HOOK won the Alan Brown Cup Final on their first appearance in this very popular competition for first teams playing in divisions three, four and five as they beat a gritty Laugharne side who were without some key players but gave 100% nevertheless.

But Laugharne were unable to provide any outstanding individual performances whilst Hook had players of the calibre of Brennan Martin, Aled and Jamie Phelps, Jacob Lay, Jake Wicks and Jonathan Willington who made significant contributions to their ten-wicket success.

Hook skipper Jamie Phelps won the toss and asked Laugharne to bat first and his opening bowlers Brennan Martin and Jonathan Willington certainly repaid his confidence in them as they restricted Laugharne to a miserly 23 for 3 in ten overs.

Martin conceded only five singles in his five overs and claimed the wicket of opener Craig Hurst, whilst Willington grabbed 2 for 15 from his allotted spell, with key batsmen Kevin Pearce (10) and Simon Davies as his victims.

Talented youngster Aled Phelps also bowled his overs well to earn figures of 3 for 21 as Shane Williams (11) James Stephenson (13) and skipper Sean Lynch (10, including a big six out of the ground) tried to claw things back.

Craig Wade added a late 18 not out as Matthew Holder finished with a 1 for 41 spell - but Hook would have been pleased to limit Laugharne to 85 for 8 in their 20 overs.

Just how good a track had been produced by host club Whitland could be gauged from the fact that Hook openers Jamie Phelps and Jake Wicks sped to 50 in eight overs and had built a partnership of 79 before Wicks was dismissed for 26 as the first wicket for Sean Lynch in his 4 for 53 spell in what turned out to be a powerful run chase throughout Hook’s entire 20 overs.

Jamie Phelps went on to stroke his way to 55 (five fours and two sixes off 48 balls) and the writing was very much on the Laugharne wall as their total was passed in the 13th over.

Jacob Lay was equally as resourceful as his  undefeated 30 came from only 17 balls, with two fours and a six - but it was Brennan Martin who set the innings alight as he joined Lay in adding 60 runs in the last three overs.

He smashed seven sixes and a single four, as well as the rear window of a nearby car, before he was brilliantly caught on the boundary in front of the clubhouse as his electric 52 came from only 17 balls and helped Hook to a gigantic first-innings lead of 97 runs!

Laugharne needed big runs from the outset after a superb tea provided by the Whitland ladies but they lost Craig Hurst, run out for a single, and were under the cosh from the outset against Martin (2 for 17) and Willington.

Kevin Pearce (17) and James Stephenson (26) tried hard to build a partnership but the arrival of 16 year old Aled Phelps brought their downfall as he bowled a splendid spell which earned him figures of 5 for 35, assisted by some good work from keeper William Goronwy, with three catches and a stumping to end the innings after Craig Wade (29 not out) and Steve Davies, batting with a runner, belted a six in his unbeaten 11.

It left Hook with 20 runs to secure success and George James (9 not out) joined  Jake Wicks (13 not out) in hitting off the runs in fewer than four overs, with Wicks rounding things off in style with another six which sadly gave a little further damage to the same car!

The trophy was presented to Hook captain Jamie Phelps by Whitland stalwart Brian Cook, whose family-related firm Wilds Sports of Winchester were the sponsors of the day, with Brennan Martin chosen as man of the match, closely followed by Aled Phelps for his 8 for 56 match haul.
 

SCORECARD:

FIRST INNINGS:

Laugharne Batting
Kevin Pearce b Jon Willington 10
Craig Hurst b Brennan Martin 0
Shane Williams lbw b Aled Phelps 11
Simon Davies b Jon Willington 0
James Stephenson ct Bradley Flood b Matthew Holder 13
Sean Lynch b Aled Phelps 10
Duane Reynolds run out 5
Cole Reynolds ct Brennan Martin b Aled Phelps 2
Craig Wade not out 18
Lee Roberts not out 8
Extras 8
Total (8 wickets) 85

Hook Bowling: Brennan Martin 5-1-5-1; Jon Willington 5-1-17-2; Aled Phelps 5-0-21-3; Matthew Holder 5-0-41-1
 
Hook Batting:
Jamie Phelps b Sean Lynch 55
Jake Wicks b Sean Lynch 26
Jacob Lay not out 30
Brennan Martin ct Kevin Pearce b Sean Lynch 52
Aled Phelps b Sean Lynch 0
Bradley Flood not out 1
Extras 18
Total (4 wickets) 182
 
Laugharne Bowling: James Stephenson 3-0-31-0; Kevin Pearce 4-0-48-0; Duane Reynolds 5-0-23-0; Craig Wade 3-0-30-0; Sean Lynch 3-0-53-4 

SECOND INNINGS:

Laugharne Batting:

Kevin Pearce ct William Goronwy b Brennan Martin 17
Craig Hurst run out 1
Lee Roberts ct Jacob Lay b Jon Willington 2
James Stephenson ct William Goronwy b Aled Phelps 26
Duane Reynolds ct William Goronwy b Brennan Martin 5
Sean Lynch b Aled Phelps 3
Craig Wade not out 29
Cole Reynolds b Aled Phelps 6
Shane Williams b Aled Phelps 10
Robin Husselby st William Goronwy b Aled Phelps 0
Steve Davies not out 11
Extras 6
Total (116 for 9)
 
Hook Bowling: Brennan Martin 5-1-17-2; Jon Willington 5-0-32-1; Aled Phelps 5-0-35-5; Matthew Holder 5-0-36-0
Hook Batting:
George James not out 9
Jake Wicks not out 13
Total (0 wickets) 22

Laugharne Bowling: Duane Reynolds 2-0-8-0; Sean Lynch 1.4-0-14-0

Venue: Spring Hill, Whitland (in outstanding condition!)

Umpires: Simon Richards and Dave Bonner

Scorers: Sam Rossiter and Rob Pearce, assisted by Huw Davies (Whitland)

Man of the match adjudicators: Denis Chiffi and Robert Ridge

Organisers: The Pembrokeshire Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers