Richards and Wood give leaders satisfaction

THREE wickets apiece for Tom Richards and Simon Wood thwarted Haverfordwest’s hopes of toppling Pembroke County Cricket League frontrunners Saundersfoot, who won by 51 runs to stay top.

The hosts must have thought they were in with a chance after bowling the visitors out for 164, Simon Holiday taking 2-24 and Nigel Morgan 2-28.

Dai Davies’s 32 and a knock of 25 from Richards shored up the Saundersfoot innings. In reply, Karl Rhead and Jonathan Strawbridge both made 29 for the home side but Richards and Wood struck at just the right moments to maintain the leaders’ unbeaten start to the season.

Carew are close behind in second and they also won away on Saturday, defeating St Ishmaels by the narrow margin of four runs.

Robbie Hicks cracked 62 and Martin Scourfield finished unbeaten on 30 as Carew made 148-8. Andrew Williams (3-28) was the pick of the St Ishmaels attack.

With Peter Bradshaw (54) and Jonathan Pawlett (40) in good nick, Carew were in danger of slipping to a first defeat of the campaign but 4-23 from Tom Davies helped end St Ishmaels’ hopes and they were all out for 144.

Neyland had no problem seeing off Llangwm by 66 runs. Patrick Bellerby top scored for Neyland with 41 as they made 164-6, Andrew Harries taking 3-21.

And Llangwm were skittled out for 98 with Andrew Miller’s figures of 5-18 taking his side to third in the table. Whitland also tasted success courtesy of a two-wicket win at Cresselly who made 176-8 in their allotted overs.

Top scoring for them was Phil Williams with 41 while David Dunfee and Mark Lee both took three wickets. Whitland had a few nervy moments in reply as Dunfee added 71 with the bat.

In the one remaining match, Narberth moved off the foot of the table with a draw against Lawrenny. Huw Griffiths struck an unbeaten 36 as Lawrenny made 147-7 before Narberth finished their innings on 109-8 with Ian Hughes also 36 not out.