Sport

Harrison Allen final preview: Neyland v Carew

Published

5 years ago

August 25, 2021

IT’S the one they all want to win. The Harrison Allen Final takes place this Saturday (Aug 28) with Neyland taking on Carew.

As always the game will be played at Cresselly Cricket Club and it promises to be another exciting final.

Neyland won the competition in 2020, beating Haverfordwest in the final, and having won the league last weekend, they will be keen to make it a double-winning season.

Carew though are playing in their first final since 2012 and will be looking to lift the trophy for the first time since 2010.

Carew beat Haverfordwest in that final but you have to go all the way back to 1971 for the last time Neyland played Carew in the final.

That occasion saw Neyland come out on top with Stuart Watts putting in a man of the match performance in that game.

50 years on and the two are set to do battle once again and with both teams evenly matched it is hard to choose a winner.

Division 1

In the league, Neyland finished top while Carew finished in fourth place after their final game of the season was abandoned.

The league games between the two produced similar results with Neyland winning on both occasions.

In May, Carew were bowled out for 122 before Neyland reached their target with seven wickets in hand.

Henry Durrant and Ross Hardy starred on that occasion for the hosts and there was a similar result when the two sides met in the reverse fixture in July.

Carew scored 171-9 in their innings with Hayden Shapcott scoring 45 and James Hinchcliffe scoring 32.

Hardy was again amongst the wickets before Nick Koomen scored 54 and Nathan Banner finished unbeaten on 57 to see Neyland to another seven-wicket win.

Although the results may have been the same, cup cricket is never the same.

Route to the final

Carew began their route to the final in May with a trip to Saundersfoot. Carew were kept to a low total of 122-9 in their innings but they were able to restrict Saundersfoot to 113-7 in their reply to win by nine runs.

In the second round, Carew beat Narberth in another close game.

They scored 151-4 first up before Narberth fell only two runs short in their chase on 149-8.

In the quarter finals, Carew made an excellent total of 236-3 in their innings against Kilgetty.

Lewis Hicks scored 65 and Nick Davies added 55 before Carew were able to bowl Kilgetty out for 137 to win by 99 runs.

The semi-finals saw them go up against Division 2 side Burton in Neyland. They successfully chased down Burton’s total of 142-5 to win by eight wickets.

Luke Hicks was again on form scoring 53 to see his side into the final.

Holders Neyland had a bye in the first round and they hosted Hook in the second round.

Neyland proved too strong with Patrick Bellerby scoring an unbeaten 101 in their total of 177-3.

They then restricted Hook to 81-9 in their reply to seal an excellent win.

Neyland played Lawrenny in their last-eight tie and they made it through to the last four with a narrow win.

The home side scored 145-8 in their innings with Ross Hardy scoring 58.

A score of 52 from Kurtis Marsh wasn’t enough for Lawrenny though as they could only reach 138-5 in reply, Brad McDermott-Jenkins taking three wickets for Neyland.

That set up another big clash against Cresselly in the semi-final which was played at Kilgetty.

Neyland batted first again and scored 160-5 in their innings with Ross Hardy scoring 41 and Ashley Sutton finished unbeaten on 52.

Cresselly pushed Neyland all the way with Iwan Izzard finishing unbeaten on 98 but they fell just two runs short on 158-4.

In their run to the final, Carew have shown they have the firepower to post a big total whilst also being able to defend a smaller one.

Neyland have also shown their ability to build a total and that they can restrict their opponents.

This season has also seen Neyland reach the Village Cup semi-final and Welsh Cup quarter finals and whilst they were beaten in both of those games, Sean Hannon’s team will have taken a lot from those experiences.

Having played on Saturday and Sunday for much of August and throughout the season, Saturday’s title win will have given them a big boost ahead of the final.

The Harrison Allen will represent their 36^th game of the season and they will look to end on a high.

Carew also reached the Duggie Morris final earlier this year where they were beaten by Lawrenny and they will be keen to avoid another final defeat.

Their final game of the season was abandoned last Saturday but the team did take part in the Aled Davies Memorial tournament on Sunday.

Carew won that and they will look to follow that up this weekend.

What the captains say

Carew captain Shaun Whitfield said: “We’re definitely looking forward to it, especially after losing the Duggie Morris final.

“It should be a good game against a good team. They are the best team in our league, well captained, and well drilled so we know it’s going to be a tough game.

“You normally have to beat the top teams to win the Harrison Allen so this Saturday will be no different.

“We’ve got a full team to choose from, there should be a big crowd and a good atmosphere and we’re just really looking forward to it.”

Neyland captain Sean Hannon said: “We’ve had some good contests with them over the years. We had a very close game at the quarter final stage last season so we are not underestimating them, they are a good side with some dangerous players.

“It’s a great day out and you never get bored of taking part in it so I’m really looking forward to it.

“With our win last weekend it’s sort of taken a little bit of pressure off us next week as we’ve already got one trophy in the cabinet. It’s not going to distract us from the Harrison Allen though as that’s the trophy everyone talks about.”

A final word

Both teams are expecting a tough game and are keen to get their hands on the trophy so it promises to be another exciting final.

With spectators allowed in to sporting events once again, it will only add to the atmosphere.

The two teams are evenly matched so we won’t be predicting a winner. We’ll let the cricket do the talking.

May the best team win.

Sport

Joe Allen to leave Swansea coaching role after final game

Published

8 minutes ago

May 5, 2026

Herald Sport

NARBERTH’S Joe Allen left his role on Swansea City’s coaching staff after Saturday’s final game of the season against Charlton Athletic.

The Pembrokeshire-born former Wales midfielder, 36, returned to the Swans’ backroom team in November alongside fellow club favourite Leon Britton to support head coach Vitor Matos.

The move was always expected to be short-term, with Allen stepping in after Matos was initially unable to bring in some of his staff from previous club Maritimo due to work permit issues.

Allen, who came through Swansea’s academy, retired as a player last May after his second spell with the club.

He first made his name at Swansea, helping the club win promotion to the Premier League in 2011 before moving to Liverpool. He later spent six years with Stoke City before returning to the Swans in 2022.

Allen also won 77 caps for Wales and was a key figure in the national side’s most successful modern era, including the run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

His departure from Swansea’s coaching set-up will come alongside that of head of goalkeeping Martyn Margetson, who is also leaving this summer.

For Pembrokeshire football fans, Allen remains one of the county’s most successful sporting exports, having gone from Narberth to the Premier League, Anfield, and the Wales midfield.

News

Fresh Hamilton wage claims raise new questions for Haverfordwest County fans

Published

23 hours ago

May 4, 2026

Herald Sport

Scottish reports of late and short wages add a new and more immediate concern for Bluebirds supporters already watching problems elsewhere in the same football network

REPORTS in Scotland that Hamilton Academical players were paid late, with some allegedly underpaid ahead of the club’s final game of the season, have added to scrutiny around the football network linked to Haverfordwest County AFC chairman Rob Edwards.

The latest claims were reported by Lanarkshire Live Sport and the Daily Record.

The relevance for Pembrokeshire lies in the links between Hamilton and Haverfordwest through Rob Edwards and Morley Sports Management.

Hamilton has previously stated that Morley Sports Management owns 100 per cent of 1874 Holdings Limited, and that 1874 Holdings in turn owns 97.5 per cent of Hamilton Academical FC.

Haverfordwest County has previously said Morley Sports Management has been the business vehicle behind Edwards’ takeover and funding of the Bluebirds since 2020.

Earlier this month, Haverfordwest County A.F.C. Ltd faced an HM Revenue & Customs winding-up petition at the High Court in London. The case was dismissed on April 15, but only after reaching a live hearing at the Rolls Building, with costs ordered against the company.

Separately, 1874 Holdings has faced a winding-up petition in Scotland. Hamilton later issued a statement acknowledging that petition, while saying the claim is disputed and that the company is seeking dismissal.

The latest Scottish wage claims come against a background of previous disciplinary action involving Hamilton. Earlier this year, the club was punished over failures to pay players on time and in full, resulting in a points deduction following an independent disciplinary process. Hamilton acknowledged that outcome in a club statement.

Companies House has also shown 1874 Holdings with overdue accounts and a strike-off notice. Those are separate processes from a winding-up petition, but they add to the list of recent off-field issues involving companies in the same football network.

There are also operational links between the two clubs. Haverfordwest publicly credited chief executive Beccy Nuttall with key work during the club’s licensing process earlier this month, while Hamilton has also announced Rebecca Nuttall in a senior role there.

The timing of the Haverfordwest case also drew attention because the club announced on April 8 that it had secured both its UEFA licence and FAW Tier 1 licence for the 2026-27 season, even though the HMRC petition remained live at that stage and was not disposed of until April 15.

The Herald contacted the Football Association of Wales for comment on the licensing position last week, but had received no response at the time of publication.

The Hamilton wage claims remain reports from Scotland, and there is no suggestion that Haverfordwest County AFC is facing the same issue. However, the developments are likely to be of interest to Bluebirds supporters because they concern companies and senior figures linked to the same wider football operation.

Sport

Young Crymych players step up to senior stage

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Herald Sport

Five youth team players earn praise after impressing at championship level

CRYMYCH RUGBY CLUB has hailed the contribution of five of its youth players after they stepped up to feature in a senior side at championship level.

The young players, who remain part of the club’s youth setup, were given the opportunity to test themselves in a higher-level fixture, and impressed coaches and supporters alike with their attitude and commitment on the field.

Club representatives said it was “fantastic to see” the dedication shown by the youngsters, who rose to the occasion in what was described as a special experience for both the players and the club.

The match provided a valuable opportunity for development, allowing the next generation of Crymych players to gain experience in a more competitive environment while contributing to the senior squad.

The rugby club said the move reflects its long-term focus on nurturing homegrown talent and creating a clear pathway from youth rugby into the senior game.

Officials added that the future of the club looks bright, with the performance of the young “Teirw” – or Bulls – offering reassurance that the next generation is ready to carry the club forward.

The club congratulated the players on their achievement and said it hopes to see more youth players progressing through the ranks in the coming seasons.