Sport
Neyland crowned champions
NEYLAND successfully retained their Division 1 crown on Saturday (Aug 10) as their game with Lawrenny ended in a draw.
Going into the game, Lawrenny knew they would need to win if they were to keep their title hopes alive but Neyland were also keen to pick up the win.
Neyland batted first and made a good total of 242-5 from their 45 overs.
They made a steady start with Patrick Bellerby and Nick Koomen sharing 56 runs for the first wicket.
Koomen scored 20 but he was then caught by James Phillips off the bowling of Ryan Morton.
Soon after, Bellerby, who had made his way to a score of 32, was caught by Harry Thomas off the bowling of Morton.
Ashley Sutton cracked a six in his score of 12 but then saw himself caught by James Buckle as Morton picked up his third wicket.
When George Evans was caught by Tom Cole off the bowling of Rob Williams, Neyland had slipped to 110-4.
Ross Hardy and Henry Durrant then swung the game in Neyland’s favour as they shared a fifth wicket stand worth 114 runs.
Durrant hit two fours and a six in his score of 38 before he was bowled by Morton who finished with excellent figures of 4-32 from his nine overs.
Hardy was on a score of 89 when Durrant departed and he went on to complete his century, hitting eight fours and eight sixes in his score of 102 not out.
Lawrenny were also guilty of giving away 31 runs in extras as Lawrenny’s target for victory was 243.
Lawrenny were struggling early on in their reply as they lost Harry Thomas when he was caught by Sean Hannon off the bowling of Henry Durrant.
They also lost James Phillips when he was caught by Nick Koomen off the bowling of Nathan Banner as the hosts were reduced to 8-2.
James Buckle and Steve Lewis shared 60 runs for the third wicket as they looked to keep their side in the game.
Andrew Miller then struck as he had Buckle caught by Geraint Rees.
Lewis then reached his half century but, having hit five fours and two sixes in his score of 52, he was then caught by Hardy off the bowling of Rees.
Rees then had Brad McDermott-Jenkins caught by Patrick Hannon and James Skeels caught by Patrick Bellerby as Lawrenny were reduced to 87-6.
Joe Kidney hit a four and a six in his score of 13 but he was then caught by Bellerby off the bowling of Rees who also finished with figures of 4-32 from his seven overs.
Andrew Miller then had Ryan Morton caught by Bellerby as the visitors continued to take wickets in search of victory.
Tom Cole hit three fours and a six in his score of 28 but when he was bowled by Ross Hardy, Lawrenny were staring at defeat on 140-9.
Rob Williams and Jamie Lewis ensured that the game would finish in a draw however, with the former hitting a four and a six in his score of 23 not out.
That saw the hosts finish on 173-9 but the 29 points that Neyland picked up meant they were crowned Division 1 champions again.
They have had a fantastic season, winning thirteen of their sixteen games so far and losing only once.
They now have two games to finish the season starting on Saturday (Aug 17), at home to Haverfordwest and on Saturday, August 24, they travel to Whitland.
Sport
Letterston marksman wins junior athlete award
A TALENTED young athlete from Letterston has been honoured at the British Shooting Awards 2024.
Seren Thorne was shortlisted for the prestigious awards and attended the gala event held at the Imperial War Museum in Manchester. To the delight of her family and supporters, Seren was named the winner of the Rifle Pathway / Junior Athlete of the Year award.
This accolade highlights Seren’s exceptional skill and dedication to the sport, marking her as one of the rising stars in British shooting.
Her mother, Sian Thorne, expressed immense pride in Seren’s achievement, sharing photos of the memorable evening.
The British Shooting Awards 2024 celebrated excellence in the sport, with a full list of winners available on their official website.
PHOTO CAPTION: Champion marksman: Seren Thorne receiving the Rifle Pathway / Junior Athlete of the Year award (Pic: Supplied).
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.
-
Crime5 days ago
Man charged with attempted murder after child found in critical condition
-
Crime5 days ago
Milford paedophile caught with 1600 indecent images of children avoids jail
-
Community7 days ago
Stricken vessel now off Broad Haven as pollution experts stand-by
-
Top News3 days ago
Rail worker jailed for biting man’s lip off in Pembrokeshire pub
-
Crime3 days ago
Drug dealers caught trafficking cocaine worth £2,000 to Steynton addict
-
Crime2 days ago
Man in custody after admitting sexual assault of boy under 13
-
Crime5 days ago
Air ambulance called to Parc Prison as inmate suffers ‘severe medical episode’
-
News7 days ago
Landslides close section of Pembrokeshire coastal path once again