Sport
Cresselly claim Harrison Allen Bowl
CRESSELLY were crowned Harrison Allen Champions for 2018 on Sunday (Aug 5), as they beat Lawrenny by 25 runs in a thrilling final.
The final was played in glorious sunshine in contrast to the heavy rain that had forced the game to be called off the previous week (Jul 28).
Like last week Lawrenny again won the toss and elected to field despite the good conditions.
Lawrenny did strike first however as they removed Dan Sutton early on before two more wickets reduced them to 56-3 off the first ten overs.
Adam Chandler and Alex Bayley then stole the show as they reached 84-3 after thirteen overs.
25 runs then followed in the next over as Cresselly turned on the style with some excellent shots.
Bayley reached his 50 off just 26 balls as they raced to 145-3 after 18 overs.
It was then Chandler’s turn to reach his half century in the twentieth over as their partnership past 100 to put Cresselly in control on 167-3.
The two batsmen continued to smash the ball every which way they could as Chandler finished the innings not out on 57 while Bayley was not out on an outstanding 79.
That took Cresselly to an imposing total of 194-3 from their first 22 overs.
Lawrenny knew they would need to bat well if they were to at least match Cresselly’s score but their reply did not get off to the best of starts.
Simon Cole, Steve Lewis and Patrick Elliot were all sent back in the hutch as Ryan Lewis took two wickets and Mike Shaw picked up the third leaving Lawrenny on 3-3 after just two overs.
The rebuilding effort began as Harry Thomas made his way to 26 and James Phillips to a score of 23 as Lawrenny recovered to reach 56-3 off 10.
Thomas and Phillips continued to play well in the middle as they took Lawrenny to 93-3 off 14 overs.
Their partnership stood 94 but Cresselly eventually made the breakthrough as James Phillips was run out by Mike Shaw on a score of 39.
Dan Sutton then picked up another run out with a direct hit and Lawrenny were now 108-5 off 16 overs.
Danger man Brad McDermott-Jenkins was then bowled by Shaw as Lawrenny slipped to 111-6.
Harry Thomas had made his way to an excellent score of 70 but he was then removed by Dan James to leave Lawrenny on 130-7.
Dan Cherry returned to take two wickets in the final over as Lawrenny finished their innings on 146-9, giving Cresselly a lead of 48 at the interval.
Cresselly then set about taking the game from their opponents and they reached 27-0 after four overs giving them a lead of 75.
That soon became 66-0 after ten with Dan Sutton on 35 and Adam Chandler on 26.
Lawrenny eventually made the breakthrough as Chandler departed on a score of 27. Sutton was then bowled on a score of 38 and soon after Iwan Izzard was sent back to the dressing room leaving Cresselly on 72-3.
Alex Bayley and Dan Cherry looked to rebuild for the hosts 89-3 off 15 overs.
Bayley could only add a score of 10 to his first innings knock before he was trapped leg before in the fifteenth over.
That soon became five as Lawrenny did their best to keep the lead down but with four overs to go, Cresselly held a lead of 158 with the score on 110-5.
Another run out checked Cresselly’s momentum as they reached 144-6 with Dan Cherry not out on 41.
They eventually finished on 149-6 meaning Lawrenny would need a mammoth 198 to win the Bowl Final.
Lawrenny got their reply going with a four off the first ball but they were soon in trouble after losing two quick wickets.
They reached 28-2 off the first four overs and 38-3 after six. That soon became 47-4 and Lawrenny were in danger of letting the game slip away from them.
They reached 65-4 after 12 overs needing 133 to win from the last ten overs. They did their best as the start of the next over saw two sixes and a four.
Cresselly were doing their best to stem the flow of runs but there was controversy in the fourteenth as Lawrenny fans claimed a four despite the fielders getting round to the ball, just two according to the umpires and Lawrenny were 90-4.
Joe Kidney was in good form for Lawrenny as he hit a six to make his way to a score of 48 but he was bowled as he went for another big shot.
Lawrenny continued to go for the big shots but two more wickets left them 111-7 after seventeen overs.
Two more wickets fell but Lawrenny refused to go down without a fight as Brad McDermott-Jenkins played a number of good strokes.
Lawrenny reached 160-9 off 21 overs and with 38 to win, the Bowl, barring any errors, was going to Cresselly.
McDermott-Jenkins continued to put on a show at the end and hit a six with the last ball to finish not out on 52 as Lawrenny finished their innings on 173-9.
That earned Cresselly a 25-run victory and they celebrated their first Bowl win since 2009.
Following the game, Pembroke County Cricket Club Chairman Paul Webb thanked everybody for attending the final and Cresselly and Lawrenny for an excellent game of cricket.
On receiving their runners up trophies, Lawrenny captain Joe Kidney congratulated Cresselly on their victory and thanked their set of supporters.
Cresselly’s Alex Bayley was also named as the man of the match for his excellent score of 79 not out in the first innings.
Speaking to the Herald after the presentation, Cresselly captain Neilson Cole said: “Lawrenny are a very dangerous side and Joe is one of the nicest guys I know and I’m sure he’s one hell of a skipper and they battled well today and they’ll be competing for the Bowl in the coming years, no doubt.
“It’s amazing, we’ve come so close, third time lucky. We’ve put our supporters through a lot the last couple of years and we’re just delighted to deliver it.
“Having played in the final before we know in the first innings, you can certainly lose it if you don’t get it right, Bayley’s innings was so important and he’s done it so many times for us in the bowl and rightfully man of the match today as that was the innings that turned the match.”
WALES HEAD coach Matt Sherratt has named his team to face England in the final round of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations at a sold-out Principality Stadium on Saturday (Mar 15, KO 4:45pm, live on BBC and S4C).
There are two changes to the starting line-up that played Scotland last weekend.
In the back row, Aaron Wainwright starts at blindside flanker, with captain Jac Morgan moving to openside. Taulupe Faletau retains his place at No. 8.
Joe Roberts is named on the left wing for his first start of the tournament, pushing Ellis Mee to the right wing. Blair Murray continues at fullback.
In the front row, Nicky Smith starts at loosehead prop, Elliot Dee at hooker, and WillGriff John continues at tighthead prop for a third consecutive match.
Will Rowlands and Dafydd Jenkins maintain their second-row partnership.
Tomos Williams starts at scrum-half, with his club teammate Gareth Anscombe at fly-half.
Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn once again form the midfield combination.
Nick Tompkins returns to the matchday squad and joins Rhodri Williams and Jarrod Evans as the replacement backs.
Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Keiron Assiratti, Teddy Williams, and Tommy Reffell provide forward cover.
Sherratt said: “Wales versus England is always a special occasion, and we know the atmosphere at Principality Stadium will be incredible. We’re excited to finish our campaign at home and want to deliver our best performance on Saturday.”
Wales team v England
- Blair Murray (Scarlets – 7 caps)
- Ellis Mee (Scarlets – 2 caps)
- Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 7 caps)
- Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 11 caps)
- Joe Roberts (Scarlets – 4 caps)
- Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester Rugby – 41 caps)
- Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 63 caps)
- Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 53 caps)
- Elliot Dee (Dragons – 55 caps)
- WillGriff John (Sale Sharks – 4 caps)
- Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 40 caps)
- Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 22 caps)
- Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 56 caps)
- Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 22 caps) – captain
- Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 107 caps)
Replacements:
- Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 19 caps)
- Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 39 caps)
- Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 13 caps)
- Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 5 caps)
- Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 26 caps)
- Rhodri Williams (Dragons – 8 caps)
- Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 10 caps)
- Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 40 caps)
2025 Guinness Six Nations results:
Friday, Jan 31: France 43-0 Wales (Stade de France, Paris)
Saturday, Feb 8: Italy 22-15 Wales (Stadio Olimpico, Rome)
Saturday, Feb 22: Wales 18-27 Ireland (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Saturday, Mar 8: Scotland v Wales (Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
Saturday, Mar 15: Wales v England (Principality Stadium, Cardiff) KO 4:45pm GMT
Whether you’re new to the world of football or a lifelong fan, it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest standings, upcoming fixtures, and more. With this in mind, here’s an update on the current status of the 2024-25 Premier League season, including which fixtures to look out for and predictions for who will claim the title.
Current standings
Liverpool are currently topping the Premier League table, having amassed 70 points over the course of the competition. They have won 21 out of their 29 matches in the season so far. Conversely, Southampton are sitting at the bottom of the league table, with just nine points. They have lost 23 out of 28 of their games.
But remember that the league table is always changing, so be sure to check in regularly, particularly as many teams have matches to catch up on due to Champions League and FA/League Cup commitments. So, things can change quickly.
Upcoming fixtures
April is packed with some highly anticipated matches. The month will kick off with Arsenal vs Fulham on April 1 at 19:45 at the Emirates Stadium. This fixture is followed by several matches the next day, including Brighton vs Aston Villa and Liverpool vs Everton.
Towards the end of the month, exciting matches such as Nottingham Forest vs Brentford and Liverpool vs Spurs will keep fans on the edge of their seats as the final league positions are decided. Make sure you keep an eye out for all upcoming matches, so you don’t miss out on any of the action.
League predictions
Chelsea are currently in the top four. However, they are the most likely to drop out of contention over the course of the remaining games – partially because they’re already 21 points behind Liverpool. The favourites to win the 2024/25 league are Liverpool at 80%, followed by Arsenal at 25%, Manchester City at 2.4% and Nottingham Forest at 1.2%. Despite some poor performances recently, Newcastle United are still in with a small chance of glory at 0.8%.
Where can I watch Premier League football?
The go to place to watch Premier League football is Sky Sports and TNT Sports. However, these packages can be costly.
As a result, in recent years, many fans have turned to online streaming solutions, such as Hesgoal TV. These streaming sites show the games for free, but they’re illegal to use and you may face a penalty for watching or broadcasting matches.
Will you be watching?
Whether you enjoy football via Sky Sports, use a streaming service or watch games down at the pub with your mates, keep an eye out for your favourite team and see how they perform in the final few matches of the season.
PEMBROKESHIRE’S own Sean Bowen, hailing from Letterston, has cemented his place among the UK’s top jockeys, ranking fourth on the all-time career earnings list for British National Hunt riders. With a staggering £11.5 million in prize money to his name, Bowen continues to make waves on the biggest stage—Cheltenham Festival 2025.
Bowen’s rise to the top
The latest rankings, compiled by racing experts at OLBG, highlight Bowen’s remarkable achievements:
Top-Earning British Jockeys
- Sam Twiston-Davies – £21,968,167
- Harry Skelton – £18,837,862
- Harry Cobden – £17,717,810
- Sean Bowen – £11,520,715
- Charlie Deutsch – £7,071,208
Bowen, 26, has quickly become one of the most respected jockeys in the sport, following in the footsteps of his father, Welsh trainer Peter Bowen. His younger brother, James Bowen, also ranks among the top-earning jockeys, sitting in seventh place with £5.6 million in career winnings.
With major wins in the Grand National and multiple Grade 1 victories, Sean Bowen is a name synonymous with Welsh racing success.
Cheltenham Festival 2025: Bowen in Action
This week, Bowen has been front and centre at the Cheltenham Festival, competing in multiple high-stakes races:
- Heads Up – Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) (March 12): Bowen guided Heads Up to a strong second-place finish, proving his ability on one of the festival’s biggest stages.
- Western Zephyr – Grand Annual Chase (March 12): In one of the most unpredictable handicap chases, Bowen put in a solid ride aboard Western Zephyr.
- The Goffer – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (March 12): Tackling Cheltenham’s unique Cross Country course, Bowen took on the gruelling challenge with The Goffer.
- Might I – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (March 12): Competing in one of the festival’s most competitive handicap hurdles, Bowen demonstrated his versatility.
- Jane Eire – Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (March 13): Bowen will look to add another big festival win to his name in this prestigious event.
A Pembrokeshire jockey on the big stage
As one of Wales’ top sporting figures, Sean Bowen’s continued success keeps Pembrokeshire in the spotlight of British horse racing. With Cheltenham still in full swing, local fans will be hoping for more triumphs from the Letterston star.
His incredible career earnings, combined with his continued performances at the festival, show why he is one of the most respected and successful jockeys in the UK today.
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