It’s a well-known fact that after a period of dry weather Whitland is one of the fastest and highest scoring grounds around and Saturday was a case in point after over 400 runs were scored for the loss of just 12 wickets.

Whitland batted first against Carew and amassed 209-9 following a stylish 47 by Paul Davies, an unbeaten 41 by Matthew Davies and 31 from Will Speadbury. Sean Whitfield took 3-48 for the Rooks.

Despite the sizeable total, Carew had few problems in passing it for the loss of just three wickets as Brian Hall smashed an unbeaten 83, Tom Davies 53 not out and Rhys Davies 30, as the Borderers went down to their fourth defeat of the season, placing them second from bottom, one place above winless Llanrhian.

Narberth were in the runs, too, as they batted first at home against Cresselly and hit 194-7 thanks to 15-year-old Lewis Hough’s 48, Shane Morgan’s 36 not out and Ben Quatermaine’s 45.

Quartermaine was in the wickets, too, taking 2-42, but Adam Chandler’s 56 and Philip Williams’s 67 ensured the visitors went home with the win.

Lawrenny made the long trip west to take on Llanrhian and came home for an early finish after hammering the hosts by eight wickets. The Cows were skittled for a mere 89 as Rob Williams took 5-16 and Phil Cole 3-8. Brad Jenkins finished with 2-9, then smashed a brief 20 not out alongside Steve Campbell’s 25 to win the game with ease.

High-flying Kilgetty were soundly beaten at Llangwm after the hosts battered the visitors’ bowling to all parts of Pill Parks in amassing 255-5. In reply, Kilgetty were all out for 162 to lose by 93 runs, despite Ross Hardy following up on his 3-47 by scoring 47. Kurtis Marsh was also in the runs hitting 37.

Whitland seconds could only draw at Pembroke, despite scoring 241-5 against the hosts. The runs were shared between Geraint Jones’s 35, Paul Oeppen’s 31, Wayne Jones’s 62 not out and Martin Thomas’s 71 not out. In reply, Pembroke could only reach 216-5 after Barry Evans hit 49, Billy Wood 48 and in-form Phil Hay 63 not out.

Carew seconds had a miserable day of it at home to Burton as they were thrashed by 76 runs. Burton were all out for 150 thanks to Matthew Phillips’s 3-27, but were then all out for just 74 in reply.

After scoring 238-4 against Stackpole, Cresselly seconds would have been confident of a win, especially considering Neale Williams scored a sensational 141 not out, but the Lilies responded by winning by six wickets. Jonathan Hughes was the hero, smashing 92, while John Williams and Josh Davies scored 56 and 50, respectively.

Lamphey were left frustrated at Lawrenny seconds after reducing the hosts to 108-8 in reply to their 198 all out, yet the Gavenyards managed to climb to an improbable 176-8 thanks to some brilliant batting by Alistair Edwards, who hit 39 not out, Joe Kidney, who hit 38, and Ryan Morton with 32.

Tim Mills took 5-55 and Barry Phillips 3-40 as Dean Lawrence scored a brisk 50 and Gianlucca Trimarco 49. Peter McGilloway was also in the runs, hitting 35, with Grant Cole and Hywel Gibbs each taking two wickets.

Pembroke Dock won their first game of the season after an easy victory at Crymych, who were all out for 64 thanks to Nick Daley’s 3-16 and Declan Scourfield’s 3-11. Peter Kingdom hit 30 to knock off the runs.

A good all-round display by Tom Mansbridge helped Saundersfoot to a six-wicket win at Neyland seconds. The hosts were all out for 141 as Mansbridge took 3-35, Sam Franklin 3-13 and Neil Powling 3-37. Simon Stanford then struck an unbeaten 25 alongside James Caine, who hit 25, while Mansbridge scored a fluent 55 not out to be there at the end.

In division four, the ever-green Nic Evans was in the wickets for Narberth seconds after he snared 4-37 against Carew thirds, who scored 172-8. Richard Howell and Rhodri Dyer both took two apiece. In reply, Narberth only reached 148-8 as Loui Davies struck 33 and Emyr Jenkins 24.

For Carew, Alan Townsend hit 45, Ashley Smith 31 while taking 2-29, Kerry Waters 31 not out and Jeremy Griffiths and Rhys Canton took a brace of wickets apiece.

Hundleton could only draw at Burton seconds, who scored 171-5, with Hundleton 113-7 in reply, while Saundersfoot seconds lost to Pembroke seconds by five wickets as father and son Spencer and Luke Harries stole the show.

Saundersfoot were all out for 142 thanks to Chris Hawkes’s 39, with Luke Harries taking 4-34 and Spencer 4-40. Kevin Sykes took 2-29 for the hosts, but and unbeaten 88 by Luke and 31 from Spencer saw them home.

Finally, in division five, Kilgetty seconds went down by seven wickets at home to St. Ishmaels’ seconds after the hosts could only muster 125-6 thanks to Brian Cullen’s 44 not out. Tish passed it for the loss of three, while Whitland thirds ensured all three teams within the club scored over 200 as they hit 232-4 at Haverfordwest fourths. Colin John hit 72 for the visitors and James Thomas 76 not out, with Haverfordwest finishing on 178-5 in reply.

Stackpole seconds ensured it was a day of double delight for the club over Cresselly as they beat the visitors’ third team by nine wickets. Cresselly scored 136-8 thanks to Mark Meyrick’s 51 and Chris Izzard’s 38, but 79 from Rupert Davies, alongside his 3-42 and 39 not out from Hugh Davies saw them home.

Pembroke Dock seconds lost to Llangwm seconds by six wickets after scoring 180-7 as Glyn Griffiths hit 104 and Andrew Wood 25, but despite two wickets each for Griffiths and Steve Alford, the visitors went home with the points.