Sport

Meads wins Club of the Year

Published

6 years ago

October 14, 2016

Squash Club of the Year: Meads Squash Club

THE WALES SQUASH AND RACKETBALL annual presentation evening was held recently at the Angel Hotel in Cardiff.

One Pembrokeshire club received its fair share of awards. Meads Squash Club, who run out of Milford Haven Leisure Centre, for the first time ever a Pembrokeshire club received the WSRB Squash Club of the Year award. The club was against the largest clubs in Wales and were selected eventual winners not only for the work they undertake at the club but also the help and support they show to other clubs within the county and the work they carry out within the local community.

The club has worked hard over the past three years to achieve a player pathway out of the county, not only for club players but for any Pembrokeshire player to enjoy. They now have five teams playing league squash in Pembrokeshire, South Wales and in the Welsh Premier Divisions.

As well as a player pathway, the club have put into place a coaching pathway and, again for the first time ever, Pembrokeshire has regular coaching courses being run in the county at the club from Leaders, Level One and the first Level Two coaching course run this year.

As well as coaching at the club, the coaches go out into the community on school and club visits, giving children within the county the opportunity to have a go at the sport using portable rebound walls. They are also active with disability sport and again using the rebound walls, they have run a series of sessions with the Lets Get Active Milford Haven group whose participants achieved the club’s Green Squash Skills Award this year.

The quality of the coaches coming from the club has not gone unnoticed; for the third year running, a coach from the club has received an award at the WSRB presentation evening and, this year, Alfie Wheeler received Young Coach of the Year – a fantastic achievement at 16. Alfie has also completed his UKCC Level 2, which shows the level of support the club gives to their coaches.

On the junior front this season, the club has 25 attending regular coaching sessions only limited by the number of courts. Out of these juniors, the club have a number who play within the adult leagues through to premier division; six juniors attend the WSRB Academy training programme, four attend the WSRB National Squad training programme, four juniors were selected to play in the English inter counties and two juniors have received the Young Coach of the Year award this year.

Not limited to juniors, two of the club’s adult players received Welsh representational caps this year. James Walters, Manager of Milford Haven Leisure Centre, represented Wales in the home nations over 50s held at Aberdeen, whilst Nick Dyer, Headmaster at Huberston and Hakin junior schools, represented and captained the over 45’s side in Cardiff this year.

The club also received the WSRB Silver charter award this year for running good policies, procedures and practices at the club, including ensuring all coaches are DBS checked and have undergone safeguarding courses. The club is also working towards their insport ribbon award.

Pete Crook, Head coach at the club, commented: “It has been quite a year for the club and receiving the Club of the Year award is a fantastic achievement, knowing the size and quality of the other clubs throughout Wales within the category. This shows testament to all the good work being carried out at the club and beyond and by a lot of people behind the scenes.

“The player pathway has been put together for all Pembrokeshire players to enjoy the highest level of squash on offer in Wales, whilst the juniors have surpassed our expectations. Not forgetting the most important part for myself, the coaching pathway the club have put in place, this really is the backbone and the only way clubs can remain sustainable in the future. I am proud to be a part of such a dedicated group of people who have achieved so much in a short period of time.”

Sport

Cup semi-finals and more league action this weekend

Published

4 weeks ago

March 2, 2023

James Hemingray

THERE are two Divisional cup semi-finals this weekend as well as the usual league action across Pembrokeshire.

The first of those semis is in the Division 3 Cup. Letterston will take on Lawrenny at Carew with that game kicking off at 2pm.

Letterston beat holders Clarbeston Road seconds on penalties in the last round while Lawrenny beat St Florence.

The other semi-final sees Haverfordwest CC taking on Camrose with that game taking place next weekend, March 11.

There is also one semi-final in the Division 5 Cup this weekend and it sees Cosheston seconds taking on Milford Athletic seconds with that game being played at Pembroke Boro and also kicking off at 2pm.

Cosheston beat Pembroke Boro seconds 5-1 in the quarter finals while Milford Athletic beat Broad Haven seconds 4-3.

There is a game in the Division 2 cup too as Herbrandston host Solva, with that game again kicking off at 2pm.

In Division 1, leaders Goodwick United host Kilgetty in what will be a good game between two in-form teams. Goodwick earned a 2-0 win over Kilgetty in their last meeting. Both sides go into this game on three-game unbeaten runs (in all competitions) and it promises to be a close encounter.

Second placed Merlins Bridge have suffered three straight defeats in all competitions and they will look to get back to winning ways when they take on Fishguard.

Clarbeston Road take on Neyland and the league’s bottom two also meet as St Clears travel to St Ishmaels.

Monkton Swifts are on a four game unbeaten run and they face local rivals Pennar Robins who themselves have won their last two games.

All Division 1 games will be kicking off at 2:30pm.

In Division 2, second placed Milford United host fifth placed Johnston. Milford were beaten last week by Tenby and they will be keen to get back to winning ways.

Johnston are unbeaten in three games and they will be looking for another win to close the gap on the top four.

Narberth have won their last three games and they take on Carew seconds. A win for the Bluebirds will take them closer to their opponents in the table.

Tenby will be bouyed by their win over Milford last week and they host Broad Haven on Saturday.

Pennar Robins seconds earned their first win of the season last weekend and they now host rivals Monkton Swifts seconds.

In Division 3, Cosheston host Camrose, Haverfordwest Cricket Club host Goodwick United seconds. Milford Athletic host Pendine and Pembroke Boro visit St Florence.

Fixtures for Division 4:

Angle v Newport Tigers
Camrose II v Tenby II
Carew III v Prendergast Villa
Kilgetty II v St Ishmaels II
Neyland II v Herbrandston II

Fixtures for Division 5:

Broad Haven II v Pembroke Boro II
Johnston II v N Hedges & Saundersfoot
Lawrenny II v Letterston II
St Clears II v Monkton Swifts III

Sport

Bluebirds beaten on the road

Published

1 month ago

February 27, 2023

James Hemingray

HAVERFODWEST County suffered defeat on Saturday (Feb 25) as their hopes of finishing seventh took a blow.

The Bluebirds had beaten Flint Town United last time out and were hoping to pick up another win but they came up against a Pontypridd side bouyed by their late show against Aberystwyth in their last game which saw them earn a 3-3 draw.

There was a chance for Ben Fawcett early on as he latched on to a long ball but his shot from the edge of the area went just wide.

In the 24th minute, Jordan Davies crossed the ball to the back post for Jazz Richards whose header back towards proved too hot for the Ponty keeper to handle who palmed the ball into the net.

However, nine minutes later the home side were back level as Kieran Lewis’ corner was headed in by Jarrad Wright.

The game remained 1-1 at the break with both sides keen to make a good start to the second half.

For the Bluebirds, it was anything but. Four minutes in, Oscar Borg was sent off for pulling down Ponty’s Ben Ahmun, giving the home side a free kick on the edge of the box.

Lewis stepped up and curled a brilliant effort into the net to put the home side ahead.

Ponty nearly added a third late on as the ball was sent through for Danny Williams but he could not beat Bluebirds keeper Zac Jones. The rebound fell to Owain Jones but he sent his effort over the bar.

The win for Ponty moves them back out of the bottom two and they now sit three points behind the Bluebirds.

The sides now have a two-week break before their next league game.

On Saturday, March 11, Haverfordwest travel to Aberystwyth Town while Pontypridd host Caernarfon Town.

Sport

Division 2: Johnston, Tenby and Hakin seconds earn victories

Published

1 month ago

February 27, 2023

James Hemingray

THERE were wins for Johnston, Tenby and Hakin United seconds on Saturday (Feb 25) as the race for promotion to Division 1 hots up.

Hakin United seconds remain top of the table after they beat Monkton Swifts seconds 2-0.

Leon Davies scored after half an hour and James Trueman added a second with twenty minutes to go as the Vikings earned their thirteenth win of the season.

Their gap to second placed Milford United increased to four points as the Robins were beaten 4-0 by Tenby.

After a goalless first half, Dan Storer put Tenby ahead before Scott Ferney added a second. Jerome Mansbridge added a third before Ferney put the result beyond doubt with an 82nd minute penalty.

Herbrandston missed the chance to close the gap to Milford after they were beaten 2-0 by Johnston.

Craig Bendall scored a 17th minute penalty and Joey George added a second ten minutes before the break. There were no more goals and Johnston held on for the win which moves them five points behind Herbie.

Narberth earned their third league win in a row on Saturday as they came from behind to beat Merlins Bridge seconds 2-1.

Rhys Corney put the Wizards ahead but two quick goals from Jordan Williams and Morgan Preece gave Narberth victory.

Broad Haven earned their sixth win of the season on Saturday as they beat Solva 6-1.

Jack Thornton put Solva ahead in the thirteenth minute but Thomas Lawrence equalised a minute later.

Spencer Le-Petit then scored either side of half time to make it 3-1. Ian Harvey added a fourth before scoring a further two goals in the space of four minutes to seal a comfortable win.

Pennar Robins seconds earned their first win of the season on Saturday as they beat Carew seconds 1-0. It had looked as if the game was heading for a 0-0 draw but a late goal from Bobby Jones earned Pennar a welcome win.

Fixtures for Saturday, March 4:

Second Division Cup
Herbrandston v Solva

Division 2
Milford United v Johnston
Narberth v Carew seconds
Pennar Robins seconds v Monkton Swifts seconds
Tenby v Broad Haven