A sparkling innings of 74 by Jordan Howell was not enough to help Narberth overcome league favourites Haverfordwest in division one of the Nicholas Insurance Pembroke County Cricket League as the league leaders eased to a seven-wicket win.

Batting first, the Otters reached 156-9 thanks to Howell’s excellence, while Ben Hughes struck 30. Few others could get going, however, to help pose a good total and in reply, the Town strolled home without many problems.

Whitland had an easy day of it at home after cruising to an eight-wicket win over struggling Llanrhian. The Cows batted first, with the Borderers bowling them out for 92 thanks to Matthew Lewis’s 5-31 and Iestyn Scourfield’s 3-18. In reply, Kevin Pearce’s 36 not out helped the Borderers romp home.

Did Carew blow it or did Cresselly win it? That’s the debate raging among some cricketing circles about the game between the arch rivals.

Adam Chandler once again shone in Cresselly colours, hitting an unbeaten 88, while Iwan Izzard struck 41 and Ryan Lewis a brisk 38 not out in their 206-5, in which Tom Davies took a brace of wickets.

Carew looked to be in control during the run chase, with Ian Sefton in particular looking dangerous after hitting 87, but once he was out, the floodgates opened thanks to Sam Harts’s 3-52 and Carew were all out for 184 to lose by 22 runs.

Down the road at Lawrenny and the hosts were soundly beaten by Neyland by nine wickets after being dismissed for just 122. James Buckle hit 35 and Brad Jenkins 24 in the total that Neyland had few problems in passing for the loss of just one wicket.

Nathan Evans proved to be Pembrokeshire’s unluckiest cricketer over the weekend after he was out for 99 in Whitland seconds’ 180-2 at Burton. The Borderers were chasing 178 to win after the hosts were dismissed thanks to Ben Harvey’s 5-48. Evans and Wayne Jones (41) then got to work on the home team’s bowlers as the visitors steamed home.

An easy win for Kilgetty, too, after Jack Parkinson’s 6-26 helped bowl Hook out for 188. Jake Marsh then struck an unbeaten 51 and Ross Hardy 36 as the Kingsmoor outfit overhauled the visitors’ total.

If Nathan Evans was unlucky, then just behind him was Pembroke’s Phil Hay after he was left unbeaten on 98 during their run chase against Cresselly seconds. Cresselly batted first and scored 200-8 thanks to Neal Williams’s 44, but Pembroke eased past it for the loss of just five wickets thanks to Hay’s brilliance and Jake Seaton’s 79.

Carew seconds made difficult work of beating a depleted Llangwm, who could only muster 125 all out as Joel Rhead took 4-29. In reply, Max Brindley struck a fluent 30, but everyone else struggled against the hosts, but the visitors just about crept over the line to win by one wicket.

Stackpole suffered a disappointing defeat at home to Haverfordwest seconds after they were all out for 133 in reply to the Town’s 184-8. Richard MacKay took 4-48 for Stackpole and John Williams hit 40 in the reply, but no-one else could produce against the rampant visitors.

Saundersfoot had little trouble against Haverfordwest thirds after they dismissed the Town for just 78 thanks to John Mansbridge’s 4-33. Steve Cook then hit 32 not out in the reply, allowing them to win by two wickets.

Lamphey picked up their second win of the season after beating Pembroke Dock by 81 runs. Lamphey hit 185 all out thanks to Peter McGilloway’s 56, while Nick Daley took 4-62. In reply, Hywel Gibbs took 3-28 and David Blackwell 2-16 as the Dock were skittled for 104.

Steve Campbell hit a superb 95 not out for Lawrenny seconds against Hook seconds to guide them to a seven-wicket win. Hook scored 162 all out as Tim Mils took 3-17, but then Campbell got to work on the home team’s bowlers, being joined by Adrian Harries who struck 28.

In division four, Narberth seconds went down by four wickets at home to Llechryd as they could only muster 129-8 in their innings. Huw Simkins scored 37 and Mike Williams 31 not out in their total, but despite two wickets each for Loui Davies, Cameron Pritchard and Nick Evans, Llechryd took the majority of the points.

Jeremy Griffiths with 4-14, Rhys Canton with 2-5 and Adam Hughes with 62 shone for Carew thirds in their win over Burton seconds. Burton were all out for 121, while Carew won by six wickets.

In the derby between Pembroke seconds and Hundleton, victory went with the home side as they won by 79 runs. Batting first, they were all out for 145 thanks to Nigel Phillips’s 52, but then David Pratt took 4-31 to help bowl the visitors out. Earlier Paul Edwards took 3-25.

Saundersfoot seconds had an excellent win at Fishguard, who were shot out for just 88 in reply to Saundersfoot’s 156 all out. The visitors’ main run scorer was Paul Morris, who hit 52, while Kevin Sykes took 2-4.

Two games were cancelled in division five due to teams being unable to field sides, with Kilgetty seconds having a day off for their match against Hundleton seconds. Leaders St. Ishmaels seconds were also without a game against Llangwm.

Whitland thirds played. however. and lost by four wickets against Stackpole seconds. Whitland batted first and scored 123-6 thanks to Colin John’s 68, while Jonathan Hughes and Huw Mason both took two wickets for the Lilies.

In reply, Stackpole reached 124-6 as Russell Roberts struck 57 not out, despite two wickets each for Gethin Scourfield and Rhodri Rees.

Cresselly thirds went down by two wickets to their counterparts from Neyland. Cresselly hit 164-8 thanks to Robert Izzard’s 54 and Chris Izzard’s 24, but despite Luke Cole’s 2-34, Neyland crept home.

Meanwhile, at Haverfordwest, the home team’s fourths easily accounted for Pembroke Dock seconds, who were all out for 61 in reply to the hosts’ 129 all out.