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Neyland seal Division 1 title after beating Lawrenny in thriller

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NEYLAND Cricket Club were crowned Champions of Division 1 on Saturday (Aug 21) as they beat Lawrenny in a thrilling end to the season.

Going into the game Neyland needed to make up a 9-point deficit on their title rivals while Lawrenny knew they just needed to win to secure the Division 1 title.

With Neyland reaching 140-9 in their innings Lawrenny looked favourites to go on and win it but Sean Hannon’s men produced an excellent bowling display to overhaul that deficit to ensure the hosts would retain their trophy.

The two sides played each other at the beginning of August and on that occasion it was Lawrenny who came out on top after bowling Neyland out for 155.

It was a similar low-scoring affair again on Saturday but Neyland held their nerve to avenge that defeat.

Lawrenny won the toss and chose to field after rain had hit the county for much of the night and morning before the game.

Nick Koomen and Patrick Bellerby opened up for Neyland with a partnership of 25 but Jamie Lewis made the breakthrough as he had Koomen caught by James Phillips.

Rob Williams then bowled Bellerby on a score of 19 from 14 balls to reduce Neyland to 32-2.

Williams also had Nathan Banner caught by Kurtis Marsh to put Neyland in further trouble on 43-3.

Ross Hardy and Scott Jones added 26 runs for the fourth wicket but Ryan Morton broke that partnership as he bowled Hardy on a score of 14.

Scott Jones scored 18 but he was caught by Tom Cole off the bowling of Kurtis Marsh.

Marsh then had Andrew Miller caught by Harry Thomas and when he bowled Patrick Hannon soon after, Neyland had slipped to 78-7.

Sean Hannon and George Evans took over and they shared 51 runs for the eighth wicket as they looked to give their side something they could defend.

Hannon scored 17 but was then caught by Cole off the bowling of Thomas.

George Evans went on to reach a score of 34 but he was ran out off the last ball of the innings as Neyland finished on 140-9.

Lawrenny made a steady start to their reply but Ross Hardy made the crucial breakthrough as he bowled Harry Thomas.

Soon after, Nathan Banner trapped James Buckle leg before to reduce Lawrenny to 21-2.

Kurtis Marsh made his way to a score of 36 with six fours but he was also trapped leg before by Gary Lloyd.

Nick Koomen then bowled James Phillips before Lloyd grabbed his second as he had Joe Kidney caught by Ross Hardy.

Koomen then grabbed his second as Hardy again took the catch to dismiss Ryan Morton.

Lloyd then bowled Tom Cole to reduce Lawrenny to 67-7.

Kyle Marsh and Rob Williams looked to keep Lawrenny in the game with a stand of 34 for the eighth wicket but time was also beginning to run out for the visitors.

Marsh had reached a score of 23 but he was bowled by Patrick Hannon to leave Lawrenny on 101-8.

It meant they needed another 40 in the final five overs to seal victory. They could however only reach 119 as Neyland secured victory by 21 runs.

The win gave Neyland 18 points while Lawrenny claimed six points. It saw Neyland finish top by only three points.

Speaking to the Herald after the match, Neyland captain Sean Hannon said: “Delighted about winning the league. Given the long season we’ve all had its reward for the effort the lads have put in.

“You have to give credit to Lawrenny for a fantastic tussle, there isn’t much between the sides as you can tell from the 5 games we’ve played them this season. I’m sure they’ll be hungry to go again next season!

“At half way I didn’t really dwell on our total. It wasn’t a massive score but I knew we didn’t give them full bowling points which was important.

“140 is a funny score really, 20 runs fewer and it would have been easy for them, 20 runs more then Lawrenny would have had to have a different mentality to get the runs which may have helped them.

“Our total was largely thanks to George Evans who remains a key figure in our squad and I was especially pleased to see him have a title winning knock. Although we were missing a few key players we still had a lot of bowling options so I knew we were capable of bowling them out!”

Neyland will look to make it a double-winning season on Saturday (Aug 28) when they take on Carew in the final of the Harrison Allen Bowl.

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From Cymru Premier to Champions League: The rise of Nicky Hayen

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AT the time, it seemed an unexpected appointment for semi-professional Haverfordwest County. Now, just three years later, the man who arrived in west Wales on New Year’s Eve 2021 has taken Club Brugge to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Nicky Hayen, the first Belgian to manage in the Cymru Premier, is now one of the most sought-after managers in Europe. Having guided his side past Europa League holders Atalanta in the play-offs, his rapid ascent has caught the attention of the footballing world.

Some pundits have even suggested the 44-year-old could be in line for the Liverpool job when Arne Slot departs.

Few of the 273 fans at Bridge Meadow Stadium for Hayen’s biggest home victory – a 6-1 win over Cefn Druids – could have imagined that their manager would soon be preparing for Champions League clashes against Aston Villa.

But for Haverfordwest chairman Rob Edwards, who remains in regular contact with Hayen, his rise comes as no surprise.

Work ethic and early impressions

“The guy was a workaholic,” Edwards said. “He lived in my house while in Wales, and I’d wake up at 8:00am to find him watching match footage. When I went to bed at 11:00pm, he was still at it.”

A former defender with more than 400 appearances in Belgium and the Netherlands, Hayen arrived in Haverfordwest via coaching roles in Belgium and Saudi Arabia. His time as technical director and interim manager at Waasland-Beveren ended in relegation during the Covid-affected season.

Introduced to Edwards through a mutual contact in Belgium, Hayen impressed the Haverfordwest board with his detailed analysis and tactical vision.

“We just wanted to listen to every word he said,” Edwards recalled. “We knew he was the right person for the job and did everything we could to bring him in.”

Transforming Haverfordwest

Hayen’s influence was immediate. He took Haverfordwest from second-bottom to the brink of European qualification within six months, introducing a structured, possession-based style rarely seen in the Welsh top flight.

“He didn’t over-coach the players,” Edwards explained. “Instead, he gave them detailed opposition analysis and focused on their welfare. He got the best out of players in a way we didn’t expect.”

Despite the culture shock of moving to a small market town in Pembrokeshire, Hayen embraced his new surroundings.

“There are 14,000 people in Haverfordwest. It’s a beautiful place, but it was all about football for him,” said Edwards. “He is a family man, doesn’t drink, and stays off social media. He just works hard.”

The move to Brugge and European success

Edwards always knew Hayen wouldn’t stay forever. When Club Brugge came calling in 2022, offering him the chance to take charge of their Under-23s, the move was inevitable.

By 2023, he was assistant manager to Scott Parker before stepping in as interim boss when Ronny Deila left in March 2024. With Club Brugge struggling in the league, Hayen led them to nine wins from their last ten matches to clinch the Belgian title.

Former Ajax and Anderlecht striker Jan Mulder predicted in May 2024 that Hayen would soon be on the radar of Europe’s elite clubs.

“Next year, he will play a series of matches in the Champions League, attracting the attention of Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern and Manchester,” Mulder wrote.

His words have proven accurate. Hayen’s Club Brugge defeated Villa, Sporting, and Sturm Graz in the group stage, while also holding Juventus and Celtic. They then dispatched Atalanta in the play-offs with a commanding 5-2 aggregate win.

What next for Hayen?

Ahead of their Champions League clash with Aston Villa, Hayen spoke about how he continues to draw inspiration from his late mother, who passed away four years ago.

For Edwards, Hayen’s rise is a testament to his relentless dedication.

“Club Brugge have had better squads on paper, but he gets the best out of his players,” he said. “He is fanatical and leads by example. The younger players are thriving under him.”

Hayen’s short time in Wales also laid the foundation for future success at Haverfordwest. Under Tony Pennock, they qualified for Europe in 2023 for the first time in 19 years.

“It’s fantastic for the club to be linked with someone like him,” Edwards said. “And this is just the beginning. If he keeps going, he will be managing at the highest level soon enough.”

With the biggest clubs in Europe watching, Nicky Hayen’s journey from Bridge Meadow to the Champions League knockout stages may only be the start of an even greater story.

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South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls: Friendly League catch-up results – Week 2

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THE LATEST round of catch-up fixtures in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association has seen St Twynnells secure a dominant win over Hundleton, while Llanteg and Lamphey battled it out in a close contest.

Results:

  • St Twynnells 10Hundleton 0
  • Llanteg 7Lamphey 3
  • St Twynnells 8Kilgetty 2

Following these matches, the updated league standings are as follows:

TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostS/DPoints
East Williamston171601267135
Carew169169190
St Johns1510057188
Cosheston169074284
Hundleton178095783
Reynalton169072483
Llanteg176110-4881
Badgers176110-273
St Twynnells165110-12566
Lamphey165011-11956
Kilgetty154011-18151

The competition remains tight as teams continue their push towards the top of the table. More fixtures are scheduled in the coming weeks as the league heads towards its final stages.

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The magic of ‘night golf’ lights up Tenby Golf Club

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TENBY GOLF CLUB hosted an electrifying Night Golf event on Friday evening in aid of the Paul Sartori Foundation, delivering an evening of excitement, camaraderie, and glowing golf balls lighting up the night sky.

Club Captain Heather Morgan invited Club Night Golf (CNG) to run the event, with George Lever traveling from Surrey to ensure everything went smoothly. Thanks to unseasonably mild and dry weather, the course was transformed into a magical spectacle, with illuminated fairways, greens, and bunkers creating a truly unique playing experience.

The event followed a Texas Scramble format, adding to the fun and challenge as players navigated the course in complete darkness, some with head torches, others lighting up their trolleys, and a few relying on traditional flashlights.

One of the standout performances came from Jemma Nand-Lal, who clinched the Nearest the Pin prize, outshining even the pros. The night’s champions, Bev and Adrian Palmer, Lynne Campbell, and Mandy Jones claimed victory with an impressive five-shot finish.

With no lost players, no injuries, and a clubhouse buzzing with excitement afterward, one question dominated the conversation: “When’s the next one?” Given the overwhelming enthusiasm, a follow-up event seems inevitable.

All proceeds on the night were donated to the Paul Sartori Foundation.

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