9th September 2015
| Mallory Gray
The
ECB Under 19 T20 Blast Pembrokeshire Finals Day, sponsored locally by TeesRus was
hosted by Haverfordwest Cricket Club on Sunday 6th September.
After
a hard fought day's cricket, over two venues [the other being Hook CC] which saw
320 overs, 120 players, 22 hours of cricket, and 10 matches on 4 pitches,
Llanelli Knights emerged victorious over Burton Warriors in the main
competition.
Llanelli Knights
The victors were presented with the Cup by Cricket Wales' Mark White. Much was owed
to a Man of the Match winning performance from wicket-keeper / batsman Ben
Edwards. Defeated semi finalists were
Cleddau Crusaders and Treleet Tigers.
Cleddau Crusaders
Treleet Tigers
Haverfordwest
Blue Lightning won the Plate competition over Carew Rooks who defeated
Cresselly Crusaders in one plate semi final with Neyland Black Caps losing to
the Blue Lightning.
The
format saw for the first time in Pembrokeshire coloured pyjamas, pink balls and
lime green coloured umpires [Andrew Phillips, Tony Waldeis, Rob Cousins, Neil
Croucher and Robert Ridge] in a day of fast, furious and entertaining cricket.
Co-ordinator
Jonathan Twigg was indebted to ‘the committee and staff of Haverfordwest
Cricket Club who helped organise the day.
Steward Mark Coneybear, caterers Pete and Kay and the supporting working
party of volunteers were immense in ensuring the day went ahead. Groundsmen Mike Smith, Roger Thomas, Ashley
James and George Thomas worked tirelessly to produce pitches to compliment the
day which was fronted by Richard ‘Musicman’ Scriven and Lucy Phillips who kept
the crowd and players entertained royally.
A
magic moment occurred in the first quarter final in Haverfordwest when Glamorgan 2nds
player Tom Murphy of Cresselly Crusaders completed a hat trick (all bowled)on the way
to a 6-7 haul in 3 overs against Treelet Tigers but wasn’t enough to save his
comrades from a huge defeat..
Mr
Twigg continued in his “acclaim of the off pitch entertainment from Jeff Clouts
Bouncy Castles, Kyle Hamer [Zorbs], Jar of Hearts confectionary and Kelly
Williams [face painting] whilst thanking Heatherton Country Park for the
sponsorship of the raffle.”
Welcomed
guests for the day were Mark White, Rick Walton and Matthew Freeman from
Cricket Wales, Ken Davies from event sponsor TeesRUs and Huw Simpkins who is
the local face to Natwest in the community.
Mr Simpkins summed up the days cricket as being ‘a fantastic advert for
Pembrokeshire sport and cricket in particular.
The photo taken by Annie Latham captured the 120 players, Team Managers
and Officials giving a truly colourful insight to just what the event
epitomised; camaraderie, competition, enthusiasm and smiles, where cricket was
the undoubted winner. The commitment
from Jonathan Twigg to drive this vehicle to such a successful conclusion sets
this up as a model for other Area and Group finals to use and develop for their
own success. It’s a pleasure for me to
represent NatWest and to be associated with today on a local and of course
national level.”