Neyland Match Report
Whitand vs Neyland. League, Saturday 16th May 2009.
The Neyland Jackals travelled to Whitland on Saturday determined to continue their fine season form. However Mother Nature was
looking like she wasn’t going to play fair by ensuring that the morning’s weather resembled the monsoon season on the Asian
subcontinent and with the clouds darker than Gareth Virgo’s sense of humour it seemed like 5 points apiece was to be the order
of the day.
However Mrs Nature must have fancied watching the Jackals on the Pembrokeshire border as the rain subsided enough to allow the
game to start at 2pm with skipper Andrew Miller losing the toss and being invited to bat by his opposite number Mark Lee. The
opening duo of Scott John and Ashley Sutton got the innings off to a brisk start with some fine stroke play before both players
succumbed in similar manner by slashing wide half volleys to cover point, both successfully taken by Paul Davies. This brought
to the crease the duo of Paul ‘Beast’ Murray and skipper Miller (who after being dropped 3 times in the first 3 balls) advanced
the scoring rate at a healthy rate before Miller departed for 17 being replaced by the strong wrists of Boo Kooman. Boo and Beast
continued the scoring before both were dismissed by the pugnacious Whitland attack who were successful in picking up vital wickets
when it looked like the jackals were going to break away.
At one time it looked the fine start by Neyland would be undone by a typical collapse, however Whitland were unable to shift Paul
‘Castaway’ Miller and alongside the Neyland tail succeeded in bringing the Neyland total to a challenging final total of 161 all
out – the highlight of Miller junior’s innings being the casual flick over midwicket that cleared the boundary fence with
consummate ease.
As usual, the Whitland tea offered the Jackals a chance to gorge themselves silly before entering the field and the generous
offerings of food was matched by the generous long hops that young ‘Pup’ Sutton offered up to Whitland opening bat Davies who
proceeded to help himself to two massive maximums to get the Whitland reply off to a sensational start. However in a pattern
that would be followed throughout the afternoon, Sutton struck back immediately by removing fellow opener Lee before the Whitland
top order once again proceeded to move the scoring along to a point where they must have been clear favourites with the bookmakers.
Yet as has been a feature of this young side over the past few years their phoenix like ability to emerge from near death to
sparkle again was evident as firstly the bowling of skipper Miller and Phil Davies took a vice like strangle hold to the Whitland
middle order and enabled the vocal members of the jackals fielding side (led by conductor Virgo) to sense that the game was there
for the taking and as such put inordinate amounts of pressure on the now wobbling Whitland line up.
There is a saying in Greek mythology that fortune favours the brave and this was certainly the case for skipper Miller as he had
the courage to forget the horror show of wides and long hops that had been served up the week before against Carew and asked the
golden arm of John to back up his verbal diarrhoea with something of substance. Much to the delight of millions, he didn’t
disappoint and managed to snare Paul Webb with his special long hop wicket ball before tightening the noose a little bit further
by dismissing batsmen Pierce and Lee in consecutive balls. With the momentum firmly in favour of the Jackals, skipper Miller
managed to tempt opening bowler Scourfield down the track leaving wicketkeeper Shannon with the easiest stumping of the season.
Eight down soon became nine as ‘Skip’ produced a gun barrel straight delivery to dismiss the number ten batsman plumb in front LBW.
The tension around the ground was unbearable, as Whitland could hardly believe they had managed to throw away the game. All
that stood between Neyland and an unlikely victory was a wicket in the final over – alas the golden arm of John was unable to
penetrate the defences of the Whitland number 10 leaving the Jackals to take the lion share of the points.