After a disappointing couple of results that saw the First Team lose in the semi final of the national village cup and the quarter final of the Welsh Cup on consecutive Sunday’s we entered a massive last week of the Cricket season.
This started with a home game against Lawrenny in the First Division league title decider at the Athletic club fields and we trailed Lawrenny by Nine points and Neyland had to win the game and ensure we did not give them to many bonus points in doing so.
After a wet morning the game started on time thanks to the great work of ground staff, committee and players. Neyland batted first and scored 140 for 9 and bowled out Lawrenny for 118 to secure a third league title on the trot.
The following Saturday saw us travel to Cresselly and face Carew in the Harrision Allen Bowl Final in the First Carew innings we had Carew all out for 108 with some great bowling and fielding by our team. Neyland batted next scoring a massive 241 for 2 in our 22 overs a record score in the final breaking the other Two records set in the previous finals by us, Patrick Bellerby scored 134 not out Ross Hardy 49 not out and Nick Kooman 38.
In the Carew Second innings they scored 154 for 8 which left Neyland needing 23 when they batted which was passed comfortably to win the Bowl for the Tenth time and Second year on the trot and saw Captain Sean Hannon lift the Bowl in front of a massive Neyland support. Patrick Bellerby was named Man of the Match.On the Sunday captain Sean Hannon took the trophy to the houses of people who could not attend the final and have been stalwarts of the cricket club including Ann Phelan.
The Second Team finished mid table in Division Three and won the Alec Colley cup final at Pembroke beating Cresselly over Two innings with William Hughes winning the Man of the Match.
The Third Team also had a good season finishing in the top half of the season and narrowly going down in the semi final of the Ken Morris cup to a very good Narberth team.
The ladies also enjoyed a good season with numbers increasing and having a decent league season as well as getting to a couple of softball festivals.
The Junior section keeps going from strength to strength and this year saw fantastic numbers in our Dynamos and All Stars.
The community and business people have really got behind the club this season and was reflected by the numbers of supporters at games and Neyland Cricket Club are grateful for the support shown.
Rugby
Yesterday saw our First team play for the time in 18 months with a thumping 58 -23 win at our rivals Llangwm under the leader ship of Captain George Williams and coaches Graham Richards and Steven Evans.
Today sees the Junior and mini section’s start there season. Wednesday night at the Athletic Club sees our newly formed Youth team under coach Colin Picton take to the pitch for the First time against Llangwm Youth it is great to see the youth team back in the club and we wish the well for the coming season
The First Xl are currently joint top of the Pembrokeshire County Division One with Five games left and hoping to retain the title we won in 2019.
The team play tonight in the semi final of the Harrison Allen Bowl having won the bowl last season.
This year the Club entered the Voneus Broadband National Village Cup for the First time and although we are a town we are allowed to enter due to the population size of Neyland .Over 350 teams entered this year.
We won through to the Dyfed area final and beat Cresselly to qualify for the National rounds where we faced long trips to Stafford to play Milford Hall and then near to Mansfield where we played Clipstone and after being just a couple of runs short of victory rain abandoned the match and we returned the week after for a replay in Neyland which was also abandoned after a few overs.
The rules state that the match must have a bowl off to get a winner every player must have one ball to try and hit the wickets Neyland won this 4 – 1 after Nine players from each side had bowled, the bowl off took place in the sports hall of the new Hub facility.
We then travelled to South Wingfield in Derbyshire for the Quarter final which our lads won convincingly to progress to a home semi final on the 8th of August against either Houghton Main ( Yorkshire) or Alvaney (Cheshire) and to top off a great day Andrew Miller was voted the Theakstone’s (sponsor) player of the round award. The match also live on LiveFM sport radio where Club Chairman Martin Jones and Team Manager Peter Davies gave some insight into the club and players. The radio station are hoping to be in Neyland for the semi final.
To compete in this competition has been very costly and local business people, former players and Neyland Town Council have all contributed to help with the expense for which the player’s and club are very grateful. The team also reached the quarter final of the Welsh Cup last Sunday with a convincing win over Clydach near Swansea and now face Welsh premier league side Newport (Gwent) at Neyland on a date to be confirmed. Many of the team also represent the Pembrokeshire County Team . Sean Hannon is the current Captain of Neyland and Pembrokeshire. The team are also currently Pembrokeshire and Welsh indoor League Champions.
The Second Xl are through to there Second Alec Colley cup final having won it in 2018 and sit mid table in the Pembrokeshire division Three the Team is Captained by Paul Miller.
The Third Xl are the breeding ground with many teenagers and young players taking part and enjoying cricket with a few old heads to help guide them last season saw the 3s win the Kenny Morris cup for the First time under Captain Sam Laugharne the team recently saw three Ladies play for them in one match.
The Ladies Xl goes from strength to strength under the Captaincy of Sarah Arran and recently got to a soft ball final at Laugharne and are enjoying a good season although many of the ladies are new to the game.
The Junior section keeps on thriving with record numbers of children taking part in All Stars and Dynamos cricket coaching plus strong numbers in our junior age groups. The club is led by a strong and positive committee with excellent groundstaff and coaches. We also thrive on the family aspect at the club with many wives partners and children attending games.
Take out of this want you want Simon I thought would cover all bases to give you some insight of what goes on at Neyland CC
The Neyland Under 8s won in the Tenby Soccer 7s today
Leo Power was Man of The Match in the final and Ben Phillips scored the winning goal in a 2-1 win over Pennar. It’s the 1st time a Neyland team has won a Tenby Tournament.
After a good away victory at St.Clears last week, the Nomads maintained their winning ways with an impressive 3-0 home result against Narberth. It took just 10 minutes for the homesters to convert a goal scoring opportunity. Justin Harding crossed the ball for Wayne Vaughan-Parry to volley in. Another ten minutes passed when Harding added to his season’s tally when the keeper failed to hold on to the ball and was punished by the striker.
So with the score at 2-0 at the interval there was an expectation that there would be ‘more of the same’ during the second period. However the ‘Bluebirds’ did not give up the cause and made frequent forays especially down the flanks. However they were unable to convert any chances and as the game drew to an end it seemed that there would be no second period goals. However Neyland added a third goal with the final kick of the game when Andrew Smith slotted in another Harding cross.
Pictured below are scorers Andrew Smith, Wayne Parry and Justin Harding. Team: Patrick Hannon, Andrew Kemp, Paul Hannon, Nathan Banner, Nick Koomen, Mikey Chandler, Nathan Warlow, Henry Durrant, Sean Hannon, Wayne Parry, Justin Harding, Andrew Smith, Ollie Marshall. Next week the 1st X1 is away to Hakin in the First Division
