IT HAS been another amazing year for Sport in Pembrokeshire. There have been many ups and downs and here are some of our top stories. Firstly, in February, Neyland retained their indoor cricket title for the sixth year running. They comprehensively beat Whitland in the final game of the season to take home the silverware. Then in April, Tenby won the Senior Cup at their first attempt with a 2-0 victory over Merlins Bridge at the Bridge Meadow.
A penalty from Billy Vaughan and an own goal in injury time gave Tenby their first triumph sparking scenes of jubilation after the game. In May, Hakin United retained their league crown with a stunning 6-1 victory over Goodwick United. The Vikings were in superb form throughout the season and were deserved winners. Also in May, a group of Welsh Anglers won gold medals at the Home Nations Shore Championships which took place in County Wexford. Danny Worrall was also celebrating as he won the singles title in his first year playing in the Pembrokeshire Snooker League. Cricket took centre stage in the summer months and Kilgetty were the first team to bag some silverware as they beat Camrose and Spittal by 26 runs to win the Alan Brown Cup.
In late July, Neyland’s cricket team were at it again as they beat Haverfordwest to win the Duggie Morris Cup. Patrick Bellerby smashed a six of the last ball of the game to give his side victory. Ashley Sutton was unlucky as he fell three runs short of a century in the process. Just a week later, the Cup winners added the 2014 league title to their trophy cabinet. A draw with Carew meant that they could no longer be caught by Haverfordwest. Neyland were fantastic throughout the season and thoroughly deserved to retain their title. The football season returned in August with league Champions Hakin taking on Senior Cup winners Tenby in the Jubilee Cup.
Hakin were again celebrating as they beat Tenby 4-2 thanks to a hat-trick from Nicky Woodrow. At the end of August, Haverfordwest had the last laugh in the cricket season as they won the Harrison Allen Bowl with a crushing victory over Cresselly. The win gave them their first Harrison-Allen title in ten years and it was a much welcome victory to end the season on a high note. In October, Hakin United had one of the more remarkable results of the year as they beat Saundersfoot by 17 (seventeen) goals to nil in a ruthless display. In rugby, Milford Haven overcame Neyland in a gritty derby game winning by 31 points to 20.
The Mariners dominated for large periods of the game but Neyland did not give up making for an entertaining game. One week later and football was the highlight for all the wrong reasons, as a game between Hakin and Merlins Bridge had to be abandoned after an alleged punch was thrown. Police are now investigating what happened during the game which was called off after just 25 minutes. On Halloween, Haverfordwest County had one of those nights as a freak goal and a double penalty miss cost them all three points in their league game with Afan Lido. Midway through the second half Jordan Follows saw a penalty saved but he sent the re-take wide as the game finished 1-1.
Rallying came to the fore in November as Osian Pryce geared himself up to take part in the Wales Rally GB. Pryce was in confident mood ahead of the rally and he went on to finish as the leading non-Priority driver in 18th overall. In September, Neyland’s Steve Arnold entered his first powerlifting UK Open Championship and he took the competition by storm coming home in first place. That earned him a place at the World Championships in November. Steve performed well again but had to settle for a silver medal at the event in France. What a year it has been for Sport in Pembrokeshire! Let’s hope that 2015 will be even better.
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