Down to the wire

And so it boils down to this.
Four months after it began the cricket season comes to and end on Saturday and it’s been better than people give it credit for.
For all the talk of standards being low, clubs struggling to field teams and players lacking interest the majority of the divisions have been tight.
The bottom of the first, the bottom of the second and the top of the third have all gone down to the wire and if that doesn’t garner interest in the game then nothing will.
The undoubted match of the day (quite possibly the match of the season) is at Carew where the hosts need just nine points to clinch the title and second placed Cresselly are the visitors.
Can they overcome the 21 point gap?
It will be interesting to see how Carew play it. Will they go for the win or settle for a draw? It’s not unconceivable that they could lose and still gain enough points to seal the title.
At the bottom and Johnston’s win over Haverfordwest last week has really put the cat among the pigeons.
They leapfrogged Kilgetty as a result with the Kingsmoor outfit now looking likely to join Pembroke in division two next year.
Despite starting the season well Kilgetty have faded without trace. They play Lawrenny at home a game they can win but when form is against you everything is so much harder.
Johnston play Pembroke, this season’s division whipping boys and the money will be on the Tigers winning that one and for Daniel Sutton to score another ton. He likes scoring centuries against them, he’s got three to his name already.

The division two clash at Stackpole is an interesting one too with second placed Narberth the visitors.
The Lillies hover just above the relegation zone. A win for them and they are safe but that could mean Narberth missing out on promotion with Burton overtaking them.
Burton are at home to Saundersfoot, not an easy game to finish the season with so much at stake.
Whitland seconds travel to Llechryd and they need a win to avoid going down.
Forget the excitement at Carew, for the teams at the bottom of two, nothing matters but the games they are playing in.
And then you have the top of three.
First placed Hook take on third placed Cresselly with second placed Herbrandston travelling to Neyland seconds.
Both are intriguing games and could go either way. With all to play for at Carew however there’s no chance of Cresselly flooding their seconds to give them a better chance.
They are having to face that battle on their own.

The season has reached it’s crescendo and the script writers are certainly having their say.

Who was it that said cricket is dull?  
Team of the week
  1. Craig Butland (Pembroke Dock) 91 not out v Neyland 2nds
  2. Adam Chandler (Cresselly) 81 not out v Kilgetty
  3. Robert Mathias (Stackpole) 81 v Saundersfoot
  4. Lyn Rees (Neyland 2nds) 79 not out v Pembroke Dock
  5. Sam Franklin (Saundersfoot) 75 & 3-12 v Stackpole
  6. William Ridge (Burton 2nds) 72 not out & 2-14 v Saundersfoot 2nds
  7. James Incleton (Laugharne) 7-9 &35 not out v Neyland 3rds
  8. Andrew Williams (St Ishmaels) 7-23 v Lawrenny
  9. Adam Davies (St Ishmaels 2nds) 6-6 & 18 v Crymych
  10. Andrew Harries (llangwm 2nds) 6-8 v Haverfordwest 4ths
  11. Rhys Davies (Carew) 6-20 v Whitland
Notable mention

Megan Arthur (Cresselly 3rds) 5-32 v Carew 3rds

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