Sport
Tish hit out to seal semi-final spot
HARRISON ALLEN BOWL
QUARTER FINAL
St Ishmaels 156-6 beat Lawrenny 155-5
ST ISHMAELS overhauled a competitive Lawrenny total with two overs to go to secure a semi-final fixture against Neyland, who won a tight game against Carew to seal their own spot in the Harrison-Allen Bowl semis.
A solid start from Lawrenny saw their openers put on 34 before a freakish run out. Kurtis Marsh (15) mistimed a drive straight to Andrew Pawlett, only for the fielder to drop the catch. However, Pawlett had the presence of mind the batsmen lacked.
Having set off for the run following the mishit, both batsmen were guilty of ball-watching and found themselves playing a game of ‘will-you/won’t you’ in the middle of the pitch.
Despite downing his chance, Pawlett’s throw was gathered and Marsh was on his way for a long walk back to the pitch side.
Fellow opener Henry Thomas kept the score ticking over with Kyle Marsh and brought the score into the sixties before Marsh, on 10, sliced Andrew Pawlett into the deep and into the hands of Jonathan Pawlett, who made no mistake with the chance.
With Pawlett bowling tidily, pressure grew on the Lawrenny batsmen and he removed the visitors’ key man, Thomas, clean-bowled for 33 well-made runs.
Next man in, Ryan Morton departed for two and Lawrenny were well and truly on the rack at 73-4 and in danger of subsiding to a well-below-par total.
However, Jamie Phillips and Joe Kidney dug deep and put on a rollicking stand of 62 which included plenty of big hits, particularly from Kidney who blasted his way to 40 before departing to Sean Williams with an over to go. Phillips kept up the momentum on his way to a fine undefeated 36 as Lawrenny closed their innings on 155-5.
Opening bowler Rob Williams then gave Lawrenny precisely the start they needed in the field, claiming the wickets of Bradshaw and Devonald before a spanking boundary catch by Henry Thomas off Steff Lewis left the hosts struggling at 22-3.
With Tish in all sorts of trouble and staring right down the barrel of a rare towsing, someone needed to take the game by the scruff of the neck for the home team and rebuild.
Home skipper Phil Cockburn showed he was the man for the job. Alongside Jonathan Pawlett (41) he added 87 to get Tish within striking distance of the Lawrenny total.
After Pawlett departed caught behind, Cockburn was joined by Jack Nicholas who blasted a fine six before departing run out for 15.
With three overs left in the game and the home team nineteen runs short of victory with four wickets in hand, it looked as though the game could end towards a testing finish.
The momentum remained with Phil Cockburn, however; the Tish skipper powered away a six off Kurtis Marsh in the twentieth over to bring up a real captain’s half-century and then pinched a single to put Andrew Pawlett on strike.
Pawlett proceeded to belt the only two balls he faced for a brace of sixes to end the game and seal a great comeback win for Tish.
RHEAD LEADS SEMI-FINAL CHARGE
Alec Colley Cup – Quarter Finals
St Ishmaels 77-2 beat Saundersfoot 74-6
A BLISTERING 54 not out from Karl Rhead led St Ishmael’s Second XI to the semi-finals of the Alec Colley Cup.
While each of the visitors’ top order showed attacking intent and hit some sparkling boundaries, none of them hung around long enough to build an innings of the sort of substance which would set the home side any sort of competitive target. Big sixes were not enough on their own to construct a team total as Saundersfoot’s innings stuttered to a below-par 74-6 at the end of their innings.
Tish’s bowlers, Kevin Bowen, Danny Flynn, Stuart Carpenter and Steve Williams bowled with good control and Saundersfoot’s final total owed a lot to the grit of veteran bat Paul Mansbridge who scored an undefeated 19 in the visitors’ cause.
A target of 75 to win didn’t look anywhere near enough to challenge the home team. However, Nav Kawale bagged Bowen and Flynn to give Saundersfoot early hope of an upset win.
Rhead soon set about his task, smashing 46 of his 54 not out in boundaries (including three sixes) while Carpenter chipped in with his own maximum to see Tish home in the 13th over.
The homesters’ reward is a semi final this Sunday against a strong Haverfordwest outfit, who brushed aside a game challenge by massive underdogs Pembroke Dock in the last round,
Sport
More than 160 runners take on inaugural Llys-y-Frân 10km
MORE than 160 runners crossed the finish line at Llys-y-Frân Country Park on Sunday as the inaugural Llys-y-Frân 10km brought together competitors of all abilities for a day of trail running and community fundraising.
Organised in partnership with AspireX Events and Run the Trails, the race followed a scenic route through the park’s woodland, trails and reservoir-side landscape.
Supporters gathered along sections of the course to cheer on the runners, creating an encouraging atmosphere throughout the event.
The race was held in support of the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust, which works to protect the county’s landscape and help more people experience the outdoors.
Katie Macro, Charity Director at the Trust, said: “We couldn’t have asked for a better first Llys-y-Frân 10km.

“Seeing more than 160 runners take part was incredible, and the atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic.
“Every runner, volunteer, supporter and sponsor played a part in making the event such a success, and we’re extremely grateful for the support we received.”
The Trust thanked AspireX Events and Run the Trails, particularly Jay Skipper and his team, for helping ensure the event ran smoothly from start to finish.
Sponsors Pure West Radio, Scott Williams Motorsports, Bridaltique and HealthAspire were also thanked for helping make the event possible.
Casey from All Things Fit led warm-up and cool-down sessions for participants, while visitors were able to browse coastal clothing from Sakura.

Podium winners also received goodie bags provided by Tamlyn from Hyla.
Photographers James from JWJT Media, Lilly-Louise Clynes and Dave Marriott captured images from throughout the day, documenting both the race and the community support surrounding it.
Katie added: “It has been wonderful to work alongside so many local businesses and individuals who gave their time, expertise and support.
“Partnerships like these create opportunities for people to get outdoors, experience Pembrokeshire’s incredible landscapes and bring our community together.
“We hope this is the first of many successful Llys-y-Frân 10km events.”
The Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust said it now hopes to build on the success of the inaugural race and continue working with AspireX Events and Run the Trails to encourage more people to explore Pembrokeshire through outdoor events.
Caption: Community spirit was on show at Llys-y-Frân Country Park as more than 160 runners took part in the inaugural Llys-y-Frân 10km in support of the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust.
Sport
Bluebirds continue pre-season preparations with victory over Caerau Ely
Second-half goals from Lewis Rees and Will Hughes earned Haverfordwest County a 2-1 win at the Bridge Meadow
HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY continued their preparations for the new JD Cymru Premier campaign with a 2-1 victory over Caerau Ely at the Bridge Meadow Stadium on Tuesday evening.
After a goalless opening 45 minutes, the Bluebirds took control of the contest with two goals in the space of seven second-half minutes.
Lewis Rees made the breakthrough in the 55th minute, putting the home side ahead following a closely contested first half.
Will Hughes then doubled Haverfordwest’s advantage in the 62nd minute, giving the Bluebirds what appeared to be a comfortable lead as the game entered its final half-hour.
Caerau Ely responded almost immediately, reducing the deficit just three minutes later to ensure Haverfordwest were made to work for the victory.
The Bluebirds successfully protected their narrow advantage during the closing stages to record a useful 2-1 win in their penultimate pre-season outing.
The fixture provided another opportunity for the Haverfordwest coaching staff to assess the squad, build match fitness and continue preparations ahead of the beginning of the competitive campaign.
Haverfordwest will now turn their attention to their final friendly of the summer when they welcome Llanelli Town to the Bridge Meadow Stadium on Saturday, July 25.
Kick-off is at 2:30pm, with the match representing the Bluebirds’ final opportunity to fine-tune their preparations before the 2026-27 JD Cymru Premier season gets under way.
Haverfordwest County 2-1 Caerau Ely
Scorers: Lewis Rees 55’, Will Hughes 62’; Caerau Ely 65’.
Sport
Saka hat-trick fires England to bronze in ten-goal World Cup thriller
Three Lions survive remarkable French fightback to claim third place with a 6-4 victory in Miami
ENGLAND ended their World Cup campaign with a bronze medal after defeating France 6-4 in an extraordinary third-place play-off in Miami on Saturday night.
Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick as Thomas Tuchel’s side raced into a stunning four-goal lead before surviving a fierce second-half comeback led by Kylian Mbappé.
Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and Jude Bellingham were also on target for England, who secured their best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966 and claimed third place in the competition for the first time.
Any fears that the disappointment of Wednesday’s semi-final defeat by Argentina would produce a subdued performance disappeared within three minutes.
Rice, wearing the captain’s armband as one of seven changes to England’s starting line-up, intercepted a poor pass from Désiré Doué before driving an emphatic finish beyond France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Saka briefly thought he had doubled the advantage after being released by Morgan Rogers, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
England did not have to wait much longer.
Rice delivered a corner into the French penalty area in the 19th minute and Konsa climbed above Adrien Rabiot to power a header past Maignan.
France struggled to cope with England’s pace on the break, although Dean Henderson was called upon to deny Mbappé after the forward cut inside from the left.
That save helped launch the move which produced England’s third goal in the 37th minute. Marcus Rashford and Saka both had efforts blocked before the Arsenal winger eventually forced the ball home.
Saka struck again in first-half stoppage time, collecting a pass from Eberechi Eze and finishing clinically to send England into the break with a remarkable 4-0 lead.
France manager Didier Deschamps responded with four substitutions at half-time and the changes immediately transformed the contest.
Mbappé pulled one back in the 48th minute after Michael Olise’s pass opened the England defence, before substitute Bradley Barcola reduced the deficit further six minutes later.
England, so composed during the opening period, suddenly looked vulnerable.
Mbappé exchanged passes with Olise before scoring his second in the 67th minute, making it 4-3 and leaving Tuchel’s side facing the possibility of surrendering a four-goal advantage.
France pressed for an equaliser, with Olise passing up a major opportunity as England desperately attempted to regain control.
The decisive moment arrived four minutes from time when England were awarded a penalty. Saka took responsibility and converted to complete his hat-trick, restoring a two-goal cushion.
Even then, the drama was not finished.
Ousmane Dembélé scored France’s fourth goal in the sixth minute of added time, but Bellingham responded almost immediately, surging through the French defence and finishing past Maignan to seal an unforgettable 6-4 victory.
The result brought an emotional conclusion to England’s campaign following their painful 2-1 semi-final defeat against Argentina.
Although the Three Lions again fell short of reaching a World Cup final, their bronze medal represents the country’s strongest showing in the competition for 60 years.
For Saka, who had remained on the bench throughout the semi-final, it was a particularly memorable response. His treble placed him alongside an elite group of England players to have scored a hat-trick at a World Cup.
France’s defeat marked the end of Deschamps’ 14-year reign as national team manager, while England will return home knowing that a chaotic and thrilling final performance at least provided a positive ending to their tournament.
France: Mbappé 48, 67; Barcola 54; Dembélé 90+6
England: Rice 3; Konsa 19; Saka 37, 45+1, 86 pen; Bellingham 90+8
Half-time: France 0-4 England
Venue: Miami Stadium
Attendance: To be confirmed
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