Carew had a dramatic last ball win over Lawrenny at Whitland to book a place in the final of the Graham Jewson Harrison-Allen Bowl against St. Ishmaels. When the last over started, which was bowled by Ceri Jones from the bypass end, Carew batsmen Darren Thomas and Brian Hall required six runs to win. Darren Thomas faced the first ball and a stroke towards the cover boundary resulted in a single. Excellent bowling by Ceri Jones from the next three balls resulted in a dot ball on each occasion as Hall went for the big shot each time and missed. From the penultimate ball, Hall found the outside edge of his bat and the pair scampered two runs as the ball flew off the bat backward of point. You could have heard the proverbial pin drop as the large crowd watched in silence when the last ball was being bowled. The ball gave Hall just enough room outside the off stump to pierce the field with a cover drive and there was jubilation in the Carew camp when the ball hit the boards on the cover boundary. Earlier, Lawrenny had scored 113 before being dismissed off the last ball of their innings bowled by Simon Wood, who ended with the splendid figures of five for 27. It was good bowling and fielding by Carew to contain the run rate and to pick up wickets at the same time. Lawrenny skipper Steve Lewis top scored with 21 before being caught by John Canton off the bowling of Wood. Rob Williams supported with 18 before he was bowled by Wood, Simon Cole scored 13 before being bowled by Darren Thomas and James Buckle and his brother, Chris, both reached 10, with Chris Buckle being not out. Lawrenny also had the benefit of 20 extras. Tim Hicks had a lively spell opening the bowling to finish with two for 17 from his six overs. Carew, circumspective at the start of their reply, tried to avoid taking risks. However, opener Ian Sefton holed out to James Buckle off the bowling of Simon Cole for 13 and wickets began to fall periodically. Simon Wood scored 10 before Ceri Jones found the outside edge and Wood departed after a well-taken catch by wicket-keeper Christian Phillips, who also acted smartly to stump Tim Hicks off the bowling of Simon Cole, when Hicks had stared to run when a leg before wicket appeal was turned down. When Carew had reached 75 for six, it was anybody's game. Darren Thomas joined Hall at the crease and the pair had a decisive unbroken match-winning partnership of 40 for the seventh wicket. The complexion of the game changed in the 19th over, bowled by Carew skipper Steve Lewis. In his first three overs, Lewis had been on the spot and had given nothing away. However, after giving away a wide outside off stump, Lewis was dispatched for two 6s by Darren Thomas over the midwicket boundary. The first ball was a length ball, but Thomas chanced his arm to strike across the line and it went into the bank alongside the Whitland pavilion. The next ball was a fuller length and Thomas hit it in the same direction, but out of the ground over the hedge. Although there was no more big hitting as the Lawrenny bowlers regained control, the short burst of run-scoring had given Carew the edge. Twelve runs were needed off the last two overs and six runs were taken from the 21st over bowled by James Buckle and Carew took seven runs off the last over bowled by Ceri Jones to win by four wickets. Darren Thomas finished with 26 not out, including two 6s and two 4s, and Hall with 19 not out. After the match, the chirpy left-hander said:"I thought that I would make it more interesting for everyone!" in a tongue in cheek remark describing his approach to facing the last five balls of the match. The Lawrenny opening attack of Simon Cole and Robert Williams posed problems for the Carew batsmen. Cole finished with three for 25 and Williams one for 23, while Ceri Jones took two for 27. The final will be played at Cresselly on Saturday, July 28, and wickets will be pitched at 12.30 pm. Admission is £5 for adults, £3 for old age pensioners and children over 12 and £2 for children under 12. The umpires are Dave Morris, who lives in Fishguard, and John Williams, of Hundleton.

Treble dreams shattered

Carew's dreams of the league and cup treble were shattered at Haverfordwest on Tuesday evening when the visitors lost by 44 runs in ther semi-final of the Duggie Morris Cup. Haverfordwest totalled 129 for six following consistent batting by the early order. Skipper Karl Rhead hit three 6s and a four in an innings of 29 before being caught by Rhys Davies off the bowling of Carew skipper Rob Scourfield. Openers Danny Potter and Adam James supported with 20 and 26, respectively, and David Davies also reached 26. Carew used six bowlers and Simon Wood was once again the leading wicket-taker with a fine three for 15 spell, Rob Scourfield took two for 33 and Darren Thomas one for 19. The Carew batsmen were unable to find the same fluency as their Haverfordwest counterparts. Ian Sefton and Wayne Cannon were the joint top scorers on 15 apiece and Rhys Davies was the only other player in double figures with 11. Spinners Clive Tucker and Nick Dyer tied the batsmen up in knots, with Tucker taking four for 10 and Dyer three for 11. In addition, Phil Kirkby and David Davies picked up a wicket each as Carew were held to a total of 85 for nine. Haverfordwest will play Neyland or Lawrenny in the final at Burton on Bank Holiday Monday, August 27.