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.”
Sport
Previewing the 2025 Super Bowl
Each year millions of people across the world gather to watch one of the biggest sporting events of the year – the Super Bowl. Last year, 3.4 million people in the UK watched the Super Bowl, up 1.1 million from the previous year. Considering the growth in popularity of American football in the UK, we anticipate the viewership will be even higher for 2025.
The 2025 Super Bowl is scheduled to take place on 9 February 2025 at Caesars Superdrome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
NFL teams
12 teams began competing for a spot in the 2025 Super Bowl when the playoffs began on January 11. At this point, four teams were eliminated. This now leaves eight teams to compete in the Divisional playoffs. Four of these will make it to the Conference Championships before contesting for a spot at this year’s Super Bowl.
The eight teams left with a shot at competing in the 2025 Super Bowl are:
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Detroit Lions
- Houston Texans
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Rams
- Washington Commanders
Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs took the title for the second year in a row. However, the latest Super Bowl odds puts the Detroit Lions as the favourites to win this year’s Super Bowl, following a series of impressive performances in the regular season.
The national anthem and halftime show
Before the game commences, a special guest performs the national anthem. Last year, Reba McEntire offered a moving performance of The Star-Spangled Banner, and this year the task falls to jazz singer Jon Batiste.
It’s not just the football match that people look forward to. Super Bowl halftime shows are a spectacle in themselves and many look forward to the performance as much as the game itself. This year, 17-time grammy winner Kendrick Lamar is headlining the halftime show. Lamar previously headlined the Super Bowl in 2022.
How can I watch the Super Bowl in the UK?
The Super Bowl is being broadcast to fans free on ITV, including live online via ITVX on your laptop, mobile, or tablet.
Sky Sports is also broadcasting the event which you can watch online via Sky Go, NOW TV, or using the Sky Sports mobile app. You could also head to your local pub as plenty of pubs in Pembrokeshire will be showing the big game.
Will you be tuning in?
With a surge in popularity for American Football, it’s anticipated that more people from the UK than ever before will be turning their TVs on for the big event this year. Will you be watching this year’s Super Bowl?
Sport
Division Four West rugby: Thrills and tight contests on a chilly Saturday
Exciting matches, hard-fought battles, and standout performances define the weekend’s action.
Dreigiau Emlyn Edge Harlequins in Close Contest
Dreigiau Emlyn 21 – Pembroke Dock Harlequins 15
Dreigiau Emlyn secured a narrow victory over Pembroke Dock Harlequins, strengthening their position in the top half of the table. Gethin Davies scored two crucial tries, while Deiniol Rees added three penalties and a conversion to steer the hosts to victory. The Harlequins kept the game competitive with tries from Craig Barnett and Tom Donovan, with Ben Hathaway converting one and kicking a penalty. However, Emlyn’s composed performance ensured they held on for the win.
Teirw Crymych Outgun Llangwm in High-Scorer
Llangwm 22 – Teirw Crymych 33
Teirw Crymych powered to a 33-22 victory over bottom-placed Llangwm, bolstering their challenge for the league’s top spots. Sion Williams and Morgan Jones led the visitors’ try-scoring efforts, with additional tries from Sion Owen and Nick Bevan. Adam Phillips was reliable from the tee, adding four conversions. Llangwm fought back with tries from Aidan Rees and Ryan Banner, while Harry Makepeace contributed two conversions and a penalty. Despite their spirited display, the hosts couldn’t match Crymych’s attacking prowess.
St Davids Win Key Clash Against Llanybydder
Llanybydder 17 – St Davids 29
St Davids took a significant step away from the relegation zone with a vital 29-17 win over Llanybydder. Harvey Godkin, Nathan Foster, Zac Morgan, and Morgan Griffiths all crossed the whitewash for the visitors, with Bob Froy converting three and adding a penalty to secure a bonus-point victory. Llanybydder’s John Evans delivered an impressive hat-trick of tries, with one conversion by Matthew Rowlands, but St Davids’ all-round performance proved too much for the home side.
Division Four West continues to deliver thrilling rugby as teams battle for position in a tightly contested league.
Sport
Division Two goals galore as Narberth continue to dominate
Big wins and thrilling contests highlight the latest round of fixtures.
Narberth Crush Broad Haven
Broad Haven 1 – Narberth 11
League leaders Narberth delivered a masterclass, thrashing bottom side Broad Haven 11-1 in a one-sided encounter. Ryan Williams, Chris Brown, and Steffan Williams each netted hat-tricks, with further goals from Jordan Williams and Josh Jones. Broad Haven’s Ashley Bladen grabbed a consolation goal, but the hosts were no match for the rampant visitors, who tightened their grip on the top of the table.
Swifts Reserves Hammer Carew II
Monkton Swifts II 7 – Carew II 0
Rudy Poole’s incredible six-goal performance powered Monkton Swifts II to a commanding 7-0 victory over Carew II. Mark Jones added the final goal as the Swifts dominated from start to finish, boosting their push up the table with an emphatic statement win.
Johnston See Off Camrose
Johnston 2 – Camrose 0
Johnston earned a crucial 2-0 victory against fourth-placed Camrose in a tightly contested match. Marcus Allen’s opener and Josh Knapp’s second-half goal secured the points for the hosts. Johnston’s resolute defending ensured a clean sheet, helping them solidify their mid-table position while dealing a blow to Camrose’s hopes of catching the teams above them.
Merlins Bridge Reserves Edge Neyland in Thriller
Merlins Bridge II 3 – Neyland 2
Merlins Bridge II clinched a thrilling 3-2 victory over Neyland in a closely fought contest. Kian Lee opened the scoring for the hosts, with Bradley Barrett converting a penalty and Harrison Goddard adding a third. Neyland pushed back through Jay Johnstone and Ben Gale, but the Bridge held on to secure all three points in an exciting encounter.
Solva Outclass Lawrenny
Solva 5 – Lawrenny 0
Solva made light work of struggling Lawrenny with a 5-0 win. Kieran Price’s hat-trick stole the spotlight, with Luke Mason and Morgan Elliott also finding the net. The result leaves Lawrenny rooted near the bottom of the table, while Solva capitalized on their opponents’ weaknesses to secure a comfortable victory.
As the season progresses, Division Two continues to deliver high-scoring games and thrilling battles.
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