Sport

Mardle magic entertains the crowd

Published

4 years ago

February 12, 2018

DARTS superstar Wayne ‘Hawaii 501’ Mardle rocked into Haverfordwest on Friday (Feb 9), accompanied by Darts lead referee Richard ‘Little’ Ashdown for a Charity extravaganza at Haverfordwest Cricket Club which attracted over a hundred spectators to the benefit of two local charities, The Catrin Vaughan Foundation & Belles Story.

Raised in Romford, the die-hard Tottenham Hotspur supporter Mardle is also a keen ‘recreational’ golfer who also enjoys most sports. He plays poker on the Grovesnor Poker Tour, reaching the final table recently in finishing seventh whilst in his younger days he was a BMX stunt rider before darts became his life.

A well rounded, witty and respectful ‘mine host’ Mardle’s family plays a key role in his life and he has taken the opportunity to co-author a book with Ian Spragg, about the ups and downs in his life, entitled ‘Hawaii 501 – Life as a Darts Pro’. Wayne brought to the stage his charismatic performance and was loved by those fans present at the evening, co-ordinated by Lee Chenery and Craig Jones.

Lee exclaimed: “Just listening to Wayne on stage, you had to chuckle about his inquisitive and engaging mantra and why he remains so popular across the world, as he is one of the faces of darts, the second most viewed sport after Premier league football”

Mardle, known worldwide by his ‘Hawaii 501’ nickname, was joined as master of ceremonies by ‘Little’ Richard Ashdown, the Head British Darts Organisation Referee. His entrance to the Oche saw him draped in a floral Hawaiian shirt, shaking his hips to his catchy theme tune from the 1980s US TV show Hawaii 5.0, which sparked a response with the crowd jumping from their seats.

In ‘calling the board’ Ashdown engaged the audience to take on Mardle in 1:1 games on stage.

Fundraising for the two nominated charities was fundamental to the evening and leading the way was DJ Wayne Lewis, who rumbled the tunes and stage managed the ‘walk ons’ for those lucky enough to tackle Mardle in the head to head games.

Lewis, alongside local arrow enthusiasts, Shaun ‘Devsy’ Devonald, Gareth Jones, Tom Wray, Gareth Starling, Anthony John, Richard Prout, Marcus James and Chris Harris were unable to lower the flag the man who first played the game at eleven, won his first tournament at thirteen and reach number 5 in the world before suffering ill health.

Winners are grinners: Local player Jack Bevan with Wayne Mardle

The honour of victory fell to Stephen Jones, Anthony John and Jack Bevan, where Mark Morgan, Paul Hughes, Scott Nash and Michael Osborne were also called to the oche by Ashdown after winning the raffle draw to play Mardle who made his debut on the BDO circuit in 1993.

From this debut his nickname ‘Hawaii 501’ was established after he wore a Hawaiian shirt on the oche, for a bet.

Mardle made his first appearance at the BDO World Championships in 2000, joining the PDC in 2003 and reached four semi-finals, before illness forced him to retire.

Craig Jones sparkled in his thanks to those who supported the spectacular night, the Wolfscastle Country Hotel, Pembs Paints, Heatherton, Folly Farm. Gareth Bicknell, Drew Whelton, Cher Excell, Lost Coins, Jamie ‘Fireball’ Lewis and Haverfordwest Cricket Club.

He added: “The show was brilliant, with everyone enjoying the wisecracks from Wayne and Little Richard, joining in the spirit of the evening. It was the little things which made it happen, like Hayley Francis-Owens for scoring the games on the screen; Pembrokeshire certainly benefitted from the night, with the Belles Story and the Catrin Vaughan Foundation the real winners.”

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Division 2: Llanrhian go fourth after beating Herbie

Published

7 hours ago

July 4, 2022

James Hemingray

LLANRHIAN moved into to fourth place in Division 2 after they beat second placed Herbrandston by 79 runs on Saturday (Jul 2).

Herbie won the toss and chose to field but they saw Llanrhian post 251-8 in their 45 overs.

Paul Lewis scored 63 for the home side and Jack Jones added 53 but their top scorer was Jonathan Strawbridge who hit nine fours and three sixes in his score of 72.

There was a score of 14 from Russell Watkins while Simon Bachelor finished unbeaten on 20.

Kristian Bennett took 2-38 for Herbie while Dean John also finished with two wickets to his name.

In reply, Dai Malloy scored 19, Charlie Malloy scored 33 while Alan McLelland added 31. Jack Nicholas scored 15 and Jack Wilson scored 35.

Gwyn Watson took two wickets for the loss of 20 runs while Gareth Davies finished with figures of 2-33 and Tom Clarke had 2-37.

Herbie’s scores were not enough as they were bowled out for 172.

Llanrhian now sit just seven points behind the leaders and six off second place with seven games still to play.

On Saturday, July 9, Llanrhian travel to Llechryd while Herbie are at home against Johnston.

Sport

Division 2: Whitland win to close gap on top two

Published

7 hours ago

July 4, 2022

James Hemingray

WHITLAND closed the gap to the top two as they beat leaders Burton by 79 runs on Saturday (Jul 2).

Burton won the toss and chose to field but WHitland scored 193-9 in their 45 overs.

Kevin Pearce scored 33 and Wayne Howells scored 31. Scott Newton reached a half century before falling on a score of 61 while there was a score of 30 from Gethin Scourfield and 19 from Harry Fuller.

Matthew John took 4-29 for Burton while Martyn Tweedie finished with figures of 2-32. Dan Ridge also bowled well to finish with 2-33.

In reply, Tweedie scored 48 and Dan Ridge added 36 while the only other batsman to make it into double figures was Dan Wilks who scored 14 before being run out.

Wayne Howells bowled well for Whitland as he took 3-33 while Conor Bowen had figures of 2-27.

Cian Rees also bowled well for his figures of 2-16 while Scott Newtown claimed one wicket.

It saw Burton bowled out for just 119 as they suffered just their second defeat of the season.

It moves Whitland to within five points of second placed Herbrandston and to within six of Burton.

On Saturday, July 9, Whitland host Lamphey while Burton host Hook.

Sport

Narberth keep pressure on with win over Pembroke Dock

Published

7 hours ago

July 4, 2022

James Hemingray

NARBERTH kept the pressure on league leaders Neyland as they beat Pembroke Dock by four wickets on Saturday (Jul 2).

Narberth had lost to Neyland the previous week and were looking to bounce back and when they won the toss they chose to field first.

It proved a good decision as the Dock struggled before being bowled out for just 79.

They lost Rhys Daley early on when he was run out by Rhodri Dyer. Jake Davies and Scott Griffiths added 24 runs for the second wicket but Davies was caught off the bowling of Lewis Hough.

Wickets then began to tumble as Jake Griffiths was trapped leg before by Loui Davies and with the next ball he did the same to Tom Grimwood.

There was no hat trick for Davies but his wickets had seen the Dock slip to 32-4.

That soon turned into 39-6 as Billy Wood was bowled by Hough and soon after Scott Griffith was bowled on a score of 22 by Davies.

It was then Hough’s turn to take two wickets in two balls as he bowled Nick Daley before trapping George Smith leg before, leaving the Dock in trouble on 41-8.

Anton John was out to the bowling of Ben Hughes to reduce the home side to 54-9.

Euan McDonald and Rob Hearn added 25 runs for the final wicket as they looked to give their side a total they could defend.

Hearn hit three fours in a score of 15 but he was out to the bowling of Ben Hughes. It left McDonald not out on 12 (two fours) but Narberth would need just 80 to win.

McDonald bowled Richard Adams early in Narberth’s reply but Loui Davies and Lewis Hough shared 33 runs for the second wicket.

Davies hit two fours in a score of 13 but he was caught by Tom Grimwodd off the bowling of Billy Wood.

That sparked a mini collapse as Narberth soon slipped to 48-5.

Jordan Howell was caught by Scott Griffiths off the bowling of Wood and the same pairing combined to dismiss Hough on a score of 21 (one four, two sixes).

Wood then removed Dan Hughes for a duck as the Dock’s tails were up.

Will Nicholas and Ben Hughes stopped the flow of wickets though as they 22 runs for the sixth wicket.

Nicholas scored 15 but was then caught and bowled by Scott Griffiths. Hughes then saw Narberth to their total as he finished unbeaten on 19 (four fours).

Despite the win, Narberth dropped to third place in the table but they are now only two points behind leaders Neyland.