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County U14s at Bromsgrove Cricket Festival

Pembrokeshire Cricket’s U14s side played three games against strong opposition at the Bromsgrove Festival this week.

The opening fixture was against Warwickshire who batted first. James Davies took an early wicket to raise Pembrokeshire’s hopes but fifties from two batsmen soon put Warwickshire in command. At 120 for 1, things were looking bleak, but spirited bowling and some good catching meant the Pembrokeshire boys hauled themselves back into the game, with Warwickshire posting 225 all out, failing to use the last four of their 45 overs. James Davies 2 for 24, Curtis Hicks 3 for 41 and James Thomas 4 for 31 were the wicket takers.

In reply, opener Che Thomas scored 29 before being controversially run out, with Billy Kinnear hitting 35 and James Davies 18 in Pembrokeshire’s total of 152, finishing 73 runs short of their target.

The second game was against the Isle of Man. Pembrokeshire decided to bat and openers Geraint Rees and Che Thomas put on 53 for the first wicket, with Rees falling to a sharp slip catch on 17. Thomas was eventually run out for 30, James Davies made 28, Jacob Lay a quickfire 20, Nick Jones 15, Billy Kinnear 18 and Max Brindley 16 in a respectable total of 182. Despite a number of batsmen getting starts, some poor shot choices gave wickets away too easily and the innings fizzled out towards the end.

Isle of Man’s reply was much more solid and the cruised past the Pembrokeshire total for the loss of only 3 wickets, with Buxton scoring 53 not out. James Davies, 2 for 33 and Harri Dunn 1 for 30 were the wicket takers.

The final game was against an undefeated Norfolk side who despite losing 3 early wickets to Davies and Dunn, went on to score 261 for 8 on a small ground with a fine 73 from D Arnold. Pembrokeshire’s wicket takers were James Davies 3 for 31, Harri Dunn 1 for 34, Geraint Rees 1 for 37, Nick Jones 1 for 47 and Dan Llewellyn 1 for 26.

Pembrokeshire lost Rees with the score at 22, with Thomas run out the following ball for 16, and Jacob Lay was also caught without the score advancing. This was a real set back and with Jones falling cheaply as well, Pembrokeshire were tottering at 44 for 4. Max Brindley batted well for 41, with good support from Kyle Williams (15) and Billy Kinnear (22) but Pembrokeshire could only muster a total of 121, well short of their target.

Coach, Andrew Williams hopes that the boys will learn lessons from their experience against some very good cricketers, particularly in being more patient when batting and not to give their wickets away cheaply, through poor choice of shots.

Some Pembrokeshire pride was restored, however, as the boys beat both Warwickshire and Holland at football in the evenings, with Ewan Griffiths and Dan Llewellyn scoring goals in both games!

Pembrokeshire U14s Squad for Bromsgrove: Max Brindley (Kilgetty), James Davies (Burton), Harri Dunn (Crymych), Ewan Griffiths (Neyland), Curtis Hicks (Burton), Nicholas Jones (Burton), Billy Kinnear (Cresselly), Jacob Lay (Hook), Dan Llewellyn (Burton), Geraint Rees (Neyland), Che Thomas (Whitland), James Thomas (Whitland), Kyle Williams (Narberth).

20th July 2014 - County U14s extend winning run to 6, but fall at 7^th hurdle

The County U14s cricket team won their sixth successive game away to Carmarthenshire recently. Playing at Ammanford after a fairly damp night, Pembrokeshire won the toss and asked Carmarthenshire to bat.

The Pembrokeshire opening bowlers, Max Brindley and Harry Cook both bowled well and after 10 overs, Carmarthenshire had struggled to 21 for 1, Cook having Lewis caught by Jacob Lay for 3. Geraint Rees and Nicky Jones took over and also bowled tightly leaving the home team at 53 for 2 after 20 overs, with Jones bowling Davies for 12. Next to bowl were Iori Hicks and Harri Dunn, with Hicks bowling a devastating spell, finishing with 5 wickets for 12 runs from his seven overs. Dunn also picked up a wicket, bowling his 5 overs for 11 runs. Cook returned, picking up another wicket and when Jacob Lay picked up his fourth catch of the innings of Rees’ bowling, the innings was finished at 102 in the 39^th over.

Pembrokeshire moved fairly quickly to 58 for three, with Nick Jones contributing 12, Che Thomas 20 and Jacob Lay 21, but a mid order collapse where 5 wickets fell in the space of 8 runs left Pembrokeshire tottering on 71 for 8 with Max Brindley and Iori Hicks at the crease. However, these two dug in and with sensible batting the score crept nearer their target. With the pressure mounting, both batsmen kept accumulating runs and after drawing level, a guided four down to third man from Iori Hicks gave Pembrokeshire their sixth successive win. Max Brindley contributed 24 not out, with Hicks 12 not out at the finish.

Their seventh regional fixture was played on Sunday 20^th July at Pembroke Dock CC, when the visitors were North East Wales. Captain Dan Llewellyn decided to bat on a firm wicket but despite ideal conditions, the majority of Pembrokeshire batsmen tried to force the score along and got themselves out too easily, most having got a start. Pembrokeshire ‘s total was a dismal 91 all out in 32 out of their allotted 45 overs. James Thomas with 14 not out was the top scorer, with Nick Jones 10, Kyle Williams 12 and Max Brindley 11, the only batters reaching double figures.

Max Brindley had NE Wales captain, Mitchell caught behind by Billy Kinnear in the first over and it wasn’t until the 5^th over that NE Wales got on the scoreboard. Good innings of 38 by Thompson and 44 by Sethi helped the visitors ease towards their target, which they passed in the 20^th over for the loss of 4 wickets. Iori Hicks finished with 2 for 23 with James Thomas picking up the other wicket. Both Dan Llewellyn and Nick Jones took good catches in the field.

Pembrokeshire U14s have a chance to put this defeat behind them later this week, when they participate in the Bromsgrove Festival, with matches against Warwickshire, Norfolk and The Isle of Man.

In August they play the return fixture against NE Wales and will be looking to improve on today’s performance.

July 2014 - Pembrokeshire U14s Winning Run Extended

The County’s U14s have stretched their winning start to five games unbeaten with recent wins over Mid Wales and Mid Glamorgan.

At Haverfordwest, captain for the match, Max Brindley chose to bat first and Pembrokeshire reached an impressive total of 168, the last wicket falling in the 39^th over. Opener Geraint Rees was the mainstay of the Pembrokeshire innings with a patient 41, before falling lbw to Ben Kenshington. Kyle Williams added a lively 28, including 5 boundaries, with Harry Cook 13, Ewan Griffiths 18, James Thomas 14 and Billy Kinnear 12 not out all contributing well to the total.

Mid Wales, coached by former Cresselly player, Keith Griffiths, lost two early wickets to Harri Dunn and Harry Cook, before a solid partnership of 49 for the third wicket brought Mid Wales back into the game. Geraint Rees broke the partnership by having Kenshington caught by James Thomas for 28 and a devastating burst of four wickets in six overs by Nick Jones swung the match Pembrokeshire’s way again. Opener Simon Morris battled well for his 36 before being removed by Iori Hicks and after a short but exciting episode when the last pair added 34 before Ewan Griifiths bowled D Davies for 15, leaving Mid Wales 15 runs short of their target. Nick Jones with 4 for 15 from 6 overs was the pick of the Pembrokeshire bowlers on the day.

The next match was played against Mid Glamorgan at Porthcawl CC. Captain, Che Thomas won the toss and put Mid Glamorgan in to bat. James Davies removed an opener before he had troubled the scorers and Nick Jones quickly added two more wickets with Mid Glamorgan now at 15 for 3. D Davies scored 17 before Harri Dunn claimed his wicket and also removed the dangerous D Coughlan for 23, caught by Geraint Rees at mid-wicket. A run out by Dan Llewellyn, wickets from Harry Cook and Curtis Hicks, with Jacob Lay taking 3 catches and a run out, left Mid Glamorgan with a total of 98 from 35 of their allotted 45 overs. Pembrokeshire’s bowlers shared the wickets well with James Davies 1 for 15 from 8 overs, Harry Cook 1 for 2 from 6 overs, Nick Jones 2 for 17 from five overs, Geraint Rees 1 for 15 from 5 overs, Curtis Hicks 1 for 19 from five overs, Harry Dunn 2 for 20 from 4 overs and Dan Llewellyn 0 for 9 from 3 overs.

Pembrokeshire opening batsmen,  Nick Jones and Geraint Rees took the Pembrokeshire score to 37, before Jones holed out at mid-wicket for 24, with his partner later falling for 15. Jacob Lay hit six fours and a six in his quick-fire 34 and with Kyle Williams 9 not out and James Thomas 6 not out, Pembrokeshire reached their target in the 27th over, winning by six wickets.

Pembrokeshire’s remaining regional fixtures are away to Carmarthenshire July 13^th, N E Wales at Pembroke Dock on July 20^th and the corresponding away fixture to be rearranged in August, following an earlier postponement. The team are also due to play in the festival at Bromsgrove from 23^rd – 26^th July, where their fixtures are against Norfolk, Warwickshire and the Isle of Man.

June 2014 - Pembrokeshire U14s’ Winning Streak

Pembrokeshire’s U14 cricket team have begun their Regional fixtures with a hat-trick of wins. At Burton they comfortably defeated Mid Glamorgan after bowling the opposition out for 67 runs. Harry Cook (4 for 20 from 7 overs), Geraint Rees (4 for 2 from 5 overs), James Davies (1 for 12 from 7 overs) and Max Brindley (1 for 7 from 4 overs) were the wicket takers. Nicky Jones (36 not out) and Geraint Rees (14) ensured Pembrokeshire cruised to a 7 wicket victory.

At Hook, Carmarthenshire were the opposition. Put into bat, Carmarthenshire totalled 112 from their innings with J Rogers (21) and G Williams (22) the main contributors. Pembrokeshire’s bowlers were again in form, with James Davies (3 for 23 from 9 overs), Harry Cook (1 for 22 from 8 overs), Harri Dunn (1 for 11 from 5 overs), Iori Hicks (1 for 11 from 5 overs) and Nick Jones (1 for 9 from 5 overs) taking the wickets. In reply, Pembrokeshire appeared to be cruising to victory with Jacob Lay (41) and Geraint Rees (20), but a flurry of wickets meant a tense finish, before James Thomas with 6 not out saw them home by 2 wickets with four overs to spare.

The third fixture saw Pembrokeshire play Mid Wales at Llandrindod Wells. Again the opposition were put into bat on a damp pitch and could only muster 84 for 9 in their allotted overs. Pick of the Pembrokeshire bowlers was Geraint Rees (5 for 5 from 8 overs), with James Davies (1 for 29 from 8 overs), Nick Jones (1 for 12 from 5 overs) and Dan Llewellyn (1 for 12 from 7 overs). Iori Hicks also bowled very well, only conceding 3 runs from his 8 overs. Four Pembrokeshire batsmen reached double figures including Ewan Griffiths (18), Jacob Lay (15), Nick Jones (14) and Geraint Rees (11 not out), which was enough to see them reach their target with 16 overs remaining.

Coach, Andrew Williams (Narberth CC) is delighted with the start the team has made this season and is looking forward to their remaining fixtures with anticipation.

Pembrokeshire U14s Cricket Squad: Max Brindley (Kilgetty), Harry Cook (Carew), James Davies (Burton), Harri Dunn (Crymych), Ewan Griffiths (Neyland), Curtis Hicks (Burton), Iori Hicks (Carew), Nicholas Jones (Burton), Billy Kinnear (Cresselly), Jacob Lay (Hook), Dan Llewellyn (Burton), Geraint Rees (Neyland), Che Thomas (Whitland), James Thomas (Whitland), Kyle Williams (Narberth).