Sport
Neyland back on top

DIVISION 1 Champions Neyland returned to the top of the table on Saturday (May 18), as they beat previous leaders Carew by seven wickets.
Neyland won the toss and elected to field and they took an early wicket when Tom Davies was caught by Sean Hannon off the bowling of Henry Durrant.
Tim Hicks and Ian Sefton then shared 83 runs for the second wicket as they looked to build a platform for the rest of the innings.
Sefton hit six fours and two sixes in his knock of 49 but he was then caught by George Evans off the bowling of Geraint Rees.
Simon Wood then scored 11 but he was also caught by Hannon off the bowling of Tom Pritchard.
Hicks played well for his knock of 55 with four boundaries but he was then caught and bowled by Pritchard, leaving Carew on 144-4.
Luke Hicks had made 12 but he was then stumped by Hannon, giving Pritchard his third wicket.
Shaun Whitfield did not last long in the middle as he was caught by Evans off the bowling of Pritchard.
He then bowled Nick Scourfield for a duck for his fifth wicket to leave Carew reeling on 154-7.
Nick Davies and James Hinchcliffe did their best to stem the flow of wickets as they added 17 runs for the eighth wicket but it was Pritchard who struck again to claim his sixth wicket as he bowled Davies on a score of 14.
Hinchcliffe made 12 before he was caught by Gregg Miller off the bowling of Nick Koomen while Brian Hall was also caught by Miller off the bowling of Henry Durrant.
Ceri Brace finished not out on 10 but Carew had been bowled out for 197.
Neyland made a steady start to their reply as openers Nick Koomen and Ashley Sutton shared 29 runs for the first wicket.
Shaun Whitfield made the breakthrough for the home side as he trapped Koomen leg before on a score of 24.
Soon after, Andrew Miller was caught by Nick Davies off the bowling of Tom Davies on a score of 5 leaving Neyland on 40-2.
However, Ashley Sutton and Henry Durrant then shared a good stand of 66 as they looked to set their side up for victory.
Sutton hit five fours and a six as he scored 46 but he was then bowled by Simon Wood.
Despite picking up their third wicket, Carew found it impossible to remove Durrant or George Evans as they took Neyland to victory.
Evans was not out on 32 with a four and a six while Durrant smashed three sixes and five fours as he finished not out on 73.
Neyland now sit top of the table, a point ahead of Haverfordwest, and on Saturday (May 25) they are at home to Saundersfoot.
Carew will look to bounce back as they travel to Whitland.
Sport
Local brothers ride in Grand National showdown

Bowen family pride as Sean and James compete at Aintree
TWO Pembrokeshire brothers – Sean and James Bowen – lined up in Saturday’s (Apr 5) Grand National, continuing their family’s deep-rooted legacy in British horse racing.
Sean, 27, and James, 22, are the sons of veteran Letterston trainer Peter Bowen, a well-known figure in Welsh racing circles. Both jockeys have made names for themselves on the national stage, and their participation in the world’s most famous steeplechase marked a proud moment for the local community.
Sean Bowen rode Three Card Brag for Gordon Elliott and finished a respectable 11th. Remarkably, Sean has achieved racing success despite being allergic to horses – a condition that causes sneezing and watery eyes whenever he’s in the saddle for too long. In an interview with The Telegraph, he explained: “It’s just something I’ve had to get on with… If I have a long day in the saddle I’ll feel it.”
Sean’s grit and determination have paid off. He notched his 1,000th career win earlier this year and was crowned 2023-24 Champion Jockey, despite an injury scare in January. He’s no stranger to big days either, having won the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in 2019.
His younger brother James Bowen rode Chantry House and came in 16th. James, a rising star in his own right, recently rode two winners at Warwick in a single day and is known for his calm tactical riding style. The brothers have often credited their father Peter for instilling in them a strong work ethic and passion for the sport from a young age.
Saturday’s race was a historic one, as trainer Willie Mullins secured a 1-2-3 finish. The 2025 Grand National winner was Nick Rockett, ridden by Patrick Mullins at odds of 33/1. Defending champion I Am Maximus came second, and Grangeclare West finished third.
The top five finishers were:
- Nick Rockett (33/1)
- I Am Maximus (7/1)
- Grangeclare West (33/1)
- Iroko (13/2)
- Meetingofthewaters (20/1)
While victory eluded the Bowen brothers this time, their presence at Aintree reinforces Pembrokeshire’s strong connection to the racing world – and the enduring legacy of the Bowen name in the sport.
Cover image: Sean with his brother, James, who came in 16th on board Chantry House in the National (Credit: PA/David Davies)
News
Pembroke Dock boy walks out with Spurs captain at Stamford Bridge

AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD boy from Pembroke Dock had the experience of a lifetime on Thursday night (Apr 4), when he was selected as the official mascot for Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Joey Williams, a pupil at Pembroke Dock Community School, walked out onto the pitch hand-in-hand with Spurs’ team captain, Son Heung-min, in front of a packed stadium and millions of viewers watching around the world.

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was part of Tottenham Hotspur’s official mascot programme. Joey, who recently turned eight, travelled to London with his family to take part in the unforgettable event.
His proud mum, KatieJane Solomon, told The Herald: “My son lives in Pembroke Dock and was chosen to be mascot for the Chelsea vs Tottenham game tonight. He walked out with Son Heung-min!”
“He’s a very big Spurs fan so we signed him up to be a member on there website about a year ago and he was very lucky selected at random last month.”
The Premier League clash ended in high drama, but for Joey, the biggest highlight was walking out alongside his football heroes.


Sport
Narberth and Crymych suffer humbling defeats

Heavy losses dealt to both Pembrokeshire sides
PEMBROKESHIRE rugby teams Narberth and Crymych endured punishing defeats on Saturday (Mar 29) as both clubs came up against dominant opposition in their respective leagues.
Welsh Premiership: Merthyr 78–17 Narberth
In the top tier of Welsh club rugby, The Otters were overwhelmed by a clinical Merthyr side who ran in 12 tries. Despite the heavy defeat, Narberth showed flashes of resilience, with second-row Will Blackburn scoring twice and fly-half Jonathan Rogers adding a conversion.
There was a sliver of consolation for Narberth as fellow relegation rivals Bonymaen also lost, though the Swansea-based club managed to secure a valuable bonus point.
Championship West: Llanelli Wanderers 68–12 Crymych
Crymych’s afternoon was equally difficult as they were soundly beaten by Llanelli Wanderers. The home side dominated from the outset, racking up a 32–0 lead by half-time. Despite tries from flanker Tom Taylor and hooker Lee Griffiths in the second half, Crymych were unable to mount a serious comeback.
Adding to their woes, relegation rivals Gowerton produced a big win over Maesteg Quins, piling further pressure on Crymych as the battle for survival intensifies.
Both Pembrokeshire clubs now face uphill tasks in the final weeks of the season as they fight to maintain their league status.
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