Player-of-the-match performance helps Cresselly Ladies defeat Hook in high-scoring final at Bosherston and Stackpole

Cresselly Ladies produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat Hook Ladies and lift the 2026 Clive Huxley Cup at Bosherston and Stackpole Cricket Club.

Lucy Johnson was named player of the match after scoring an unbeaten 78 in Cresselly’s opening innings before claiming six wickets across Hook’s two attempts with the bat.

Cresselly scored 186 for five and 120 for two from their two 20-over innings, giving them an aggregate total of 306.

Hook replied with 107 for eight and 121 for eight, leaving Cresselly as winners by 78 runs.

The final was played at the picturesque ground where Clive Huxley spent much of his cricketing career, with the trophy presented by his daughter, Cath Adams.

Johnson and Ashman take control

Cresselly captain Ffion Ashman won the toss and elected to bat, although Hook initially kept the scoring under control.

Maisy Davies and Kacey Arran restricted Cresselly to 25 runs from the opening five overs, with Arran also bowling Eleri Williams for nine.

The contest then swung decisively in Cresselly’s favour as Johnson and Ashman launched a powerful counterattack.

The pair added 70 runs in the next five overs and shared a partnership of 103 before Ashman was caught by Elin Miller off the bowling of Hook captain Sam Rossiter.

Ashman’s 57 came from just 45 deliveries and included nine boundaries.

Rossiter then bowled Ava Midgley for two, while Bethan Chapman removed Lauren Davies for 11 and Jess Gibby for four.

Johnson, however, remained unbeaten and continued to attack throughout the closing overs.

She finished on 78 from 61 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes, as Cresselly accumulated 59 runs from the final four overs.

Twenty runs came from the last over alone as Cresselly closed on an imposing 186 for five.

Hook suffer early collapse

Hook’s response was immediately placed under pressure by an excellent opening spell from Mari Cole.

Cole bowled Kacey Arran and Jemma Phillips without scoring before also removing Kate Farr for 11, leaving Hook struggling at 38 for three.

She completed her four-over spell with figures of three wickets for 21 runs.

Rossiter attempted to rebuild the innings and found support from Elin Miller and Maisy Davies.

Miller made 15 before being bowled by Ashman, while Davies scored 18 before falling to Johnson.

Rossiter struck eight boundaries in a determined innings of 45 from 40 balls, but her dismissal to Lauren Davies left Hook well behind the required rate.

Johnson then removed Bethan Chapman and S Layton to finish with three wickets for 11 runs from her single over.

Hook ended their first innings on 107 for eight, giving Cresselly a substantial 79-run advantage at the interval.

Williams and Midgley rebuild

Cresselly’s second innings began badly when Johnson was bowled by Arran for two and Ashman suffered the same fate against Miller, also for two.

Any hopes Hook had of forcing their way back into the contest were ended by an excellent unbroken partnership between Eleri Williams and Ava Midgley.

Williams made amends for her first-innings dismissal with an unbeaten 57, including six fours and a six.

Midgley provided strong support with 42 not out from 41 balls, striking three fours and a six.

Their unbeaten stand of 90 carried Cresselly to 120 for two and left Hook requiring 200 runs from their final 20 overs to win the trophy.

Ashman strikes four times

Hook made a promising start through Farr and Arran, who shared a 40-run opening partnership.

Ashman then transformed the innings with four wickets in quick succession.

She dismissed Farr for 15, Arran for 23 and Jemma Phillips for two before bowling Miller without scoring.

Rossiter again led Hook’s resistance despite carrying several injuries and made a determined 38 before being run out by Lois Howlett-Dyer.

Maisy Davies provided late entertainment with an aggressive 30, which included one four and three sixes.

Johnson ended her innings and then removed Maddie Potter and Chapman to complete another three-wicket haul.

Hook finished on 121 for eight, one run more than Cresselly had managed in the second innings, but well short of the overall target.

Ashman returned figures of four for 25, while Johnson took three for 12 to complete an outstanding individual performance.

Trophy presented in Clive Huxley’s memory

Following the match, Cath Adams presented the Clive Huxley Cup to winning captain Ashman.

Adams, formerly Cath Huxley, played alongside men for Stackpole and represented Wales with her bowling before continuing her career with Hook Ladies after marrying former Narberth batsman Richard Adams.

Johnson received the player-of-the-match award from adjudicator Nick Evans.

The match was officiated by umpires Chris Stapleton and Huw Simpkins, with Meg Arthur scoring for Cresselly and Clarissa Lewis scoring for Hook.

Match details

Clive Huxley Cup Final

Cresselly Ladies: 186 for five and 120 for two
Hook Ladies: 107 for eight and 121 for eight

Cresselly won by 78 runs

Venue: Bosherston and Stackpole Cricket Club
Umpires: Chris Stapleton and Huw Simpkins
Scorers: Meg Arthur and Clarissa Lewis
Player of the match: Lucy Johnson
Adjudicators: Nick Evans and Lee Smith

First innings scorecards

Cresselly Ladies

Lucy Johnson not out 78
Eleri Williams b Kacey Arran 9
Ffion Ashman c Elin Miller b Sam Rossiter 57
Ava Midgley b Sam Rossiter 2
Lauren Davies b Bethan Chapman 11
Jess Gibby b Bethan Chapman 4
Extras 25

Total: 186 for five

Hook bowling

Maisy Davies 4-0-25-0
Kacey Arran 4-0-30-1
Jemma Phillips 2-0-38-0
Sam Rossiter 4-0-22-2
Elin Miller 4-0-48-0
Bethan Chapman 2-0-21-2

Hook Ladies

Kate Farr b Mari Cole 11
Kacey Arran b Mari Cole 0
Jemma Phillips b Mari Cole 0
Sam Rossiter c Ffion Ashman b Lauren Davies 45
Elin Miller b Ffion Ashman 15
Maisy Davies b Lucy Johnson 18
Maddie Potter not out 6
Bethan Chapman c C Lewis b Lucy Johnson 0
S Layton c and b Lucy Johnson 0
M Hamer not out 0
Extras 12

Total: 107 for eight

Cresselly bowling

C Lewis 3-0-21-0
Mari Cole 4-0-21-3
Ava Midgley 4-0-22-0
Ffion Ashman 4-0-17-1
Lauren Davies 2-0-9-1
Lucy Johnson 1-0-11-3

Second innings scorecards

Cresselly Ladies

Lucy Johnson b Kacey Arran 2
Eleri Williams not out 57
Ffion Ashman b Elin Miller 2
Ava Midgley not out 42
Extras 17

Total: 120 for two

Hook bowling

Maisy Davies 4-1-8-0
Kacey Arran 4-0-19-1
Elin Miller 4-0-26-1
Sam Rossiter 4-0-24-0
Bethan Chapman 2-0-24-0
Jemma Phillips 2-0-9-0

Hook Ladies

Kate Farr c and b Ffion Ashman 15
Kacey Arran b Ffion Ashman 23
Jemma Phillips b Ffion Ashman 2
Sam Rossiter run out 38
Elin Miller b Ffion Ashman 0
Maisy Davies lbw b Lucy Johnson 30
Maddie Potter lbw b Lucy Johnson 4
Bethan Chapman c Lois Howlett-Dyer b Lucy Johnson 0
M Hamer not out 1
S Layton not out 0
Extras 8

Total: 121 for eight

Cresselly bowling

C Lewis 3-0-22-0
Mari Cole 3-0-17-0
Ffion Ashman 4-0-25-4
Ava Midgley 4-0-28-0
Lucy Johnson 3-0-12-3
Lauren Davies 3-0-15-0

Anthony Gordon’s second-half goal appeared to be carrying the Three Lions into their first final since 1966, before two late strikes turned the semi-final on its head

England’s hopes of ending 60 years of World Cup hurt were destroyed in devastating fashion as Argentina produced a late comeback to win a dramatic semi-final 2-1 in Atlanta.

The Three Lions were five minutes away from reaching Sunday’s final after Anthony Gordon converted an excellent Morgan Rogers cross shortly after the interval.

But Enzo Fernandez equalised with a powerful strike from outside the penalty area in the 85th minute before substitute Lautaro Martinez headed home a Lionel Messi cross in stoppage time, sending the defending champions into the final against Spain.

England had spent much of the evening matching Argentina physically and tactically. Thomas Tuchel’s side defended aggressively, frustrated Messi and carried a threat through the movement of Gordon, Rogers and Jude Bellingham.

However, England became increasingly defensive after taking the lead and ultimately invited the world champions to attack them.

It was another agonising major tournament defeat for a country that has repeatedly come within touching distance of glory in recent years.

A tense opening

There was little attractive football during a fiercely contested first half in which challenges flew in and tempers repeatedly threatened to boil over.

The first genuine opportunity did not arrive until after the half-hour mark, when John Stones headed wide from a Declan Rice free-kick.

Reece James later tested Emiliano Martinez with a curling free-kick, while Fernandez sent Argentina’s first attempt off target from distance.

The opening 45 minutes ended goalless, with neither side having established control of a match carrying the weight of decades of footballing rivalry.

Argentina emerged with greater purpose after the restart. Julian Alvarez twice forced Jordan Pickford into saves during the opening minutes of the second half, but it was England who struck first.

Gordon puts England ahead

Rogers found space on the right in the 55th minute and delivered a superb ball across the six-yard box.

Gordon timed his arrival perfectly, guiding the cross beyond Martinez at the back post and sparking wild celebrations among the England players and supporters.

For a moment, England could see the final.

Argentina almost responded immediately when Giuliano Simeone broke through, but Djed Spence produced a perfectly timed intervention to prevent a clear opportunity.

That proved to be one of several vital defensive moments as the pressure began to build.

Pickford made an excellent reaction save from Nicolas Gonzalez before Alexis Mac Allister headed against the post. Fernandez then forced the England goalkeeper to tip another long-range effort over the crossbar.

Tuchel’s changes invite pressure

Rather than attempting to exploit the increasing space left by Argentina, England retreated.

Gordon was replaced by defender Ezri Konsa in the 72nd minute, while Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly were introduced ten minutes later for Rice and James.

The changes moved England into a back five, but left the side without an effective route out of its own half.

Sky Sports reported that England averaged only 12 per cent possession between Gordon’s goal and Argentina’s winner. The Three Lions also failed to record another touch inside the opposition penalty area after taking the lead.

The equaliser felt increasingly inevitable.

Argentina worked a short corner in the 85th minute before Messi found Fernandez near the edge of the box. The midfielder drove an emphatic finish beyond Pickford and into the corner.

England were visibly shaken and never recovered their composure.

Mac Allister struck the post again during stoppage time. Messi collected the loose ball and delivered a cross towards the back post, where Martinez rose to head home the winner.

England, who had been within minutes of the final, were suddenly out.

Kane left “gutted”

Captain Harry Kane admitted England had attempted to defend their lead rather than continue playing with the approach that had put them ahead.

He said: “Once we went 1-0 up, we seemed to just try and hold on. At this level, it’s not enough.

“We’ve worked so hard to be here and the lads have given every last bit of running, sweat, blood and tears. To fall short like we did is just gutting.”

Tuchel acknowledged that his side had become too passive but defended his decision to strengthen the defence.

He said the switch to a back five had been intended to close gaps and improve England’s ability to defend crosses, adding that he had “no regrets” over the tactical decision.

The manager also indicated that he intends to remain in charge and lead England into Euro 2028, which will be staged across the United Kingdom and Ireland, with matches held in Wales.

Another familiar collapse

The circumstances will fuel an uncomfortable inquest.

England led Croatia before losing their 2018 World Cup semi-final, scored first against Italy before losing the Euro 2020 final on penalties and were ahead against Spain before falling short in the Euro 2024 final.

This time, England appeared to have finally learned how to navigate the decisive moments of a major tournament.

Instead, they again surrendered momentum while attempting to protect a narrow advantage.

Argentina’s victory means Messi, now 39, will have the opportunity to lead his country to consecutive World Cup titles when the holders face European champions Spain in Sunday’s final in New Jersey. He played a decisive role in Atlanta despite being kept relatively quiet for much of the match, providing the final pass for both goals.

England’s tournament is not quite finished. Tuchel’s side will face France in the third-place play-off in Miami on Saturday at 10pm BST.

But the match will offer little consolation after a night when England stood on the brink of history, only to watch the opportunity disappear in seven brutal minutes.

Welsh Conservative says post-match political display was “unacceptable” following England’s World Cup semi-final defeat

WELSH Conservative Senedd member Andrew RT Davies has called for FIFA to take action after Argentina players celebrated their World Cup victory over England by displaying a banner asserting the country’s claim to the Falkland Islands.

The banner, which read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, meaning “The Malvinas are Argentine”, was displayed on the pitch following Argentina’s dramatic 2-1 semi-final victory in Atlanta on Wednesday night.

Lisandro Martínez and Giovani Lo Celso were pictured holding the banner and waving towards Argentina supporters after their side scored twice in the closing minutes to overturn England’s 1-0 lead.

The result sent the defending champions into a second consecutive World Cup final, where they will face Spain in New Jersey on Sunday.

Mr Davies, the Conservative Senedd member for the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend, described the display as unacceptable and called on people across the United Kingdom to condemn it.

He also said football’s international governing body must investigate whether the Argentina Football Association or members of the national team had breached tournament rules.

FIFA’s stadium code of conduct prohibits banners, flags, clothing and other material considered political, offensive or discriminatory from being displayed inside World Cup venues.

FIFA had not publicly announced whether disciplinary proceedings would be opened at the time of publication. UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle has also called for the incident to be formally investigated.

The controversy has particular resonance in Wales because of the role of the Welsh Guards in the 1982 Falklands conflict.

Thirty-two Welsh Guardsmen were killed when Argentine aircraft attacked RFA Sir Galahad near Bluff Cove on June 8, 1982. The incident was one of the deadliest attacks suffered by British forces during the 74-day conflict and left many other servicemen seriously injured or burned.

In total, 255 British personnel and 649 Argentine military personnel were killed during the war.

The Falkland Islands are administered as a self-governing British Overseas Territory, although Argentina continues to claim sovereignty and refers to the islands as Las Malvinas.

In a referendum held in 2013, 99.8 per cent of participating islanders voted to retain their existing political status as a British Overseas Territory. The UK Government maintains that there can be no negotiations about sovereignty unless the islanders themselves request them.

Mr Davies said: “The Falkland Islands are British and people from across Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland must come together to condemn this unacceptable gesture.

“FIFA wrongly punishes our football teams for displaying poppies around Remembrance Day.

“If football’s governing body does not take robust action against Argentina, the double standard will stink.”

FIFA fined the football associations of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland following poppy displays during international matches around Armistice Day in 2016, after ruling that the commemorations breached regulations concerning political symbols.