NEYLAND claimed the Pembroke County Cricket Division 1 title on Saturday (Aug 25) as their win over Haverfordwest, coupled with defeat for Cresselly, saw them jump to the top of the table.

Going into the final game of the season, Cresselly led Neyland by six points with Haverfordwest 16 points behind in third and still in with a chance of taking the title.

Cresselly knew all they would need to do was win and the title would be theirs but they came up against a Lawrenny side who have already beaten them once in the league this season, and pushed them all the way in the Harrison Allen Final.

Neyland went into their game with Haverfordwest hopeful of such a repeat but faced a tough game with the side that have also held the top spot during the season.

Overnight rain had made the grounds heavy and that played a factor at the toss as Haverfordwest won the toss and elected to field while Lawrenny batted first against Cresselly.

Lawrenny were keen to how that they had not just come to make up the numbers as Brad McDermott Jenkins top scored with 97 for the visitors.

James Phillips scored 24 and Joe Kidney added 21 before Steve Lewis finished not out on 51 to take Lawrenny to a total of 252-8 from their 45 overs.

Ryan Lewis took three wickets for the loss of 51 runs while Simon Cole (1-39) also chipped in with a wicket.

Nick Koomen and Gregg Miller made a steady start to their innings sharing 39 for the first wicket before Miller was trapped leg before by Adam James on a score of 10.

Andrew Miller was then also trapped leg before by Simon Holliday on a score of 2 while Koomen, who had hit eight fours in a score of 45, was caught and bowled by Kieran O’Connor.

Ashley Sutton and Nathan Banner took Neyland past 100 runs with a good partnership but O’Connor struck again as he trapped Sutton leg before on a score of 31 that included two fours and a six.

Neyland had limped to 143-4 in the 35^th over and things did not look much better when Holliday had Banner caught and bowled on a score of 18.

However, Patrick Bellerby and Scott Jones then shared an excellent stand of 76 to swing the game in their favour.

Haverfordwest’s bowlers were not helping themselves either as James bowled a second no ball and had to be taken off, the second bowler to do so. They also gave away 36 extras.

Overthrows also proved costly as Neyland took two runs off an lbw shout. Bellerby made his way to score of 37 with three fours and Scott Jones finished not out on 41 with five boundaries as Neyland finished on 224-6 from their 45 overs.

Cresselly knew they would need to bat well if they were to reach their target and claim the Division 1 title. They made a steady start as Adam Chandler and Dan Sutton shared 49 for the first wicket.

Sutton scored 31 but he was then caught by McDermott-Jenkins off the bowling of Harry Thomas.

At the same time, Haverfordwest’s openers Simon Holliday and Ben Field shared a similarly steady start sharing 43 runs for the first wicket. Andrew Miller made the breakthrough as he had danger man Simon Holliday caught and bowled on a score of 15.

Miller then turned the screw once more as he trapped Field leg before on a score of 25 and had Lee Summons caught by Nick Koomen on a score of three to leave Town reeling on 49-3.

In Cresselly, the home side were doing their best to reach their target with Iwan Izzard scoring 42 before being bowled by McDermott-Jenkins and Dan Cherry was trapped leg before leaving them on 146-3.

Miller again returned to take his fourth wicket as he had Danny Potter caught by Gregg Miller on a score of 10.

Adam James was also bowled by Andrew Miller before Jake Merry was caught by Sean Hannon off the bowling of Gary Lloyd leaving Town on 81-6.

Dai Davies had scored 26 with a four and a six but he was then caught by Scott Jones off the bowling of Lloyd and Town were suddenly staring at a heavy defeat.

Cresselly’s Adam Chandler hit some excellent shots in his score of 64 but he was then caught by Joe Kidney off the bowling of Cole as Cresselly were reduced to 187-4.

McDermott-Jenkins then had Alex Bayley caught on a score of 17 and he also bowled Ryan Lewis as the title began to slip away.

Back in Neyland, the home side were making light work of Town as Archie Thomas was out for a score of 5, caught by Gregg Miller off the bowling of Nick Koomen.

O’Connor had scored 15 for Town but he was then trapped leg before by Lloyd and moments later they had victory as Lloyd bowled Johnny White for a duck.

That meant Lloyd finished with excellent figures 4-16 from his 6.5 overs and Town were all out for 110.

With news perhaps filtering through to Cresselly, they knew they would need to win if they were to pick up the Division 1 trophy.

Simon Cole scored 22 before he was caught by Matthew Kidney off the bowling of his namesake and Dan James scored 20 before he also fell to Cole.

Cresselly were running out of options as Sam Harts was bowled by Ryan Morton and needed to score 25 off the final over.

They were unable to knock off those runs as Cole bowled Nielson Cole to bring the game to a close and also giving the title to Neyland.

It brought to a close an excellent cricket season which has seen three different teams hold the lead at the top but with Neyland deserved winners.