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Sport

Hook face Kilgetty in Under 11s final

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THE Pembroke County Cricket Junior League Under 11s final takes place tonight (Jul 22) and will see Hook take on Kilgetty.

Both sides played their respective semi-finals last week which saw Hook beat Llechryd while Kilgetty beat Neyland.

The Under 11s final takes place in Hook and starts at 6pm.

Hook too good for Llechryd

Hook U11s (310-7) beat Llechryd U11s (276-1)

ON a perfect evening in West Wales, both teams played out a tremendous game of cricket and demonstrated excellent skill with bat and ball. Llechryd fielded a young, talented side after skipper Ifan won the toss and decided to have a bowl first.

The decision paid dividends as Ellis took a double-wicket maiden with his first over. He clean bowled the Hook openers, Dylan James (11 runs) with the first ball of the match and followed up with another clean bowled in the same over, dismissing Manny Davies (12 runs), returning figures of 2 for 19 off 2.

Not to be outdone, Flo (1-19) took a wicket with his first ball, before Manny Davies and Dylan James steadied the ship to get Hook back in to positive figures with some excellent stroke play including 6 boundaries between them.

As the dark clouds above looked ominous, this was the calm before the storm. Callum Nutty (7 runs) and Oscar Willington entered proceedings with the later amassing 41 runs off just 15 balls, including five 4s and three 6s – one of the 6s almost landed in the adjacent school playground, a huge hit at any age level of Cricket.

This partnership of 48 runs propelled Hook to a decent total halfway through their innings. Delme (2-11) bowled exceptionally well, with disciplined line and length, pressuring the Hook batsmen into a second run that was almost on, until some sharp fielding by Llechryd denied them.

Delme gathered the ball well from the throw and took the bails off with ease.

It should be mentioned at this point that all the Llechryd players fielded tremendously well with some excellent ground fielding, taking their catches and backing-up making sure any wayward throws were gathered.

With the scoreboard ticking over nicely, William Harries (23) and Dylan Goodridge (6) kept the momentum up, adding 35 runs between them. William Harries in fine form once again, nudged the ball into the gaps for three 4s, before effortlessly placing the ball straight down the ground for a maximum.

Dexter kept nagging away at off-stump and eventually got his reward, bowling Harries off the last ball of his over, returning figures of 1 for 18 off 2. A quick change of personnel behind the stumps, saw Ifan have a bowl at the last pair of Hook batsmen.

Ifan bowled with a lot of skill and excellent technique, only allowing the batsmen to nudge him for a few singles and one boundary in his spell of 1 for 7 off 2. Jack Thomas (3) and Rhys Phelps (16) added 13 vital runs at the end as Llechryd picked up 2 wickets, with Delme once again showing his class by bowling Thomas with the last ball of the innings.

The Llechryd openers, comprising of Ifan (8) and Japp (14) got off to a flyer, adding 21 off their first 4 overs. Oscar Willington bowled with excellent control and pace, taking the only wicket of the Llechryd innings, returning figures of 1 for 4 off 2.

Ellis (4) and Delme continued to build on the great start and between them added 27 vital runs, with the later scoring 20 runs, including four 4s. At the halfway stage of the Llechryd innings they were on track to pass Hooks final score.

However, although no wickets fell, the Hook bowling trio of Rhys Phelps, Jack Thomas and Dylan Goodridge bowled with discipline and control, only allowing 17 runs during the third pairing. Evan (9) and Dexter (3) played with a straight bat and defended their wickets well.

With the batting side requiring 46 runs to win from the final pair, once again the Hook bowlers showed a lot of mettle, restricting Llechryd to just 11 runs from 4 overs. Callum Nutty bowled the innings only maiden over with some recently acquired wrist spin deliveries (obviously doesn’t get that from his Dad!) and once again Jack Thomas bowled superbly well going for 1 run off the penultimate over of the match.

It was down to Manny Davies, the youngest player in the Hook team to bowl the final over. He grasped the responsibility with both hands and showed real maturity to get the job done. The last pair of Flo (4) and Osian (7) fought to the end, defended their wickets well, but eventually came up short of the total.

Llechryd demonstrated that they are certainly a team to watch out for over the next few seasons with so many young talented players coming through.

Credit to Jonny Lewis for his coaching efforts and it was a pleasure to be part of such a great game of cricket played in great spirit.

The players even enjoyed homemade cakes, biscuits, cookies and gallons of squash at halftime.

Good luck to Hook in the Final, who will be looking to right a few wrongs after losing out to Lawrenny last season.

Well done to all involved with Junior Cricket this season in Pembrokeshire, without dedicated volunteers the kids would not have all these fantastic opportunities to express themselves through the medium of sport.

Kilgetty hold off Neyland

Kilgetty 265-5 beat Neyland 211-4

A SUNNY evening at Kilgetty Cricket Club was the perfect venue for Monday’s under 11’s semi-final between the home team, Kilgetty, and their visitors Neyland, in a sixteen over match.

Kilgetty came into the game full of confidence having won all six of their group games and started well with Kiaran and Lewis hitting 13 runs off the opening two overs. Neyland fought back hard though, and some accurate bowling saw them take five quick wickets to leave Kilgetty with a disappointing total of 221 at the halfway stage.

Euan and Morgan took the field next and steadied the ship by adding another 15 runs with no further losses.

Then a hugely important last pairing saw Madoc snatch lots of quick singles whilst Logan went for the boundary with a series of powerful strikes. The result was an extra 29 runs in four overs giving Kilgetty a very respectable total of 265.

After a short break and a well-earned burger from the barbecue, both teams took to the field again. Neyland began with a couple of strong pairings and quickly piled on the runs.

Euan took one wicket and Morgan grabbed two more to peg them back slightly but after nine overs Neyland were on 245 and well ahead of where Kilgetty had been at the same stage.

The visitors score could have been even higher had it not been for some excellent wicket keeping from Dylan who kept the run rate down, refusing to let a ball get past his gloves.

Then, just as the large crowd of home supporters were starting to fear the worst, a fabulous spell of bowling from Jamie and Kiaran saw the game turn on its head. A stunning five wicket haul in three overs left Neyland in disarray as the Kilgetty boys leaped around the field in joy.

From that point on there was only going to be one winner and Kilgetty produced a ruthless finish. Logan dismissed three opponents in a single over and Kiaran and Jamie picked up a couple more to finish things off in style and secure a win by 54 runs.

Overall it was a fabulous team effort and Kilgetty take a deserved place in the final.

News

Awards celebrate all that is good about Pembrokeshire sport

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PEMBROKESHIRE’S sporting community came together on Friday evening as Folly Farm hosted the annual Sport Pembrokeshire Awards – a night dedicated to honouring achievements across every level, age group and discipline.

The awards recognise exceptional performances, inspiring journeys and the volunteers who keep local sport thriving behind the scenes. The ceremony was once again presented by Ceri Coleman-Phillips of BBC Wales Sport, supported by Cris Tomos.

Simon-Davies with Geoff Williams

Lifetime honour for Premier League star

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Pembrokeshire’s own Simon Davies.
The former Wales winger enjoyed a distinguished Premier League career with Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.

Davies scored in the 2010 Europa League final for Fulham, won fifty-eight caps for Wales – scoring six – and captained his country during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. He was named Welsh Footballer of the Year in 2002 and Fulham’s player of the season in 2007–08. After leaving the club in 2013, he returned to his boyhood side Solva AFC, famously paying £3 subs to play against St Ishmaels.

Special recognition for Wales Women’s Street Football Team

Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas introduced the evening’s Special Award, honouring the players of the Wales Women’s Street Football Team for their remarkable run to the quarter-finals of the Homeless World Cup in Oslo.

The squad trains in Haverfordwest and included five outstanding Pembrokeshire players – co-captains Tor Planner and Marie Tilley, alongside Claire Mantripp, Sam Lewtas and Bryony Davies. All have overcome personal challenges, including homelessness, mental health difficulties and social exclusion, yet wore the Welsh jersey with pride on the world stage.

The team was led by manager Jo Price, former Wales and Arsenal goalkeeper.
Support staff included Anji Tinley, Manager of the Garth Youth & Community Project and a Pembrokeshire County Councillor.

Sreet Football Wales

Cruising Free honoured after rowing the Atlantic

The Chairman’s Award for 2025 was presented by Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman Cllr Maureen Bowen to ‘Cruising Free’ of Neyland Rowing Club, who achieved one of the world’s toughest endurance feats – rowing 3,200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean.

Sophie Pierce, Janine Williams, Miyah Periam and Polly Zipperlan completed the gruelling crossing from Lanzarote to Antigua, raising money for cystic fibrosis and the Paul Sartori Foundation.

At 32, Sophie became the first person with cystic fibrosis to row an ocean, while 70-year-old Janine became the oldest woman ever to complete the challenge. The team’s achievement was hailed as a powerful example of determination, unity and courage.

Team Cruising Free

Parkrun pioneers win School Award

The School Award went to the Federation of Tavernspite and Templeton Schools – the first Parkrun School in the UK.

The federation has built a Parkrun curriculum with Parkrun UK, using the weekly event to boost physical activity, support wellbeing, and develop leadership through the Parkrun Ambassador scheme. The schools were praised for exceptional inclusion, providing adapted PE equipment, wheelchair races and strong support for disadvantaged pupils. Estyn has highlighted their work as best practice.

Tavernspite and Templeton Schools

A strong year for Pembrokeshire sport

Summing up the event, Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said:
“My congratulations go to everyone who won awards and all those nominated. We are so lucky to have such a strong sporting scene here in Pembrokeshire, and my thanks go to all those who work so hard to ensure people of all ages and abilities can take part in the sports they love. Thanks also to our sponsors Valero, Folly Farm and Pure West Radio for supporting this celebration each year.”

Full list of winners

Girls U16: Ava Tyrie (Brazilian Ju Jitsu – Pembroke MMA)
Boys U16: Ned Rees-Wigmore (Hockey)

Club of the Year: Milford Haven Hockey Club (MAIN PHOTO)
Junior Disability: Jake Evans (Llangwm RFC)
Young Volunteer: Alannah Heasman (Haverfordwest High School)
Junior Team: Merlin’s Bridge FC Under-14s 2024/25
Unsung Hero: Jenny Lewis (Clarbeston Road AFC)
Senior Team: Fishguard & Goodwick Ladies Hockey Club
Male Achievement: Liam Bradley (Triathlon)
Female Achievement: Sanna Duthie (Running)
Disability Sport: Rachel Bailey (Boccia)
Club Organiser: Silfan Rhys-Jones (Fishguard Table Tennis Club)
Coach of the Year: James North (Kilgetty AFC)
School Award: Tavernspite & Templeton Federation of Schools
Chairman’s Award: Cruising Free (Neyland Rowing Club)
Special Award: Street Football Wales
Lifetime Achievement: Simon Davies (Wales, Spurs, Fulham, Everton & Solva AFC)

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Sport

South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls: Week ten results

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The Friendly League continues as Reynalton close the gap on leaders East Williamston

THE LATEST round of fixtures in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association’s Friendly League produced another mix of tight contests and emphatic victories.

Kilgetty were beaten 8–2 at home by Hundleton, while Reynalton delivered the standout performance of the week with a 10–0 win over East Williamston. Llanteg also impressed, defeating Carew 8–2.

Elsewhere, St Twynnells claimed a 7–3 win away at the Badgers, and Lamphey ran out 7–3 winners against St Johns. Cosheston had the bye.

League table – Week ten

TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostS/DPoints
East Williamston8701+13062
Reynalton8512+6450
Hundleton8413+342
Llanteg8404–541
Badgers9315–2141
St Johns8314–638
St Twynnells8404–3437
Lamphey9405–1536
Kilgetty9405–4936
Cosheston8305–1335
Carew7304–5432

Reynalton’s dominant win means they move within touching distance of leaders East Williamston, setting up an intriguing second half to the season.

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Sport

South Africa run riot as Wales suffer record defeat in Cardiff

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Wales 0–73 South Africa
WALES endured one of the heaviest defeats in their history on Saturday as world champions South Africa ran in 11 tries at the Principality Stadium, producing a brutal 73-0 demolition that exposed the gulf between the sides and underlined the scale of the rebuilding task facing Welsh rugby.

The fixture, arranged outside the international window, left Wales without several first-choice players and short on experience. South Africa, by contrast, arrived in Cardiff at full strength and in ruthless form. What followed was a one-sided contest from the opening minutes to the final whistle.

First-half dominance

The Springboks established their authority early, their scrum immediately overpowering the Welsh pack and setting the tone for the afternoon. Tries from Gerhard Steenekamp, Ethan Hooker and Jasper Wiese put the visitors 21-0 ahead, with Wales struggling to exit their own half and repeatedly conceding penalties under pressure.

Wales’ lineout functioned reasonably well and there were brief flashes of ambition from Joe Hawkins, Joe Roberts and Rio Dyer, but every half-chance dissolved through handling errors or South Africa’s suffocating defensive line. A late surge from the Boks saw Morne van den Berg cross just before the break for a 28-0 half-time lead.

Second-half collapse

Any hopes of containment disappeared after the interval. South Africa emptied their bench—bringing on yet more power—and immediately cut through Wales again. Wilco Louw, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (twice), Canan Moodie, Ruan Nortje and Eben Etzebeth all scored in a relentless second half.

Wales’ discipline faltered under the pressure. Taine Plumtree and Aaron Wainwright were both shown yellow cards, with Wainwright’s high tackle sent to the bunker for review. South Africa’s own discipline cracked late on when Etzebeth received a straight red card for making contact with the eye area of Alex Mann—an incident captain Siya Kolisi later claimed was accidental.

Reaction

Player of the match Andre Esterhuizen, who produced a series of thunderous carries and turnovers, said the Springboks “worked really hard” to complete their Autumn clean sweep, praising Wales for “never giving up”.

Kolisi was gracious in victory but said he did not want the Etzebeth incident to overshadow the performance, adding: “The only way a team gets better is by playing the best. Wales will be stronger for facing this.”

Former Wales captain Dan Biggar, working as a pundit, was blunt in his assessment. “There are players there that aren’t at this level now, and may not play this level again,” he said. “I don’t think anyone learned anything from that.”

A difficult day for Welsh rugby

For Wales, the defeat will strengthen scrutiny of the WRU’s scheduling and long-term planning. A young and inexperienced squad battled gamely in patches—Mann, Hawkins and Dyer among those showing fight—but the mismatch was stark.

A crowd of around 50,000, well below capacity, reflected the mood of supporters as another bruising year for Welsh rugby nears its end.

Head coach Warren Gatland will now attempt to piece together the positives from a chastening afternoon, but the bigger questions facing the structure of the game in Wales remain unanswered.

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