LAST WEEKEND’S games may have been washed out, but The Herald sat down with popular referee Marty Jones to hear his reflections on the season so far.

Best welcome of the season?

“Fishguard Sports for their Division 2 clash against Carew 2nds was the standout,” Marty said. “The respect they showed was impeccable. From the warm welcome by coaching staff and players to the thoughtful touches like tea at half-time and full-time, they went above and beyond. Even the payment was sorted upfront, which is always appreciated! The atmosphere created by their coaches and supporters was excellent—no issues there, unlike what can occasionally happen elsewhere. Visiting Fishguard is always a pleasure… well, apart from the rabbit holes!”

Most impressive team?

“It has to be Goodwick United,” Marty revealed. “I’ve only reffed their first team once this season, and while that particular game didn’t go smoothly for me, they’re an incredible team. Their resilience and defensive quality set them apart. There’s a saying: ‘Attackers win you games, defences win you titles,’ and Goodwick embody that. Nick Jones, their keeper, has the best distribution in the league by far. Reffing them is always a privilege, and as a football lover, I relish officiating games involving the top teams.”

Surprising quality?

“Division 1 and Division 2 this season are the best I’ve seen in years,” Marty observed. “Tenby have particularly caught my eye. While I know how good they are, they’ve still managed to surprise me with their performances—drawing with Hakin, pushing Goodwick, and consistently playing entertaining, attacking football. They’re a pleasure to referee and would be great to watch as a fan. It speaks volumes about the strength of Division 1 that a quality team like Tenby isn’t in title contention.”

Standout players?

“It’s tough to choose,” Marty admitted. “For juniors, Ollie Clarke from New Hedges Saundersfoot deserves a mention. He’s respectful, talented, and scored the best header I’ve ever seen. The juniors league is in great shape, with plenty of promising players like him. For seniors, I have to highlight Jack Ashman. His recent performance was incredible—the best individual display I’ve seen all season. While I’m not saying he’s the most consistent player in the league, that match was something special.”

Title predictions?

“Goodwick United for Division 1,” Marty predicted confidently. “Their defence is rock solid, and I can’t see them losing. Hakin aren’t quite there yet. Division 2 is much harder to call, but I’d back Fishguard Sports. They have the squad depth to edge out Narberth in a close race.

“For the cups, I’d love to see a Hakin vs. Goodwick final in the Senior Cup, with Hakin on their day being capable of anything. In Division 2, I’m picking Fishguard for a league and cup double. That said, I haven’t reffed Narberth yet, so maybe I’m being a little unfair to them. It’s brilliant to see such strong competition in both divisions—it keeps the Pembrokeshire leagues exciting!”

Lawrenny (82 for 4) beat Neyland B (63 for 5) by 19 runs

THE MATCH between Lawrenny and Neyland B turned into an unexpectedly low-scoring affair, with both sides struggling to rack up runs. Challenging conditions, possibly due to the newly introduced balls known for swinging more before being fully “knocked in,” appeared to hamper the batting.

Batting first, Lawrenny posted a modest 82 for 4 in their 10 overs. Finley Lewis (12) and Will Allen (21 from 15 balls) top-scored, with Rhys Eynon adding a quickfire 23, including two sixes and two fours, before being run out. Noah Williams remained unbeaten on 16, with 10 extras boosting the total. Neyland B’s Tom Pritchard (2 for 12) and Iestyn Myles (1 for 21) were the pick of the bowlers.

In reply, Neyland B struggled against Lawrenny’s bowling attack, led by Finley Lewis (2 for 5). Early dismissals of John Tennick (3) and Iestyn Myles (2) left the team reeling at 5 for 2. Jamie Smith managed 13, while Tom Pritchard fought hard with a defiant 22, but it wasn’t enough. Additional contributions from Lawrenny’s bowlers Will Allen (1 for 16), Rhys Eynon (1 for 12), and Oscar Lewis (1 for 12) ensured Neyland B were restricted to 63 for 5, sealing Lawrenny’s 19-run victory.

Cresselly cruise to victory over Pembs Seniors A

Pembs Seniors A (97 for 5) lost to Cresselly (98 for 0) by 6 wickets

Cresselly continued their dominant run with a clinical performance against Pembs Seniors A. Chasing a modest target of 98, they cruised to victory in just 7.4 overs without losing a wicket.

The Seniors struggled with the bat after losing key player Kevin Bowen for 3. Andrew Williams (24) and Alan Webster (36 not out from 24 balls) provided some stability, but the rest of the lineup faltered. Stuart Carpenter chipped in with 15, including a six, but contributions from Huw Scriven (5) and Mark Hicks (0) were minimal.

Cresselly’s bowlers, led by Griff Jenkins (2 for 16) and Tom Arthur (1 for 20), kept the Seniors in check. In reply, Noah Williams (25, including three fours) and Griff Jenkins (26, with two sixes and two fours) retired unbeaten, setting the platform for Tom Rowlands (23 not out) and Milo Jones (16 not out) to finish the chase in style.

Haverfordwest Lightning strike Seniors B

Haverfordwest Lightning (128 for 4) beat Pembs Seniors B (88 all out) by 40 runs

Haverfordwest Lightning delivered a commanding performance, setting a strong total of 128 for 4 in their 10 overs before dismissing Pembs Seniors B for 88 to win by 40 runs.

Shan Pereira anchored the Lightning’s innings with an excellent 37, supported by Will Phillips (26) and Matthew Vaughan (19). Jake Merry contributed 12, and with 26 extras, the team posted a daunting total.

The Seniors’ response relied heavily on Jonathan “Taffy” Williams, who remained unbeaten on 38, smashing four sixes. His all-round effort included a stellar 4 for 24 with the ball, but he received little support. Martin Thomas added 28, but the rest of the lineup collapsed, scoring just 7 runs between them.

Haverfordwest’s bowlers, particularly Jake Merry with a sensational 2 for 2, ensured the Seniors never gained momentum. Sean Atyeo (1 for 14) and Dylan Lee (1 for 17) also contributed, sealing Lightning’s victory with an impressive all-round effort.

Pembroke A outclass Pembroke B

Pembroke B (80 all out) lost to Pembroke A (81 for 0) by 6 wickets

Pembroke A showcased their dominance in indoor cricket with a convincing 6-wicket victory over Pembroke B. The B team was bowled out for a modest 80 in their 12 overs, overwhelmed by the pace and precision of Callum Davies and Billy Wood. Davies, the competition’s fastest bowler, delivered figures of 2 for 8 in 2.2 overs, while Wood claimed 2 for 25. Sam Davies added 1 for 23 to the tally.

B team captain Ceri Davies was the lone bright spot, striking two fours and two sixes in his top score of 32 before falling to Callum Davies. The rest of the lineup faltered, unable to form meaningful partnerships.

In response, Pembroke A chased the target with ease. Openers Luke Butler (26 off 17) and Billy Wood (25 off 17) laid a strong foundation, with both hitting several boundaries. Archie Hillier-Wood contributed a steady 7 not out, while Sam Davies smashed two fours and a six in a rapid 15 not out off five balls. Pembroke A finished on 81 without loss in just 8.2 overs, climbing to second place in the league standings.

Llanrhian overcome Pembroke Dock

Llanrhian (123 for 4) beat Pembroke Dock (102 all out) by 21 runs

Llanrhian secured a 21-run victory over Pembroke Dock, consolidating their top-four position while leaving the Dock in the bottom two. The highlight of the match was a resilient 47 by Dock captain Nick Daley, who was the last man dismissed.

Llanrhian set the pace early, with openers Daf Williams (33 retired) and Iwan James (27) adding 50 runs in just five overs. Russell Martin added a brisk 15 before a poor run-out ended his innings. Karl Davies chipped in with an unbeaten 24 and then starred with the ball, taking 3 for 25. Williams also bowled effectively, claiming 2 for 14.

The Dock’s bowlers, including Rhys Daley (1 for 23), Nick Daley (1 for 26), and Tom Grimwood (2 for 32), worked hard but couldn’t prevent Llanrhian from posting 123 for 4, aided by 21 extras.

In reply, the Dock’s chase faltered as they lost key wickets early, with Rhys Daley (5), Grimwood (1), and Adam Phillips (13) falling cheaply. Nick Daley fought valiantly, but his dismissal left Scott Griffiths (18) to provide late resistance. Despite their efforts, the Dock were bowled out for 102, falling short of the target.

Neyland A edge out Hook in top-of-the-table clash

Hook (93 all out) lost to Neyland A (95 for 3) by 3 wickets

Neyland A tightened their grip at the top of the table with a narrow 3-wicket win over Hook in a keenly contested encounter. Hook managed 93 all out in their 12 overs, with Neyland’s Sean Hannon starring with a superb all-round performance, scoring 24 runs and taking 3 for 9, including a double-wicket maiden.

Hook’s innings started poorly, losing Liam Miller (4) and Harry Makepeace (1, run out) early. George James (25) and Aled Phelps (26) stabilised the innings, but Neyland’s bowlers, led by Jack John (2 for 12), kept them in check.

Neyland A’s chase began cautiously but stayed on course. Hannon and Dai Davies added 22 runs in the opening three overs, with Davies retiring on 25. Despite late wickets, including Steve Murray’s dismissal by Bradley Flood (1 for 29), Andrew Miller (14 not out) and Jack John (14 not out) guided Neyland to victory with four overs to spare.

With this win, Neyland A maintained their perfect record, extending their lead at the top of the league.