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Pembrokeshire Cricket: Division 1 Round up

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ON Saturday (Jun 2), in Division 1 of the Pembroke County Cricket League, there was a surprise result as Lawrenny beat leaders Neyland.

Lawrenny were bowled out for 120 in their innings Patrick Elliott scored 31 and Joe Kidney added 26 as the visitors recovered from being 65-5.

Henry Durrant and Andrew Miller each took three wickets for the home side as it looked like they would go on to earn a seventh win in a row.

However, Neyland could not reach their target as they were all out for 94! Rob Williams and Brad McDermott-Jenkins did the damage for Lawrenny taking nine wickets between them.

The Division 1 relegation battle at Johnston saw Kilgetty Cricket Club reach 63-2 off the first 15 overs.

They went on to reach a total of 216-4 thanks to a score of 78 from Dafydd Bevan!

Johnston came close to teaching their target but finished on 196-9 meaning their game ended in a draw. Gino Cleal top scored for Johnston with a score of 87.

Cresselly are now eight points behind leaders Neyland as they beat Whitland by seven wickets!

Whitland batted first and were all out for 164 with Dylan Blain top scoring on 85. Tom Arthur was in fine form for the home as he took seven Whitland wickets.

Cresselly’s Dan Sutton then finished not out on 99 as he guided his team to a seven wicket win!

Simon Holliday was again in fine form as he hit another century to help Haverfordwest to a nine wicket win over St Ishmaels.

Tish batted first and scored 189-8 with Philip Cockburn scoring 40 and Andrew Williams adding 45.

Holliday took three wickets and then went on to score 111 not out while Lee Summons finished not out on 60 as Town secured a comfortable win.

Llangwm earned a 4-wicket win over Burton thanks to Will Beresford who finished not out on 69.

Burton were all out for 140 in their innings with Robbie Neil and James Davies both scoring 30. Chris Inward took four wickets for Llangwm while Ollie Davies also took two.

In their reply, Beresford was supported well by James Venables who scored 36 and although there were wickets from James Davies and Morgan Scale it wasn’t enough to stop Llangwm taking the win.

Neyland’s defeat has allowed both Cresselly and Haverfordwest to close the gap with only ten points separating the top three.

Whitland sit behind them in fourth while at the other end, Kilgetty’s draw has taken them out of the bottom two and they have been replaced by St Ishmaels.

On Saturday, June 9, Burton host Johnston, Kilgetty make a short trip to take on Cresselly and Llangwm host Haverfordwest.

St Ishmaels take on Lawrenny while leaders Neyland will look to bounce back when they travel to Whitland.

On Sunday (Jun 10), Cresselly travel to Bronwydd in the Dyfed area Final of the National Village Cup.

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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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