Sport

Tish survive as Whitland beaten by Cresselly

Published

3 years ago

August 22, 2021

ST ISHMAELS secured their Division 1 status for next season as they beat Narberth while Whitland were beaten by Cresselly.

Tish occupied the second relegation spot going into the final day and knew they needed to win if they were to stand a chance of staying up.

It also meant they would need to rely on third from bottom Whitland being beaten by Cresselly.

Whitland though scored 228-7 in their game after being asked to bat first by Cresselly.

Dan James removed openers Wayne Howells and Kevin Pearce early on to leave Whitland on 18-2.

However, Geraint Jones and Jonathan Thomas shared 101 runs for the third wicket to put their side in a strong position.

Jones smashed five fours and five sixes in his score of 65 from 42 balls but he was then caught by Tom Murphy off the bowling of Simon Cole.

Thomas and Scott Newton continued to pile on the runs as they shared another 86 runs for the fourth wicket to take Whitland past 200 runs.

Newton hit three fours and two sixes as he scored 48 but he was then caught by Matthew Morgan off the bowling of Ollie Berry.

Berry then bowled Jacob Owen as Cresselly began to hit back in a bid to restrict Whitland’s score.

Thomas hit ten fours and two sixes in his score of 85 from 90 balls but he was then caught by Tom Arthur off the bowling of Ryan Lewis.

Lewis then bowled Jamie Thomas as Whitland ended their innings with a total of 228.

Wayne Howells removed Ollie Berry early in Cresselly’s reply before Dan Sutton and Iwan Izzard shared 60 runs for the second wicket.

Sutton reached a score of 21 but he was then bowled by Luc Owen.

Izzard and Simon Cole then took control for the visitors as they shared 106 runs for the third wicket.

Cole was caught and bowled by Jonathan Thomas on a score of 40 and his wicket left Cresselly on 173-3.

Izzard and Alex Bayley added 42 runs for the fourth wicket before Izzard’s excellent innings was finally brought to an end.

He hit twelve fours and six sixes in a score of 125 from 94 balls but he was then caught by Geraint Jones off the bowling of Scott Newton.

Newton also bowled Ryan Lewis and had Nielson Cole caught by Jonathan Thomas with the next ball.

Newton then claimed a hat trick as he caught and bowled Alex Bayley on a score of 25.

That had reduced Cresselly to 227-7 as they needed just two runs to win the game.

Dan James and Tom Murphy got those runs between them to send Whitland to defeat while the win for Cresselly lifted them to a third place finish.

In their game, Tish were asked to bat first after Narberth won the toss and after a slow start they were able to reach a total of 174-8 in their innings.

Ben Quartermaine bowled Daniel Richards early on and Loui Davies bowled Ieuan Hawkins.

Quartermaine then trapped Karl Rhead leg before to leave Tish on 21-3.

Phil Cockburn and Jonathan Pawlett then shared 60 runs for the fourth wicket as they looked to rebuild the innings.

Cockburn hit seven fours in his score of 36 but he was caught by Dan Hughes off the bowling of Ben Hughes.

Pawlett and Brennan Devonald shared 31 runs for the fifth wicket but Devonald, who hit five fours and a six in his score of 28 from 22 balls, was then caught by Lewis Hough off the bowling of Matthew Johns.

Ben Hughes then bowled Peter Bradshaw and Andrew Williams fell soon after when he was caught by Richard Adams off the bowling of Johns.

Pawlett hit two fours and three sixes in his score of 56 but he was then caught by Lewis Hough off the bowling of Johns.

That left Tish on 150-8 but a vital score of 23 not out from Andrew Pawlett, which included two sixes, took Tish to a total of 174.

Narberth lost Dan Hughes early on in their reply as he was caught by Karl Rhead off the bowling of Brennan Devonald.

Richard Adams added 15 to the total but he was bowled by Andrew Palmer.

Lewis Rhead then trapped Lewis Hough leg before and when Andrew Pawlett bowled Jamie McCormack on a score of 10, Narberth had slipped to a score of 54-4.

Brothers Kyle and Ben Quartermaine then shared 29 runs for the fifth wicket as they looked to keep their side in the game.

However, they both fell in quick succession as Kyle was caught by Jonathan Pawlett off the bowling of Andrew Pawlett.

Ben was then bowled by Lewis Rhead to reduce Narberth to 83-6.

Rhead also trapped Loui Davies leg before and soon after Jordan Howell was caught and bowled by Andrew Pawlett.

That put Narberth eight wickets down as defeat began to loom over them.

Ben Hughes and David Johns tried one final push for the home side with a ninth wicket stand of 24 but Hughes, who had hit four fours and a six in a score of 23 from 13 balls, was then caught by Jonathan Pawlett off the bowling of Brennan Devonald.

Andrew Palmer then brought the innings to a close as he had Matthew Johns caught by Phil Cockburn.

It gave Tish the win they desperately wanted as they secured their place in Division 1 for 2022.

Sport

Carmarthen Town FC manager to step down at end of season

Published

3 days ago

January 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

CARMARTHEN TOWN AFC’s long-serving manager, Mark Aizlewood, has announced that he will not be renewing his contract, marking the end of an era for the club. In a heartfelt statement released on January 14, 2025, Aizlewood revealed this season would be his last at the helm of the Old Gold.

Aizlewood expressed gratitude to the players, staff, volunteers, directors, sponsors, and supporters who have supported him throughout his tenure. “The people of CTFC have made me one of their own,” he said, despite living 60 miles away. He also extended heartfelt thanks to his wife and family for their understanding and unwavering support.

Two decades of success

Aizlewood has been a defining figure in the club’s history, holding a UEFA Pro Licence for over 30 years and leading Carmarthen Town AFC to consistent top-six finishes in the Welsh league, as well as cup victories and European qualifications. “In my 20+ years at the club, these achievements became the norm, and we were at the very top of the football ecosystem in Wales,” Aizlewood remarked.

However, he acknowledged that the current situation at the club has shifted, adding, “Unfortunately, this is not the case any longer. The ship is pointing in the right direction, and the destination is agreed by all, but perhaps now is the right time for a new captain to steer the club along its agreed journey.”

Looking ahead

Aizlewood assured fans he remains passionate about football, declaring he will retain his UEFA Pro Licence and remain involved in the sport. As Carmarthen Town AFC prepares for a new chapter, Aizlewood wished his successor and the club every success in the future.

A legacy of dedication

Mark Aizlewood’s departure signals the end of one of the longest managerial tenures in Welsh football, a career marked by dedication, achievement, and an unyielding love for the game. His leadership will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy at Carmarthen Town AFC.

The search for a new manager begins as the club aims to build on Aizlewood’s formidable achievements and continue its proud tradition in Welsh football.

Cover image credit: Lewis Mitchell/FAW

Sport

Letterston marksman wins junior athlete award

Published

6 days ago

January 21, 2025

Tom Sinclair

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

Published

7 days ago

January 20, 2025

Staff Writer

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?