100-3 – Things get tense before Neyland hold their nerve:

With batting conditions now seemingly tougher, The Town sensed blood, and Paul Jenkins, Vaughan, and Williams were all bang on the money as they shared the opening overs.

Frustration got the better of Power after hitting Williams for the first boundary of the innings, he tried another swipe and was bowled.

No 3 Murray too was struggling to connect like he did first time around and although he managed powerfully hit fours off Vaughan and Flood, was well caught by the latter off Richards having made 21.

And then when opener Phil Sutton’s patient knock of 24 was ended by being bowled by Jenkins, Neyland were 62-3 in the 15th over and a close finale seemed in store.

But rather than stem Neyland’s momentum, the wickets meant a youthful presence of Laugharne and Mathias-Milsom and they increased the rate immediately through strong hitting and quick running.

There was a stroke of fortune as Mathias-Milson got an inside edge from Jenkins which went all the way to the boundary, and then in the 18th over a Davies delivery crucially went for four byes before Laugharne rubbed salt into the wounds with a big six towards the rugby pitch.

It left his side needing just three runs and in the 19th over, Mathias-Milson took a first ball single off Vaughan before the skipper ended things in style by cracking a shot to the leg side boundary.

It prompted a big roar from Laugharne and his fellow players, as they celebrated winning the ‘Kenny’ for the first time since Neyland formed a third team in 2014.

Richard’s work rewarded:

Despite the limited time available, the final rounded off a competition that had involved eight sides and seen all 13 scheduled games played to completion.

The stats are fitting reward for Richard Howell, who for 14 consecutive seasons has been the driving force behind the tournament, and afterwards he again thanked everyone involved in making things a success.

Fittingly, Ken’s grandchildren Chelsea, Jay, and Charlene Morris were on hand to present mementoes to the runners up, winners, and officials and then it was Hundleton’s Jonathan Williams who presented the man of the match award to Stephen Murray.

It was Jay who handed the main trophy to Laugharne to hold aloft, and poignantly it was a moment he could share with grandad John who at 80, and having played and scored in numerous Harrison-Allen and DR Morris finals, was doing the book for the first time in a Ken Morris Cup game.

And afterwards the captain also praised Ian Milsom, who was the team’s Covid-19 officer on the day and who got the third team started up six years ago.

“We are delighted to win this cup for the first time in Neyland’s history, especially after losing in the final three years ago.” he told Telegraph Sport.

“A massive thank you goes to the cricket club and especially Ian Milsom for everything he’s done for us over the years.”

Neyland are now just the third side to claim the trophy, with the previous 13 tournaments shared between The Town (10 time winners) and Carew 3rds.

Scorecards:

First Innings:

Haverfordwest batting:
David Haynes ct Aidan Rees b Rhys Beavis 20
Neil Crawshaw b Steve Murray 7
John Ebenezer ct Phil Sutton b Rhys Beavis 7
Ashoka Sivaranathna ct Steve Murray b Sam Laugharne 1
Max Rodriguez run out 0
Richard Davies b Rhys Beavis 21
Jason Phillips b Sam Laugharne 0
Paul Jenkins not out 21
Matthew Vaughan ct Joe Campodonic b Aidan Rees 7
Simon Williams not out 3
Extras 18
Total (for 8 wickets) 105

Neyland bowling: Aidan Rees 5-0-21-1; Steve Murray 5-0-29-1; Rhys Beavis 5-0-30-3; Sam Laugharne 5-0-22-2.

Neyland batting:
Callum Power b Paul Jenkins 4
Phil Sutton b Dean Flood 13
Steve Murray ct & b Matthew Vaughan 51
Ben Mathias-Milsom ct John Ebenezer b Simon Williams 8
Sam Laugharne ct Max Rodriguez b Simon Williams 26
Joe Campodonic ct Paul Jenkins b Simon Williams 5
Nathan Sutton b Richard Davies 1
Rhys Beavis b Simon Williams 1
Aidan Rees not out 7
Kieron Arran not out 6
Extras 10
Total (for 8 wickets) 132

Haverfordwest bowling: Paul Jenkins 5-0-21-1; Dean Flood 5-0-30-1; Simon Williams 5-0-24-4; Matthew Vaughan 3-0-35-1; Richard Davies 2-0-15-1.

Second innings:

Haverfordwest batting:
John Ebenezer ct Ben Mathias-Milsom b Steve Murray 6
Neil Crawshaw run out 18
Max Rodriguez ct Nathan Sutton b Steve Murray 5
Ashoka Sivaranathna run out 0
Richard Davies ct Nathan Sutton b Rhys Beavis 40
Jason Phillips ct & b Rhys Beavis 21
Paul Jenkins not out 7
David Haynes not out 1
Extras 26
Total (for 6 wickets) 124

Neyland bowling: Aidan Rees 5-0-30-0; Steve Murray 5-0-16-2; Rhys Beavis 5-0-35-2; Sam Laugharne 5-0-35-0.

Neyland batting:
Callum Power st John Ebenezer b Simon Williams 10
Phil Sutton b Paul Jenkins 24
Steve Murray ct Dean Flood b Richard Davies 27
Ben Mathias-Milsom not out 13
Sam Laugharne not out 21
Extras 5
Total (for 3 wickets) 100

Haverfordwest bowling: Paul Jenkins 5-1-24-1; Simon Williams 5-0-15-1; Matthew Vaughan 2.2-0-16-0; Dean Flood 2-0-10-0; Richard Davies 4-0-34-0.

Umpires: Walter Dash and Chris Stapleton.

Scorers: Natalie Thomas and John Laugharne.