Sport

Pembroke County Cricket Club AGM notice

Published

4 years ago

January 24, 2018

By Jonathan Twigg

NOTIFICATION has been distributed by the Pembroke County Cricket Club giving notification of their Annual General Meeting at Haverfordwest Cricket Club on Wednesday (Feb 28).

In the notification it asks for notices of motions to be received by the Hon Secretary Steve Blowes by the end of January.

There is also a vacancy on the County Executive and Finance Committee for one new member as Andrew Miller [Neyland] has stood down, like Richard Harries [Cresselly] who has relinquished his position from the Senior Selection Committee.

The County Executive and Finance Committee is represented by 12 different Clubs, half of the number playing in the Pembrokeshie League next season.

President for the third year will be Nick Evans [Narberth], who joined the County Executive committee in 1991, two years after the oldest serving member of the committee and his predecessor as President, Dai Morris [unattached].

After Richard Scriven [Haverfordwest] was co-opted onto the committee mid season, Haverfordwest have three members Llechryd two, with representation from Cresselly, Pembroke Dock, Whitland, Kilgetty, Stackpole and Neyland.

The committee has on it three members with an association to the Pembrokeshire Junior Regional Council, whilst no fewer than ten have a link to the Pembrokeshire Association Cricket Umpires.

The Senior Selection committee is made up of the current President Nick Evans, former President Dai Morris, former Chairman Tony Scourfield [Carew] and current Vice Chairman Richard Merriman [Kilgetty].

Pembrokeshire cricket last season came into the limelight when a Disciplinary committee found Carew and their Captain Brian Hall guilty of ‘bringing the game into disrepute’ following their controversial declaration on the last game of the season that allowed them to win the Pembroke league title.

Hall has been banned for 12 months, with a reprieve from the end of June and his Club relegated to Division 2 and fined £300.

Carew did not technically break any rules, but complaints were received and a four-man County Club disciplinary committee invoked the penalty. This opened a wide debate in the cricket fraternity and there is an expectation that rule changes will be proposed as a result of last seasons shenanigans.

There is also rumour that the rule on restricting players eligibility to participate in the Pembrokeshire League will be removed. It came into being in 2001 after Lamphey cricketer Dave served a writ against the County Cricket club as he deemed the judgement by a disciplinary committee, which banned him from playing as unfair. It turned out to be an unhallowed mess ending with Barristers in the High Court, that kept Pembrokeshire cricket in the news for all the wrong reasons.

The resultant change in rules not only put paid to professional cricketers gracing the fields of Pembrokeshire, it also undoubtedly lessened the standard within the local game. Lamphey, where Lovell played, were trail blazers in enticing ‘paid’ cricketers to their club with Drakes causing more than a storm in a tea cup as the village side from outside Pembrokeshire played him in Division 4 of the local league, against many second XI’s.

‘It’s just not cricket’ was the cry, but the games were played and with them the controversy ensued although Drakes was a gentleman, both on and off the pitch. He was paid to bowl quick, which he did for four seasons with the ‘Stags’ before playing first class cricket for Sussex, Warwickshire and Leicestershire as well as many International appearances.

After Drakes’ departure the Club was also fortunate to acquire the services of ‘imports’, West Indian [Tyrone Greenway], South African [Neil Warren] and Australians [Bret Johnson, Dave Lovell & Geoff Cullen] to represent the Club. One such player, Brendan Nash, who despite being born in Australia played for the international cricket for the West Indies, as it was his father’s birthplace.

Pembrokeshire’s finest again cried loudly that Lamphey ‘were spoiling local cricket’ or even ‘ruining the game for others’ and some women were even spotted waving wads of money in the direction of Lamphey players when hollering abuse. Pembroke County Cricket Club responded to the dislike of Lamphey and their foreign policy by changing their rules on ‘eligibility’ to play in the league’ preventing a Club or an individual paying them to play.

It was changed to stop Lamphey, a small village on the outskirts of Pembroke through their ‘Godfather’ John Green from ruffling the feathers. League winners of Division 4 in 1992, moving through Division 3 as champions the following year and taking three years to reach the top echelon.

Have times changed or is it just the club name which has now invoked the possibility of a rule change?

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Sport

Milford hit five again to see off Swifts

Published

4 days ago

January 25, 2022

James Hemingray

MILFORD United scored five goals for the third game running as they beat Monkton Swifts seconds 5-1 in Division 2 at Marble Hall on Saturday (Jan 22).

Milford went into the game full of confidence after two good home performances which resulted in two wins and 10 goals scored.

Monkton would have also come into the game with high expectations, having won the reverse fixture 5-3.

It was Milford who started the liveliest, causing lots of problems for the Monkton back four. It didn’t take Milford too long for their pace, power and high pressing to be rewarded with the opening goal on 6 minutes.

The ball was won by United in midfield and Lewys Tee picked up the ball in space. A great run by Liam Parr was picked out, who controlled the ball and outpaced the defence. Finishing it superbly from 18 yards into the top corner.

The Monkton team struggled all game to deal with United’s pace and movement and by the end of 90 minutes they had picked up 4 bookings trying to contain United’s attack.

Jordan Boswell in goal for Monkton was a busy man and had to pull off a number of good saves throughout the game.

It didn’t take United too long to get their second, which gave them a strong grip on the game. A good ball down the flank, which Liam Parks nodded down, then out muscled a couple of Monkton defenders, before crossing from the by-line for Ben Lewis. But he was quickly closed down and his shot was blocked, when a goal looked certain. But Tee was on hand to pick up the rebound, to knock the ball over the line, despite the best efforts of the Monkton defence.

This wasn’t United in top gear, but they did go in at half time with a comfortable lead. Monkton made a substitution during the break and came out the second half with much more resolve.

There was now a definite ebb and flow to the game, with Monkton now using the most of their 4-3-3 formation. But United spurned a couple of great chances to put the game out of sight with a third.

It was Monkton, who got the next goal, to really open up the game. A Monkton cross came in from the left and could only be half cleared by United’s defence. Which landed invitingly for Monkton’s Jay Kilby, who volleyed it perfectly passed Ferdy Stevenson.

At this stage, the game could have gone either way, despite United’s overall dominance. United’s manager Steve Parks, was fortunate to have the benefit of a strong bench and used them in a change of system in a 3 man substitution. It had an immediate effect and United once again gained control.

A dangerous run by Liam Parks had to be halted illegally and from the resulting free kick, Morgan Picton hit a peach of a shot into the top right corner from 30 yards. Only to be thwarted by a superb save from Boswell.

But the pressure was mounting and the chances becoming more frequent. Liam Parks got the all important 3rd goal after a good interplay with Liam Davies, which left Parks in space who calmly chipped the ball over the on rushing keeper.

With the game now running away from Monkton, it was a good break down the right from Parks, who in turn set up Davies to score from 10 yards. Even before United’s fifth goal had hit the net, it’s scorer Jake Barrett was already smiling. A good ball from Davies was sweetly met by Barrett, 20 yards out, who knew it was destined to beat the keeper.

It wasn’t United at their best, but 3 home wins on the bounce and 15 goals suggest a cause for optimism at Marble Hall.

On Saturday, January 29, Milford United, who now sit sixth in Division 2, travel to Broad Haven while Monkton Swifts seconds host Milford Athletic.

Sport

Goodwick and Bridge ends in goalless draw

Published

4 days ago

January 25, 2022

James Hemingray

GOODWICK United and Merlins Bridge fought out a goalless draw in a highly contested game at Phoenix Park last Saturday (Jan 22).

The two sides had met earlier in the season at the Racecourse with Goodwick winning that game 7-0.

It was a much closer game this time around though but neither side was able to do enough to pick up the three points.

Chances were few and far between, but one of the best chances of the afternoon fell to Merlins Bridge midfielder Lee Hudgell, whose effort hit the underside of the crossbar with many in attendance feeling that the ball had bounced over the line. It wasn’t given and both teams had to settle for a point each.

On Saturday, January 29, Goodwick travel to Carew while Merlins Bridge travel to Narberth.

Goodwick United: Kyle Marsh, Stefan Hayes, Sion O’Sullivan, Jordan Thomas, Scott Delaney, Luke Hayward, Rhys Dalling, Kieran O’Brien, Nathan Greene, Jordan Griffiths, Steven Dockerty. Subs: Llyr Tobin, Rob Morgans, Daniel James.

Merlins Bridge: James Dickson, Chris Ormond, Andrew John, Richard Hughes, Henry Thomas, Dai Davies, Jordan Williams, Lee Hudgell, Matthew D’Ivry, Adam Hawkins, Will Haworth. Subs: Leon Davies, Josh Silk, Ben Davies.