It’s been a quiet winter with regards to cricket news except for the recent decision to change the date for the second league game of the season and, of course, the decision to start games no later than 1.30 pm.

It’s hoped the latter will help encourage more participation on weekends where the interest in playing 40 or 45-over cricket has waned. Whether or not that is the case remains to be seen, but anecdotal evidence from leagues elsewhere in the UK suggest earlier starts do lead to increased participation and, perhaps more importantly, greater takings in the bar after games.

Some players have murmured they would rather start even earlier and no doubt that will come in time.

Player movements have been few, although those that have jumped ship have caused some consternation.

Llanrhian’s silky smooth left-hander Gareth Davies has left the Cows to join Haverfordwest, although his loss has been appeased a little by signing Sam Kurtz from Crymych.

Cresselly will have to make do with a threadbare bowling attack after young Tom Murphy joined Ammanford, while Brad McDermott-Jenkins has returned to Lawrenny and he’s been joined by young all-rounder Harry Thomas.

Meanwhile, division two’s leading wicket-taker Matthew Lewis has left Cresselly for Whitland. Other Cresselly defectors include Nick Davies and Ross Grieve to Carew.

Cresselly’s batting will still be strong, but where the wickets will come from is a cause for concern.

Carew, meanwhile, will still be one of the teams to beat and may just slip under the radar to challenge for honours.

It seems inconceivable to speak about the county’s most successful club as ‘potential’ challengers, but in recent times, silverware has gone elsewhere, namely Neyland, who will no doubt challenge again. That said, Carew have a good mix of youth and experience now and after a few fallow years, glory may beckon again.

With the recruitments they have made, Lawrenny will no doubt be stronger and may too challenge for honours, especially in the shorter format of cup competitions. McDermott-Jenkins’s return is a huge boost for them, while young Thomas has also shown how good he can be.

Two teams hoping to challenge for first division honours are Narberth and Whitland.

Narberth return after a season of dominance in division two, while Whitland have cemented themselves as a team of consistency; maybe this year is the year they will push on for greater honours.

As for the Otters, only time will tell whether they will be able to continue last year’s brilliance as they step up a notch.

Kilgetty will no doubt push for honours in division two with their youngsters another year older, while Saundersfoot will be hoping for a quick stay in division three after going down last year.

Pembroke and Stackpole will also challenge in the second division, while Pembroke Dock and Hundleton will be hopeful of more consistency in their play, with the same going for Lamphey.

It all starts this Sunday, April 24, weather permitting.

LEAGUE FIXTURES

Division One

Sunday April 24: Cresselly v St Ishmaels; Haverfordwest v Carew; Lawrenny v Johnston; Llanrhian v Narberth; Neyland v Whitland.

Monday May 2: Carew v Lawrenny; Haverfordwest v Cresselly; Johnston v Neyland; St Ishmaels v Llanrhian; Whitland v Narberth;

Saturday May 7: Cresselly v Whitland; Llanrhian v Johnston; Narberth v Lawrenny; Neyland v Haverfordwest; St Ishmaels v Carew;

Saturday May 14: Carew v Cresselly; Haverfordwest v Narberth; Johnston v St Ishmaels; Lawrenny v Neyland; Whitland v Llanrhian.

Saturday May 21: Cresselly v Lawrenny; Llanrhian v Neyland; Narberth v Carew; St Ishmaels v Haverfordwest; Whitland v Johnston;

Saturday May 28: Carew v Johnston; Cresselly v Llanrhian; Haverfordwest v Whitland; Lawrenny v St Ishmaels; Neyland v Narberth.

Saturday June 4: Johnston v Haverfordwest; Llanrhian v Lawrenny; Narberth v Cresselly; St Ishmaels v Neyland; Whitland v Carew.

Saturday June 11: Cresselly v Johnston; Lawrenny v Whitland; Llanrhian v Haverfordwest; Narberth v St Ishmaels; Neyland v Carew. 

Saturday June 18: Carew v Llanrhian; Haverfordwest v Lawrenny; Johnston v Narberth; Neyland v Cresselly; St Ishmaels vWhitland.

Saturday June 25: Carew v 

Haverfordwest; Johnston v Lawrenny; Narberth v Llanrhian; St Ishmaels v Cresselly;Whitland v Neyland.

Saturday July 2: Cresselly v Haverfordwest; Lawrenny v Carew; Llanrhian v St Ishmaels; Narberth v Whitland; Neyland v Johnston. 

Saturday July 9: Carew v St Ishmaels; Haverfordwest v Neyland; Johnston v Llanrhian; Lawrenny v Narberth; Whitland v Cresselly.

Saturday July 16: Cresselly v Carew; Llanrhian v Whitland; Narberth v Haverfordwest; Neyland v Lawrenny; St Ishmaels v Johnston.

Saturday July 23: Carew v Narberth; Haverfordwest v St Ishmaels; Johnston v Whitland; Lawrenny v Cresselly; Neyland v Llanrhian.

Saturday August 6: Johnston v Carew; Llanrhian v Cresselly; Narberth v Neyland; St Ishmaels v Lawrenny; Whitland v Haverfordwest. 

Saturday August 13: Carew v Whitland; Cresselly v Narberth; Haverfordwest v Johnston; Lawrenny v Llanrhian; Neyland v St Ishmaels.

Saturday August 20: Carew v Neyland; Haverfordwest v Llanrhian; Johnston v Cresselly; St Ishmaels v Narberth; Whitland v Lawrenny.

Saturday August 27: Cresselly v Neyland; Lawrenny v Haverfordwest; Llanrhian v Carew; Narberth v Johnston; Whitland v St Ishmaels.

Division Two

Sunday April 24: Burton v Cresselly II; Carew II v Haverfordwest II; Hook v Pembroke; Stackpole v Kilgetty; Whitland II v Llangwm.

Monday, May 2: Cresselly II v Whitland II; Kilgetty v Burton; Llangwm v Haverfordwest II; Pembroke v Carew II; Stackpole v Hook.

Saturday May 7: Carew II v Cresselly II; Haverfordwest II v Burton; Hook v Llangwm; Pembroke v Kilgetty; Whitland II v Stackpole;

Saturday May 14: Burton v Whitland II; Cresselly II v Pembroke; Kilgetty v Hook; Llangwm v Carew II; Stackpole v Haverfordwest II.

Saturday May 21: Carew II v Whitland II; Haverfordwest II v Kilgetty; Hook v Burton; Llangwm v Cresselly II; Pembroke v Stackpole.

Saturday May 28: Burton v Pembroke; Hook v Carew II; Kilgetty v Cresselly II; Stackpole v Llangwm; Whitland II v Haverfordwest II.

Saturday June 4: Carew II v Burton; Cresselly II v Stackpole; Haverfordwest II v Hook; Llangwm v Kilgetty; Pembroke v Whitland II.

Saturday June 11: Burton v Llangwm; Carew II v Stackpole; Haverfordwest II v Pembroke; Hook v Cresselly II; Whitland II v Kilgetty.

Saturday June 18: Cresselly II v Haverfordwest II; Kilgetty v Carew II; Pembroke v Llangwm; Stackpole v Burton; Whitland II v Hook.

Saturday June 25: Cresselly II v Burton; Haverfordwest II v Carew II; Kilgetty v Stackpole; Llangwm v Whitland II; Pembroke v Hook.

Saturday July 2: Burton v Kilgetty; Carew II v Pembroke; Haverfordwest II v Llangwm; Hook v Stackpole; Whitland II v Cresselly II.

Saturday July 9: Burton v Haverfordwest II; Cresselly II v Carew II; Kilgetty v Pembroke; Llangwm v Hook; Stackpole v Whitland II.

Saturday July 16: Carew II v Llangwm; Haverfordwest II v Stackpole; Hook v Kilgetty; Pembroke v Cresselly II; Whitland II v Burton.

Saturday July 23: Burton v Hook; Cresselly II v Llangwm; Kilgetty v Haverfordwest II; Stackpole v Pembroke; Whitland II v Carew II.

Saturday August 6: Carew II v Hook; Cresselly II v Kilgetty; Haverfordwest II v Whitland II; Llangwm v Stackpole; Pembroke v Burton

Saturday August 13: Burton v Carew II; Hook v Haverfordwest II; Kilgetty vLlangwm; Stackpole v Cresselly II; Whitland II v Pembroke.

Saturday August 20: Cresselly II v Hook; Kilgetty v Whitland II; Llangwm v Burton; Pembroke v Haverfordwest II; Stackpole v Carew II.

Saturday August 27: Burton v Stackpole; Carew II v Kilgetty; Haverfordwest II v Cresselly II; Hook v Whitland II; Llangwm v Pembroke.

Division Three

Sunday April 24: Crymych v Herbrandston; Haverfordwest III v Lawrenny II; Lamphey v Neyland II; Llechryd v Saundersfoot; Pembroke Dock v Hook II.

Monday, May 2: Hook II v Lamphey; Lawrenny II v Crymych; Llechryd v Haverfordwest III; Neyland II v Herbrandston; Saundersfoot v Pembroke Dock.

Saturday May 7: Crymych v Hook II; Haverfordwest III v Neyland II; Herbrandston v Pembroke Dock; Lamphey v Llechryd; Lawrenny II v Saundersfoot;

Saturday May 14: Hook II v Lawrenny II; Llechryd v Herbrandston; Neyland II v Crymych; Pembroke Dock v Lamphey; Saundersfoot v Haverfordwest III.

Saturday May 21: Crymych v Lamphey; Haverfordwest III v Pembroke Dock; Herbrandston v Saundersfoot; Lawrenny II v Llechryd; Neyland II v Hook II.

Saturday May 28: Haverfordwest III v Crymych; Lamphey v Herbrandston; Llechryd vNeyland II; Pembroke Dock v Lawrenny II; Saundersfoot vHook II.

Saturday June 4: Crymych v Pembroke Dock; Herbrandston v Haverfordwest III; Hook II v Llechryd; Lawrenny II v Lamphey; Neyland II v Saundersfoot.

Saturday June 11: Crymych v Llechryd; Haverfordwest III v Hook II; Herbrandston v Lawrenny II; Lamphey v Saundersfoot; Pembroke Dock v Neyland II.

Saturday June 18: Hook II v Herbrandston; Lamphey v Haverfordwest III; Lawrenny II v Neyland II; Llechryd v Pembroke Dock; Saundersfoot v Crymych.

Saturday June 25: Herbrandston v Crymych; Hook II v Pembroke Dock; Lawrenny II v Haverfordwest III; Neyland II v Lamphey; Saundersfoot v Llechryd.

Saturday July 2: Crymych v Lawrenny II; Haverfordwest III v Llechryd; Herbrandston v Neyland II; Lamphey v Hook II; Pembroke Dock v Saundersfoot.

Saturday July 9: Hook II v Crymych; Llechryd v Lamphey; Neyland II v Haverfordwest III; Pembroke Dock v Herbrandston; Saundersfoot v Lawrenny II.

Saturday July 16: Crymych v Neyland II; Haverfordwest III v Saundersfoot; Herbrandston v Llechryd; Lamphey v Pembroke Dock; Lawrenny II v Hook II.

Saturday July 23: Hook II v Neyland II; Lamphey v Crymych; Llechryd v Lawrenny II; Pembroke Dock v Haverfordwest III; Saundersfoot v Herbrandston.

Saturday August 6: Crymych v Haverfordwest III; Herbrandston v Lamphey; Hook II v Saundersfoot; Lawrenny II v Pembroke Dock; Neyland II v Llechryd

Saturday August 13: Haverfordwest III v Herbrandston; Lamphey v Lawrenny II; Llechryd v Hook II; Pembroke Dock v Crymych; Saundersfoot v Neyland II.

Saturday August 20: Hook II v Haverfordwest III; Lawrenny II v Herbrandston; Llechryd v Crymych; Neyland II v Pembroke Dock; Saundersfoot v Lamphey.

Saturday August 27: Crymych v Saundersfoot; Haverfordwest III v Lamphey; Herbrandston v Hook II; Neyland II v Lawrenny II; Pembroke Dock v Llechryd.

Division Four

Sunday April 24: Hundleton v Fishguard; Johnston II v Burton II; Narberth II v Llanrhian II; Pembroke II v Carew III; Saundersfoot II v Llechryd II.

Monday, May 2: Burton II v Saundersfoot II; Carew III v Hundleton; Fishguard v Llechryd II; Llanrhian II v Pembroke II; Narberth II v Johnston II.

Saturday May 7: Burton II v Llanrhian II; Hundleton v Narberth II; Johnston II v Fishguard; Llechryd II v Pembroke II; Saundersfoot II v Carew III.

Saturday May 14: Carew III v Burton II; Fishguard v Saundersfoot II; Llanrhian II v Johnston II; Narberth II v Llechryd II; Pembroke II v Hundleton.

Saturday May 21: Burton II v Narberth II; Fishguard v Carew III; Johnston II v Pembroke II; Llechryd II v Llanrhian II; Saundersfoot II v Hundleton.

Saturday May 28: Hundleton v Llechryd II; Johnston II v Saundersfoot II; Llanrhian II v Carew III; Narberth II v Fishguard; Pembroke II v Burton II.

Saturday June 4: Burton II v Hundleton; Carew III v Narberth II; Fishguard v Llanrhian II; Llechryd II v Johnston II; Saundersfoot II v Pembroke II.

Saturday June 11: Hundleton v Llanrhian II; Johnston II v Carew III; Llechryd II v Burton II; Pembroke II v Fishguard; Saundersfoot II v Narberth II.

Saturday June 18: Burton II v Fishguard; Carew III v Llechryd II; Hundleton v Johnston II; Llanrhian II v Saundersfoot II; Narberth II v Pembroke II.

Saturday June 25: Burton II v Johnston II; Carew III v Pembroke II; Fishguard v Hundleton; Llanrhian II v Narberth II; Llechryd II v Saundersfoot II.

Saturday July 2: Hundleton v Carew III; Johnston II v Narberth II; Llechryd II v Fishguard; Pembroke II v Llanrhian II; Saundersfoot II v Burton II.

Saturday July 9: Carew III v Saundersfoot II; Fishguard v Johnston II; Llanrhian II v Burton II; Narberth II v Hundleton; Pembroke II v Llechryd II.

Saturday July 16: Burton II v Carew III; Hundleton v Pembroke II; Johnston II v Llanrhian II; Llechryd II v Narberth II; Saundersfoot II v Fishguard.

Saturday July 23: Carew III v Fishguard; Hundleton v Saundersfoot II; Llanrhian II v Llechryd II; Narberth II v Burton II; Pembroke II v Johnston II.

Saturday August 6: Burton II v Pembroke II; Carew III v Llanrhian II; Fishguard v Narberth II; Llechryd II v Hundleton; Saundersfoot II v Johnston II.

Saturday August 13: Hundleton v Burton II; Johnston II v Llechryd II; Llanrhian II v Fishguard; Narberth II v Carew III; Pembroke II v Saundersfoot II.

Saturday August 20: Burton II v Llechryd II; Carew III v Johnston II; Fishguard v Pembroke II; Llanrhian II v Hundleton; Narberth II v Saundersfoot II.

Saturday August 27: Fishguard v Burton II; Johnston II v Hundleton; Llechryd II v Carew III; Pembroke II v Narberth II; Saundersfoot II v Llanrhian II.

Division Five

Sunday April 24: Cresselly III v Pembroke Dock II; Kilgetty II v Stackpole II; Llangwm II v Hundleton II; St Ishmaels II v Haverfordwest IV; Whitland III v Neyland III.

Monday, May 2:   Haverfordwest IV v Llangwm II; Hundleton II v Stackpole II; Neyland III v St Ishmaels II; Pembroke Dock II v Kilgetty II; Whitland III v Cresselly III.

Saturday May 7: Cresselly III v Hundleton II; Kilgetty II v Haverfordwest IV; Llangwm II v Whitland III; Pembroke Dock II v Neyland III; Stackpole II v St Ishmaels II.

Saturday May 14: Haverfordwest IV v Pembroke Dock II; Hundleton II v Kilgetty II; Neyland III v Cresselly III; St Ishmaels II v Llangwm II; Whitland III v Stackpole II

Saturday May 21: Cresselly III v St Ishmaels II; Hundleton II v Haverfordwest IV; Kilgetty II v Llangwm II; Pembroke Dock II v Whitland III; Stackpole II v Neyland III

Saturday May 28: Cresselly III v Kilgetty II; Llangwm II v Stackpole II; Neyland III v Haverfordwest IV; St Ishmaels II v Pembroke Dock II;Whitland III v Hundleton II

Saturday June 4: Haverfordwest IV v Whitland III; Hundleton II v Neyland III; Kilgetty II v St Ishmaels II; Pembroke Dock II v Llangwm II; Stackpole II v Cresselly III.

Saturday June 11: Cresselly III v Haverfordwest IV; Kilgetty II v Whitland III; Llangwm II v Neyland III; St Ishmaels II v Hundleton II; Stackpole II v Pembroke Dock II.

Saturday June 18: Haverfordwest IV v Stackpole II; Llangwm II v Cresselly III; Neyland III v Kilgetty II; Pembroke Dock II v Hundleton II; Whitland III v St Ishmaels II.

Saturday June 25: Haverfordwest IV v St Ishmaels II; Hundleton II v Llangwm II; Neyland III v Whitland III; Pembroke Dock II v Cresselly III; Stackpole II v Kilgetty II.

Saturday 2 July 2: Cresselly III v Whitland III; Kilgetty II v Pembroke Dock II; Llangwm II v Haverfordwest IV; St Ishmaels II v Neyland III; Stackpole II v Hundleton II.

Saturday July 9: Haverfordwest IV v Kilgetty II; Hundleton II v Cresselly III; Neyland III v Pembroke Dock II; St Ishmaels II v Stackpole II; Whitland III v Llangwm II.

Saturday July 16: Cresselly III v Neyland III; Kilgetty II v Hundleton II; Llangwm II v St Ishmaels II; Pembroke Dock II v Haverfordwest IV; Stackpole II v Whitland III;

Saturday July 23: Haverfordwest IV v Hundleton II; Llangwm II v Kilgetty II; Neyland III v Stackpole II; St Ishmaels II v Cresselly III; Whitland III v Pembroke Dock II.

Saturday August 6: Haverfordwest IV v Neyland III; Hundleton II v Whitland III; Kilgetty II v Cresselly III; Pembroke Dock II v St Ishmaels II; Stackpole II v Llangwm II.

Saturday August 13: Cresselly III v Stackpole II; Llangwm II v Pembroke Dock II; Neyland III v Hundleton II; St Ishmaels II v Kilgetty II; Whitland III v Haverfordwest IV.

Saturday August 20:   Haverfordwest IV v Cresselly III; Hundleton II v St Ishmaels II; Neyland III v Llangwm II; Pembroke Dock II v Stackpole II; Whitland III v Kilgetty II.

Saturday August 27: Cresselly III v Llangwm II; Hundleton II v Pembroke Dock II; Kilgetty II v Neyland III; St Ishmaels II v Whitland III; Stackpole II v Haverfordwest IV.

Harrison -Allen Bowl

Round One (commencing May 10): Pembroke v Cresselly; Saundersfoot v Llangwm; Lawrenny v Johnston; Kilgetty v Llanrhian.

Round Two (commencing May 24): Whitland v Pembroke or Cresselly; Lawrenny or Johnston v Neyland; Saundersfoot or Llangwm v Crymych; Kilgetty or Llanrhian v Stackpole; St Ishmaels v Hundleton; Narberth v Carew; Haverfordwest v Burton or Hook; Pembroke Dock v Llechryd

D. R. Morris Cup

Round One (commencing May 17): Pembroke Dock v Cresselly; Whitland v St Ishmaels; Haverfordwest v Llangwm; Narberth v Pembroke.

Round Two (commencing June 7): Hook v Pembroke Dock or Cresselly; Neyland v Haverfordwest or Llangwm; Kilgetty v Carew or Lawrenny; Narbeth or Pembroke v Whitland or St Ishmaels.

Alec Colley Cup

Round One (commencing May 31): Pembroke v Pembroke Dock; Burton v Llangwm.

Round Two (commencing June 14): Neyland v Cresselly; Johnston v Stackpole; Burton or Llangwm v Saundersfoot; Narberth v St Ishmaels; Lawrenny v Hook; Kilgetty v Carew; Whitland v Pembroke or Pembroke Dock; Llanrhian or Haverfordwest v Hundleton.

Ormond Youth Cup

Friday , June 3: Narberth v Whitland; Haverfordwest v Llanrhian; Cresselly/Saundersfoot v Carew; Neyland v Hook.

Friday, June 10: Kilgetty v Narberth; Crymych v Haverfordwest; Stackpole v Cresselly/Saundersfoot; Burton v Neyland.

Friday, June 17: Whitland v Kilgetty; Llanrhian v Crymych; Carew v Stackpole; Hook v Burton.

Friday, June 24: Narberth v Kilgetty; Haverfordwest v Crymych; Cresselly/Saundersfoot v Stackpole; Neyland v Burton.

Friday, July 1: Whitland v Narberth; Llanrhian v Haverfordwest; Carew v Cresselly/Saundersfoot; Burton v Hook.

Friday, July 8: Kilgetty v Whitland; Crymych v Llanrhian; Stackpole v Carew; Hook v Neyland.

Alan Brown Cup

Round One: Hundleton v Pembroke Dock; Llechryd v Crymych; Herbrandston v Lamphey; Saundersfoot v Bye

Semi-Final: Saundersfoot v Herbrandston or Lamphey; Llechryd or Crymych v Hundleton or Pembroke Dock.