No Saintly intervention for the Swans

Cricket roundup: Centuries, collapses and dominant displays in Week 13

Double podium finish for local rally driver

Kilgetty AFC Women score new Lucozade kit thanks to Tenby Post Office Stores

Carew crush Llangwm as Hicks and Davies shine; Cresselly extend Division 1 lead

Local nomination supports grassroots football in Pembrokeshire

‘A natural choice’

Team thanks local backers

Backed by the community

Sport

Sport

Division 1 Table

Division 2 Table

Division 3 Table

Division 4 Table

Division 5 Table

Division 6 Table

Sport

Sport

Published

7 years ago

May 9, 2018

By Jonathan Twigg

KEEPERS of the faith or a question when football rivalry becomes a ‘Holy War’ where your life depends on it.

Kevin Johns MBE, a pillar of Swansea City, spoke of martyrdom before defeat by Southampton, on Tuesday (May 8). Saint Mary, a team from the Church Young Men’s Association of 1885 born the banks of the ‘Itchen’ currently managed by ‘Welshmen’ Mark Hughes. A eulogy which encapsulates Peter Rodrigues, 1976 cup winning captain and the towering Paul Jones in goal; best of all from the pearly gates, none other than Gareth Bale.

Many thought godly intervention occurred with the appointment of Carlos Carvalhal prior to Christmas, divine intervention immediate, but the current situation, no goals and no points stretching back a month.

Wales and football have always had a heavenly ring when it comes to looking for signs but compare Scotland, Rangers vs Celtic for a view on how religion and sport cannot be separated. After Tuesday evening, a hope for a shared appreciation with Cardiff City in the Premier League once more, now hangs by a thread.

There was no cross carrying to the altar on this occasion, 20,000 white flag bearing emblems whipping the pilgrims to a frenzy. Andrew and Jordan Ayew the early disciples, Ki Sung-Yueng strong like St Barnabas, allowing Andy King having space to go for goal.

Luigi Scrosoppi (1804-84) the patron saint of footballers extended his care to all players but maybe, just maybe he had an inkling of companionship with George not David for the night. He was a battler against the strong anti-clerical feeling in Italy to bring hope and comfort to the poor; boy did Luigi, the son of a jeweller know when to kick sand.

The business of global football is humungous, still growing, the Premier League of course the place to be. Thursday, June 14, the start of the 2018 World Cup wouldn’t be able to match the energy of the Liberty Stadium, viral electricity in the form of a ‘berating Sparky’.

Kevin Johns’ reverence a catalyst for a chapel just off the players tunnel, encapsulating the imagery of ‘Camp Nou’? Peering back a replica of the Virgin of Montserrat, Catalonia’s most famous religious icon and its patron saint, with Baby Jesus on her lap exchange for St David, proudly inhaling a full choral rendition of ‘Land of my Fathers’. The Swans held sway, thirty minutes of football to their advantage, but no goal, Fabianski, the ‘big pole in the goal’ a saviour from Charlie Austin; twice.

One part of the epiphany, patron saint of the lottery, ‘Pantaleon’ although the Swansea players inspired by Saint Sebastian, extremely fit and able to withstand long physical endurance. Praying didn’t win the crunch game, when it mattered.

the ‘Jack Army’ a congregation of little ill repute registering the pressure, heading every ball, drumming pace and trickery. Sam Clucas saw his header slide across the face of the Alex McCarthy’s goal, the throng now not committed to the Sunday service Kevin asked of in his prayer.

The second half tension, flaring tempers and Jordan Ayew off like the clappers in tune with the stand, Austin chance after chance, enter Tammy Abraham, a tactical change replacing wing back Martin Olsson, Kyle McNaughton flying as Tammy called the tune, Jan Bednarek flattened by his own goal keeper, left to take a seat on the pews, Abraham cranked up the crescendo before substitute Manolo Gabbiadini broke the deadlock and the spirit.

Narsingh came on for McNaughton in the final quarter, Tom Carroll for King, Ki wasteful with Michael Oliver awarding six minutes of extra time, Abraham close before the emotion drained away.

The singing voices now clearly ‘the saints come marching in’ reminding us of St. Jude Thaddeus, cousin of Jesus and one of his Twelve Apostles, the patron saint of hopeless, desperate situations and lost, impossible, or forgotten causes. Read, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Kevin Johns, a Swan through and through and hope reigns eternal, perhaps with some ‘Hail Mary’s’ church bells will continue to ring loudly across West Wales.

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Published

8 hours ago

July 20, 2025

Herald Sport

CAREW produced the standout performance of the weekend as they demolished LLANGWM by 225 runs in a one-sided affair. TIM HICKS smashed 108 and NOAH DAVIES struck a superb 100 not out before destroying the Llangwm batting with 6-5.

CRESSELLY retained top spot in Division 1 with a 117-run win at LAWRENNY, with KYLE QUARTERMAINE hitting 81 and TOM ARTHUR claiming 4-27. Meanwhile, HERBRANDSTON defeated HAVERFORDWEST by 114 runs in a low-scoring contest, where DEAN JOHN and NATHAN BANNER starred with both bat and ball.

BURTON edged past NEYLAND by 3 wickets in a close finish, and WHITLAND chased 254 to beat SAUNDERSFOOT in a high-scoring thriller, thanks to an unbeaten 108 from GERAINT JONES.

DIVISION 1 RESULTS (Saturday, July 19):

LAWRENNY 131 all out lost to CRESSELLY 248-8 by 117 runs
HAVERFORDWEST 91 all out lost to HERBRANDSTON 205 all out by 114 runs
CAREW 289-8 beat LLANGWM 64 all out by 225 runs
BURTON 201-7 beat NEYLAND 197-8 by 3 wickets
WHITLAND 259-5 beat SAUNDERSFOOT 253-4 by 5 wickets

LEAGUE TABLES

Team	P	W	L	Bat	Bowl	Pts
Cresselly	13	12	1	47	56	231
Carew	13	11	2	51	62	226
Herbrandston	13	8	5	44	54	182
Saundersfoot	13	7	6	49	50	176
Neyland	13	7	6	44	52	168
Lawrenny	13	7	6	39	54	165
Burton	13	5	8	45	47	142
Whitland	13	5	8	45	36	135
Haverfordwest	13	3	10	39	42	113
Llangwm	13	0	13	24	26	50

Team	P	W	L	Bat	Bowl	Pts
St Ishmaels	13	11	2	53	61	227
Narberth	12	9	3	55	55	220
Hook	13	10	3	58	50	211
Pembroke	13	9	4	63	53	206
Llechryd	13	7	6	52	47	172
Cresselly II	13	6	7	49	37	150
Johnston	13	5	8	49	50	149
Carew II	13	3	10	48	43	124
Llanrhian	13	3	10	55	26	111
Burton II	12	1	11	31	22	63

Team	P	W	L	Bat	Bowl	Pts
Pembroke Dock	12	10	2	40	54	221
Fishguard	13	11	2	45	50	215
Lamphey	13	8	5	48	48	178
Haverfordwest II	13	6	6	52	47	164
Hundleton	13	6	7	42	41	147
Stackpole	12	5	7	45	36	134
Laugharne	12	5	6	43	35	134
Kilgetty	12	4	7	47	27	134
Neyland II	13	2	11	39	28	87
Hook II	11	3	7	34	19	83

Team	P	W	L	Bat	Bowl	Pts
Pembroke II	13	12	1	57	55	236
Saundersfoot II	13	10	2	51	52	203
St Ishmaels II	13	9	4	58	50	198
Crymych	13	8	4	52	44	176
Lawrenny II	13	7	5	46	47	164
Haverfordwest III	13	5	6	50	39	159
Carew III	13	4	6	48	30	118
Llangwm II	13	2	11	56	27	103
Llanrhian II	13	1	10	44	24	98
Narberth II	13	2	11	42	24	87

Team	P	W	L	Bat	Bowl	Pts
Herbrandston II	13	11	2	50	58	228
Llechryd II	13	9	3	53	50	206
Pembroke Dock II	13	9	3	54	49	197
Whitland II	11	6	4	42	29	153
Cresselly III	12	4	7	49	36	127
Hundleton II	12	4	7	41	27	112
Haverfordwest IV	12	3	8	45	26	111
Neyland III	12	0	12	40	14	53

Published

5 days ago

July 15, 2025

Herald Sport

A 20-HOUR round trip to Machrihanish Airbase in Campbeltown, Scotland, proved more than worthwhile for 17-year-old rally driver Henri Cynwyl, who returned to Wales with two podium finishes.

Henri, from Ponthirwaun, claimed third place on both days of competition in the British Junior Championship and the 1000cc Ecosse Challenge, strengthening his lead in the F1000 British Junior Championship.

The two-day Mach1 Stages Rally was organised by Dunfermline Car Club, with 31 F1000 members taking to the fast tarmac stages of the airbase, cheered on by a warm Scottish welcome.

“I’m really pleased,” said Henri, who was co-driven by Geraint Evans from Bala. “The stages were long, and I much prefer long stages to short ones as I get into a flow. The fast tarmac really suited my car.”

Now in his second and final year in the championship, Henri is backed by a number of local businesses from the Cardigan area.

“I’m so grateful to all of my sponsors and team,” he said. “The car is prepared by Castle Motors in Newcastle Emlyn, and we’ve just welcomed Pembrokeshire College as one of my new sponsors for 2025.”

Henri is currently undertaking an apprenticeship as an electrician with both Pembrokeshire College and DJ Hoyland.

The next round of the F1000 Championship will take place at Wheaton Barracks in Blackpool at the start of August.

Published

6 days ago

July 15, 2025

Herald Sport

KILGETTY AFC Women’s Team has received a brand-new Lucozade Sport Kit, thanks to a nomination by Tenby Post Office Stores and local supporter Fiona Malone.

The donation includes reusable drinks bottles, bibs, a football carrier bag, a kit bag, and bottles of Lucozade Sport – part of a UK-wide initiative that saw only ten teams selected to receive the sports kits.

Fiona Malone, who nominated the team, said: “We were really happy to nominate Kilgetty AFC Women’s football team when we were asked by Lucozade. My son plays for Kilgetty Under-13s, and the whole club is incredibly inclusive, so when Lucozade asked, we immediately thought of the women’s team.”

The kit was officially handed over on Sunday (July 13) during the club’s Chwarae FOR HER Wales v England watch party at Kilgetty AFC Football Club, Kingsmoor Sports Club.

A spokesperson for Kilgetty AFC Women said: “We are very grateful to receive all of the items from Tenby Post Office Stores and Lucozade. We particularly appreciate the reusable drinks bottles and Lucozade Sport drinks – we’ve been bringing our own, or using the men’s bottles. The bibs are great, and the new bags will be really useful. Thank you!”

Pembroke III

Llechryd III

H’West/Cresselly

Lamphey II

Kilgetty II

Whitland III

The women’s team continues to grow as part of the wider female football movement in Wales, supported by local businesses and groups. Ongoing kit sponsorship for the girls’ teams has come from Ty Francis and New York Welsh, while Tesco Stronger Starts funding and FAW grants have supported equipment and coach education.

The women’s team has also received training kit sponsorship from Kilgetty WI, and playing kit and volunteer support from Saundersfoot Rotary.

Each of these donations, including the new Lucozade kit, is helping transform grassroots football – building players’ skills, boosting confidence, and creating a stronger sense of belonging through sport.