Sport

West Wales Cup Final Preview: Merlins Bridge v Carew

Published

7 years ago

May 3, 2019

ON Tuesday, May 7, Merlins Bridge will take on Carew in the Final of the West Wales Cup Final at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.

In a historic night, it will be the first all-Pembrokeshire final and both will be keen to follow in the footsteps of Goodwick United who won the trophy in 2018.

This will be the fourth meeting between the two sides this season with the most recent coming in the Senior Cup Final on April 20.

Carew took the lead in that game, only for the Bridge to come back with two late goals to seal the win.

It was another close game, much like their two league encounters and, now the league season has finished, it will be a battle between the team who finished second in Merlins Bridge and the team who finished fourth in the table.

Route to the final

Merlins Bridge began their run to the final with a 1-0 win away to Kilvey Fords in October with Will Haworth grabbing the only goal to send them through to round 2.

The Wizards were again drawn away from home to last season’s beaten finalists Penlan Club but they again came back with a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Joe Leahy.

In the third round Merlins Bridge played Monkton Swifts and two goals from Nathan Greene and another from Leahy gave them a 3-0 win.

Leahy and Greene were at it again in the fourth round as they both scored to earn the Wizards a 2-1 win over Swansea side Llandarcy.

Merlins Bridge were drawn at home to Plough Colts in the last eight and earned a 5-2 win with Adam Hawkins scoring twice and other goals from Leahy, Greene and Dai Davies.

In the semi-final they took on rivals Hakin United in what turned out to be a thrilling game. Adam Hawkins levelled after Hakin had taken the lead and the game was forced into extra time.

Joe Leahy put the Wizards ahead only for Hakin to score again to score again and force the game into penalties. Gary Thomas was the hero for the Wizards saving the last penalty as they went through with an 8-7 shootout win.

Joe Leahy has scored in each round since the second round and having scored the two goals against them in the Senior Cup final, Carew will be well aware of his threat.

Having reached the last four last season, Carew received a bye for the first round and began their run to the final in round 2 where they were drawn away to Burry Port.

Two goals each from Jordan Richards and Scott Ferney and another from Lloyd Hughes saw them to a 5-2 win over the Carmarthenshire League Division 1 side.

In round three the Rooks took on Loughor Rovers and eased to an 8-0 win with Hughes scoring four and Jordan Richards scoring a hat trick. Ferney grabbed the other goal.

Shaun Whitfield, Sam Christopher, Scott Ferney and Jordan Richards each scored in round four to earn a 4-0 win for the Rooks away at Maltsters Sports.

In the last eight, Carew played Mumbles Rangers at home and they came from two goals down to win 3-2 with brothers Sam and Jack Christopher on the score sheet alongside Whitfield.

In the semi-final, Carew took on Giants Grave and they came from behind again with four first half goals to all but seal their passage.

Sam Christopher and Lloyd Hughes both scored twice in the game.

Christopher also scored against the Bridge in the Senior Cup Final and he along with the likes of Pembrokeshire League top scorer Jordan Richards and Scott Ferney will prove a big threat to the Wizards.

What the managers say

Merlins Bridge manager Matthew Divry told the Herald: “We trained on Wednesday at the Bridge Meadow which was a tactical session and we will be training on Saturday on the 4G surface at Caer Elen.

“We know the Liberty is a good surface so it was good to be able to train at these places.

“We haven’t done anything different, we’ve played a number of games recently so with the training we’ve had we’ll be ready to go on Tuesday.

“We’ve got a fully fit squad to choose from.

“We didn’t play to our full potential in the Senior Cup final so a lot of our training has been based on trying to get back to how we want to play.

“The Liberty is a big pitch and we are looking forward to it, it’s the first ever one for the club.

“We’ve got a few previous winners in our squad so we’re hoping those experiences will pay off for us.”

Carew manager Rob Scourfield said: “It’s a big game for the football club and we’re really, really looking forward to it. It’s the first time in the West Wales Cup Final so it will be a great occasion for the village and the club. We can’t wait.

“We played quite well in the Senior Cup Final in the but in the last ten minutes they were better than us.

“However, this is a totally different game and we’re just looking forward and concentrating on the game itself.

“We have a very similar squad to choose from that played in the Senior Cup Final and we have five subs this time so it will be good to get everybody involved.

“We’ve been watching Swansea at the Liberty, it’s a great stadium and it will be a great occasion, both for us and for Pembrokeshire Football.”

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Narberth youngsters impress in busy day of cricket

Published

1 day ago

May 17, 2026

Herald Sport

NARBERTH Cricket Club’s junior sides enjoyed a strong day of performances, with the under-15s recording a convincing win and the under-14 girls pushing Cresselly all the way in a close contest.

The under-15s defeated St Ishmaels after posting 120-7, before bowling their opponents out for 54.

Narberth’s under-14 girls were also in action, producing an excellent effort against a talented Cresselly side.

In an eight-a-side, 16-over match, Narberth made 83-5 before Cresselly reached 84-4 to edge the contest.

Mia Phillips top-scored for Narberth with an unbeaten 22, while Sylvie Dunlop made 7 not out. The pair also shared a 50 partnership.

Leah Lewis contributed 18 with the bat and took 1-4 with the ball, while Tia Blewitt produced an excellent spell, taking 3-3.

Despite the narrow defeat, the performance underlined the strength of girls’ cricket at Narberth and the progress being made by the club’s young players.

Sport

Narberth hosts successful girls’ cricket festival

Published

1 day ago

May 17, 2026

Herald Sport

YOUNG cricketers from across west Wales took part in a successful under-10s girls’ cricket festival hosted by Narberth Cricket Club on Sunday.

Teams from Whitland, Pembroke Dock, Neyland, Llangennech and Pembroke joined the host side for a day of cricket which highlighted the growing strength of the girls’ game in the region.

Organisers said all teams showed excellent teamwork, enthusiasm and sportsmanship throughout the festival.

Thanks were also given to Narberth coach Ceri Davies, whose organisation helped ensure the day was a success.

Host team: Narberth’s under-10s girls at Sunday’s cricket festival (Pic: Shannon Harries).

Sport

Rain halts most action as Pembs cricket battles the weather

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2026

Herald Sport

Only a handful of matches completed as showers cause widespread disruption across all divisions

THE WEAETHER won the battle across much of Pembrokeshire cricket on Saturday (May 16), with abandoned matches dominating the fourth week of the Pembroke County Cricket League season.

Only a small number of fixtures reached a result, although there were still impressive individual performances and significant movement in the league tables.

Division 1: Carew stay top despite washout

Rain interrupted almost every match in Division 1, with no full fixtures completed.

Carew remain top of the table after taking four points from their abandoned clash with Whitland, while Saundersfoot and Neyland continue to keep the pressure on.

Division 1 results

Fixture	Result
Saundersfoot v Herbrandston	Match abandoned – Herbrandston 57-5
Narberth v Lawrenny	Match abandoned – Narberth 74-2
Cresselly v Neyland	Match abandoned – Neyland 64-3
Burton v St Ishmaels	Match abandoned – Burton 44-2
Carew v Whitland	Match abandoned – Whitland 38-7

Division 1 standout performances

Player	Club	Performance
Jordan Howell	Narberth	35*
Lewis Hough	Narberth	25*
Paul Murray	Neyland	37
Iori Hicks	Carew	3-17
Tom Mansbridge	Saundersfoot	3-12

Division 1 table

Pos	Team	Played	Points
1	Carew	4	60
2	Saundersfoot	4	50
3	Neyland	4	47
4	Burton	4	33
5	Herbrandston	4	33
6	Cresselly	4	31
7	Narberth	4	27
8	Whitland	4	24
9	St Ishmaels	4	22
10	Lawrenny	4	16

Division 2: Haverfordwest cruise to nine-wicket win

The only completed match in Division 2 saw Haverfordwest ease to a nine-wicket victory over Llangwm.

Chris Phillips starred with both bat and ball, taking 4-36 before smashing 71 as Haverfordwest chased 142 with ease.

Division 2 results

Fixture	Result
Llanrhian v Cresselly II	Match abandoned
Hook v Fishguard	Match abandoned – Fishguard 117-2
Llangwm v Haverfordwest	Haverfordwest won by 9 wickets
Pembroke Dock v Llechryd	Match abandoned
Johnston v Pembroke	Match abandoned

Division 2 standout performances

Player	Club	Performance
Chris Phillips	Haverfordwest	4-36 & 71
Johnnie White	Haverfordwest	56*
Ashish Jayes	Fishguard	75*
George Smith	Pembroke Dock	56
Jack Phillips	Llangwm	43

Division 2 table

Pos	Team	Played	Points
1	Johnston	4	61
2	Haverfordwest	4	61
3	Cresselly II	4	57
4	Pembroke	4	51
5	Hook	4	45
6	Pembroke Dock	4	34
7	Llanrhian	4	29
8	Fishguard	4	23
9	Llechryd	4	22
10	Llangwm	4	21

Division 3: Laugharne impress before rain arrives

Laugharne looked in control at Kilgetty thanks to an unbeaten 61 from Matt Tait before the weather intervened.

Elsewhere, Burton II made a strong start against Haverfordwest II, reaching 43 without loss before rain stopped play.

Division 3 results

Fixture	Result
Haverfordwest II v Burton II	Match abandoned
Stackpole v Carew II	Match abandoned
Pembroke II v Lamphey	Match abandoned
Kilgetty v Laugharne	Match abandoned – Laugharne 131-4
Hundleton v Saundersfoot II	Match abandoned

Division 3 table

Pos	Team	Played	Points
1	Kilgetty	4	61
2	Carew II	4	56
3	Lamphey	4	47
4	Laugharne	4	46
5	Hundleton	4	44

Division 4: Narberth II earn biggest win of the day

Narberth II secured one of the weekend’s few completed victories with a 42-run win over Llechryd II.

Ceri Davies smashed 76 while Richard Howell starred with the ball, taking 4-12.

Crymych also impressed before rain halted play against Lawrenny II, reaching 146-3 thanks to Rhys Davies’ unbeaten 73.

Division 4 results

Fixture	Result
St Ishmaels II v Carew III	Match abandoned
Lawrenny II v Crymych	Match abandoned – Crymych 146-3
Neyland II v Haverfordwest III	Match abandoned
Herbrandston II v Hook II	Match abandoned – Hook II 95-2
Llechryd II v Narberth II	Narberth II won by 42 runs

Division 4 table

Pos	Team	Played	Points
1	Narberth II	4	67
2	Hook II	4	58
3	Lawrenny II	4	57
4	Llechryd II	4	45
5	Crymych	4	43

Division 5: Whitland II pile on the runs

Whitland II posted the highest score of the weekend, smashing 256-2 before rain ended play against Llanrhian II.

Steffan Lee (61*) and Matt Driver (67*) were in fine form.

Llechryd III also impressed, reaching 160-4 thanks to Andrew Davies’ unbeaten 69.

Division 5 table

Pos	Team	Played	Points
1	Cresselly III	4	67
2	Llanrhian II	4	63
3	Whitland II	4	52
4	Llangwm II	3	43
5	Llechryd III	4	25

Division 6: Whitland III romp home

Whitland III claimed the most emphatic result of the weekend, skittling Kilgetty II for just 17 before knocking off the target for the loss of one wicket.

Ben Rodea (3-8) and Sion Benjamin (2-8) starred with the ball.

Haverfordwest/Cresselly also picked up a valuable seven-wicket win over Laugharne II.

Division 6 table

Pos	Team	Played	Points
1	Whitland III	4	63
2	Lamphey II	3	56
3	H’West/Cresselly	4	39
4	Neyland III	4	37
5	Laugharne II	3	32

Despite the weather chaos, the early league tables are beginning to take shape, with Carew, Johnston, Kilgetty, Narberth II, Cresselly III and Whitland III all setting the early pace in their respective divisions.