Division 1 fixtures for Saturday, August 18th (1.30pm):
Haverfordwest v Llangwm
Johnston v Burton
KilgettyvCresselly
Lawrenny v St Ishmaels
Neyland v Whitland
Title race:
1st Haverfordwest 350 points
2nd Cresselly 348
3rd Neyland 343
Two games to go – and the title can still go one of three ways.
Mathematically Whitland and Lawrenny are also still in it, but while it’s unrealistic to suggest they can overturn 39 and 49 point deficits respectively, both will still play a major role in the destination of the title.
Indeed, it’s Neyland who appear to have the hardest task of the top three tomorrow as they welcome The Borderers – who beat them at Spring Hill in the reverse fixture. But Sean Hannon’s side will have the bit between their teeth after the Welsh Cup win in Penarth last Sunday - and know a win here is imperative. Should they lose, then chances are they will be already out the race when they welcome The Town on a potentially pivotal final day.
Haverfordwest themselves host Llangwm and Cresselly go to Kilgetty. With just two points separating them, every 40 runs or two wickets is vital and while both Danny Potter and Neilson Cole will want wins first and foremost – overall points tallies will be at the back of their minds.
Battle to survive:
8th Kilgetty 168 points
9th Burton 130
10th Johnston 44 (relegated)
What Cresselly will also be wary of is they go to a Kilgetty side still needing a win to secure safety.
They have a 38 point lead over Burton – but the latter will fancy their chances against a Johnston team without a win all season. And bearing in mind Kilgetty go to Whitland on the final day while Burton host Tish, Ross Hardy and co could be in for a nerve-jangling finale.
Having said that, should Burton fail to better Hardy’s men by more than seven points tomorrow – and a swift return to Division Two will be confirmed.
Division 2 fixtures (1.30pm):
Carew v Saundersfoot
Cresselly II v Narberth
Hook v Haverfordwest II
Pembroke v Llechryd
Whitland II v Stackpole
Promotion race
1st Carew 419 points (champions).
2nd Saundersfoot 331
3rd Narberth 295
The title race has been a foregone conclusion for some time in Division Two – with the only question being if Carew could go 18 wins from 18.
They looked odds on to do so before last week’s rain, but The Rooks could still have a big say in who joins them back in the top flight.
They host second placed Saundersfoot, who have a 36 point cushion over a Narberth side that has dipped in form in recent weeks. If the Seasiders fail to get a positive result against the champions, then a Narberth win or winning draw at Cresselly 2nds will set up a final day shoot out.
Battle to survive:
7th Pembroke 198 points
8th Llechryd 168
9th Stackpole 164
10th Whitland 2nds 80 (relegated)
The bottom four pair off against each other tomorrow, and the results will go a long way to deciding who stays up.
Whitland 2nds are long gone, but welcome a Stackpole side just four points from Llechryd and the safe haven of eighth place.
And a Stackpole win would pile pressure on the Cardigan team, who themselves travel to Pembroke.
The twist there is the Crickmarren side also need a result to make sure they have no worries ahead of a final day trip to, you guessed it, Stackpole.
Wins for Stackpole and Llechryd tomorrow will make for a tense final Saturday and a three-way battle to avoid the drop. Defeats for either and Pembroke can relax.
Division 3 fixtures (1.30pm):
Haverfordwest III v Carew II
Lamphey v Lawrenny II
Llanrhian v Neyland II
Llechryd II v Herbrandston
Narberth II v Pembroke Dock
Promotion race
1st Carew 2nds 368 points (promoted)
2nd Pembroke Dock 313
3rd Herbrandston 303
Every game matters in the third tier tomorrow.
Carew 2nds are already up and likely to be confirmed as champions tomorrow even if they don’t get an outright win at Haverfordwest 3rds – but the pressure is on Pembroke Dock behind them who lead third placed Herbie by just 10 points.
The Dock go to Narberth 2nds and Herbie are at relegated Llechryd 2nds. Should Nick Daley’s men win and Herbie slip up then the second promotion spot will be sorted out – but given Herbie’s form you’d expect this battle to go into the final week.
On the contrary, The Dock must end a run of two straight defeats or they are likely to drop out the top two despite having led the table for much of the early part of the season.
Battle to survive:
4th Llanrhian 244 points
5th Lamphey 232
6th Narberth 2nds 223
7th Lawrenny 2nds 215
8th Neyland 2nds 204
9th Haverfordwest 3rds 200
10th Llechryd 2nds 120 (relegated)
As mentioned, Haverfordwest 3rds welcome leaders Carew 2nds, and they must repeat the form they showed in beating The Dock last time out to have a chance of going into the final weekend out of the bottom two.
But others above them will also be sweating. Lawrenny 2nds go to Lamphey and Neyland 2nds are at Llanrhian – and neither The Stags or Cows are mathematically safe either despite being fourth and fifth respectively. Essentially, anyone outside the top three who loses tomorrow could be left with work to do.
If The Town do get a result, then there will be calculators at the ready for bottom half sides on August 25th.
Division 4 fixtures (1.30pm):
Hundleton v Laugharne
Llangwm II v Llanrhian II
Saundersfoot II v Hook II
St Ishmaels II v Crymych
Promotion race
1st Laugharne 341 points (champions)
2nd Llangwm 2nds 247
3rd Llanrhian 2nds 244 (can’t be promoted)
Laugharne have already sealed a second successive title and with Llanrhian 2nds unable to be in the same division as the First XI, only Llangwm 2nds can join them in promotion.
And it’s second v third tomorrow, so a home win will all but guarantee promotion. A good result for the visitors however, could yet spoil the party with only one team going up.
Battle to survive:
5th St Ishmaels 184
6th Crymych 173
7th Saundersfoot 2nds 168
8th Burton 2nds 161
9th Hundleton 152
There are only 10 sides in this league due to Johnston 2nds folding but like Division Three – despite only one team going down no one outside the top four is safe yet.
Bottom placed Hundleton however, must go to champions Laugharne - while Saundersfoot 2nds welcome Hook 2nds and Tish 2nds host Crymych.
Tish are essentially safe you feel with Burton having a 'bye' week tomorrow - and the latter can only hope results go their way so they enter the final day with a fighting chance.
And of course, if Hundleton can somehow pull of a result, then we are in for a manic finale.
Division Five fixtures (1.30pm):
Neyland III v Pembroke II
Pembroke Dock II v Kilgetty II
Stackpole II v Carew III
Whitland III v Haverfordwest IV
Promotion race
1st Pembroke 2nds 194 points
2nd Carew 3rds 185
3rd Kilgetty 2nds 179
4th Cresselly 3rds 178
5th Haverfordwest 4ths 176
Of course there is a maximum of 20 points available per game in Division Five – but while it looks like Pembroke 2nds are in the driving seat, that isn’t quite the case.
The leaders have a ‘bye’ week on the final day, although maximum points at Neyland 3rds coupled with other results going their way could yet see them champions - it’s unlikely all teams chasing will slip up.
Both second placed Carew 3rds and third placed Kilgetty 2nds will be favourites for wins at Stackpole 2nds and Pembroke Dock 2nds respectively – whom occupy the bottom two.
Cresselly 3rds have their ‘bye’ week which will seemingly end their chances barring sudden rain, while Haverfordwest 4ths can just about to keep their hopes alive at Whitland 3rds.
Regardless, the altered format in the lowest division does seem to be working as we had for an exciting finale in the battle for the top two.
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