Sport
2021: Another odd year but sport makes welcome return
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2021 has been another odd year for sport. It started with uncertainty over when competitive sport would resume and has ended with action in full swing.
JD Cymru Premier Football was played before the return of cricket while football and rugby made a welcome return later this year.
With all football suspended bar the JD Cymru Premier, Haverfordwest County carried the flag for the county.
Despite a good season for the Bluebirds there was to be no European football for them as manager Wayne Jones did not have the required licences to lead his team in Europe.
There was though a memorable occasion for long serving captain Sean Pemberton who hung up his boots after his 259th game for the club in May.
Manager Wayne Jones resigned at the beginning of December and Pemberton was given the task of taking over, with former Wales international Jazz Richards by his side.
CRICKET IS BACK
Cricket returned at the beginning of May, well over 600 days since the last game of league cricket was played.
It was a welcome return for all concerned with many taking time to adjust to new rules such as having to sanitise the ball every couple of overs.
LEAGUE AND CUP WINNERS
The Division 1 title race took many twists and turns with Lawrenny pushing Neyland all the way.
In August, Lawrenny beat Neyland to go to the top of the table. The top two then met again in Neyland on the final day of the season but it was Neyland who came out on top to secure the Division 1 title.
Neyland led the way in cup competitions as they reached the semi-finals of the Village Cup and the quarter finals of the Welsh Cup.
Fishguard secured the Division 5 title on their return to league cricket while Llangwm and Pembroke Dock were promoted to Division 1.
Division 4 was won by Llanrhian seconds while their first team were crowned winners of Division 3.
Neyland seconds secured the Alec Colley Cup with a win over Cresselly in the final in August.
Llanrhian won the Alan Brown Cup in July as they beat Stackpole in the final which was played in Whitland.
Lawrenny did not miss out on silverware this year as they wrestled the Duggie Morris Cup from Neyland’s grasp, having beaten them in the quarter finals, by beating Carew in the final.
Narberth were also celebrating after beating Landsker Nomads in the final of the Ken Morris Cup.
In the ladies game, Cresselly were crowned league winners for the first time since 1999 and that made it a double-winning season after also securing the Clive Huxley Cup just a week earlier after they beat Whitland in the final.
HARRISON BOWL FIREWORKS
The Harrison Allen Bowl final took place at the end of August between Carew and Neyland.
Carew were bowled out for 109 in their first innings but what happened next was something special.
Neyland’s Patrick Bellerby hit a stunning 134 not out to guide his side to 241-2, the highest ever total in a bowl final.
It gave them a resounding 132-run lead and all but secured the Bowl for Sean Hannon’s men.
Carew gave it their all and at least made Neyland bat again but the damage had already been done and Neyland knocked off the 23 runs needed to win the Harrison Allen Bowl for a tenth time.
Bellerby’s knock included fifteen fours and nine sixes and came off just 69 balls with a strike rate of 194.20 and made him a worthy recipient of the man of the match award.
In September there was a charity cricket match in Pembroke Dock which raised £7000 for charity.
The money was split between mental health charities and Callum Jones who is recovering from serious injuries.
RUGBY AND FOOTBALL RETURN
It was the return of rugby and football that took centre stage in September. Rugby returned with the new WRU Cup competitions, designed to keep teams local in a bid to prevent the spread of covid-19.
Following the WRU Cups, the league seasons also recommenced in November and so far in the Championship, Narberth have secured four wins from their opening five games.
Whitland and Crymych have both picked up wins in League 1 West while Pembroke are yet to get off the mark.
In League 2 West, Fishguard and Milford are also off the mark while Tenby are also looking for their first win.
Cardigan are the leaders of League 3 West A with St Clears, Lampeter and Haverfordwest completing the top four.
In the football, Goodwick United are the leaders in Division 1 having won ten and drawn one of their 11 games so far.
Clarbeston Road sit second while Hakin are third having played three games less than the two teams above them.
Kilgetty are going well in Division 2 while Camrose are leading the way in Division 3.
It has been an up and down year for sport and with the break coming over the festive period it is time to stay safe and enjoy Christmas.
See you all in 2022.
News
WRU explores potential Anglo-Welsh rugby competition
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THE WRU is actively exploring the possibility of a future Anglo-Welsh competition. Multiple sources from both England and Wales have confirmed that preliminary discussions have occurred between key figures on both sides of the Severn Bridge.
Currently, the WRU is still under contract with the United Rugby Championship (URC) for a few more years, where it also holds stakeholder status. One proposal under consideration involves merging the URC with the Gallagher Premiership to create an Anglo-Welsh conference.
WRU Chairman Richard Collier-Keywood, when questioned about these talks by Wales Online, refrained from commenting directly but acknowledged the interest. “I’m totally aware that most Welsh people would want competition against England, and that does feel like a good direction of travel,” he said.
“At present, we remain committed to the URC. There are downsides and positives to the URC, and we aim to enhance the situation from a Welsh perspective. Our priority is to ensure stability for our four clubs and secure a sound future for them over the coming years. Once this is achieved, we can revisit and discuss future goals.”
Within Welsh rugby circles, there is a strong desire for more regular Anglo-Welsh fixtures. The URC has struggled to engage the broader public, and fixtures with English clubs would likely be more appealing and cost-effective compared to trips to South Africa or Ireland. Increased regular attendance is also anticipated.
“I’m totally cognisant that most Welsh people would want jeopardy against England, and most English people would want jeopardy against Wales,” Collier-Keywood continued. “However, we are currently committed to the URC for a few more years. It’s early days, but all options are on the table. There are benefits and downsides to the URC, and we aim to improve the situation from a Welsh rugby perspective.”
The WRU’s primary goal is to ensure the survival of its four professional clubs – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, and Scarlets – which face an estimated £29 million funding gap over the next five years. Previously, the WRU indicated that without a plan to bridge this funding gap by autumn, they would consider triggering the two-year notice clause on the Professional Rugby Agreement. This could mean cutting a team or implementing a tiered funding model. However, Collier-Keywood insists that retaining all four professional clubs remains the WRU’s priority.
“The arrangements we are looking at with the clubs retain four teams,” he said. “This is our stated objective because we believe four teams are necessary to consistently achieve our goal of being in the top five in the world. Reducing the number of teams would make this objective more challenging.
“The gaps mentioned are the figures we believe need bridging to maintain four competitive teams. These numbers reflect the stretch goals for our teams to be competitive in their competitions. I am optimistic we will reach this goal. We have positive engagement with the four clubs. While it’s not solely the WRU’s decision, as the clubs are privately owned, we are in good and positive dialogue to reach a favourable outcome.”
Collier-Keywood also called on regional team fans to support their teams. “The biggest thing fans can do to help is to attend matches. I recognise it’s a virtuous circle – if your team is winning and performing well, you’re more likely to attend. We need to boost our supporter base, make it vibrant, and have them present at matches.”
All four professional clubs are currently bound by a salary cap of £4.5 million, with allowances for two marquee signings outside the cap. Collier-Keywood is optimistic about increased funding for the clubs in the near future. “Absolutely, I do,” he said when asked about the potential for increased funding. “While it’s a tough ask for the very next season, we aim to ensure our teams are competitive in the years to come.”
The WRU’s exploration of an Anglo-Welsh competition represents a potential shift in the rugby landscape, promising exciting prospects for both Welsh and English rugby fans.
News
Former Welsh rugby star on trial for assaulting primary school pupil
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A former international rugby star, Matthew Back, stands accused of assaulting a primary school pupil by grabbing him so hard it left marks on his arm. The court heard that Back, 53, who played four times for Wales, was employed as a teacher when the alleged incident took place.
Prosecutor Christopher Evans outlined the case, stating that Back manhandled the child, resulting in a bruise after he forcibly took drawings away from him in the classroom. Evans argued that Back “lost control” during the altercation, mishandling the situation severely.
“Back manhandled the child. He handled the situation completely the wrong way,” Evans asserted. He further claimed that Back “didn’t de-escalate” the situation but instead “lost control on a small child.”
The court heard that the boy had been instructed to draw following a separate incident with another child. However, he rolled the paper into a “comical shape,” prompting Back to snatch the paper away. In response, the child lashed out at teaching assistants and was subsequently placed on a sofa for a “time out.”
Testimony revealed that Back kept the boy on the sofa, preventing him from leaving until he had calmed down and could be taken home. The child’s mother reported that he returned from school late, “very angry and very agitated.” Later that evening, the boy’s father discovered bruising on his arm.
When questioned by the parents, Back initially denied any knowledge of the incident, suggesting the marks could have been caused by the boy hiding in a small space or engaging in “rough and tumble” with other children. However, he later acknowledged that an incident had occurred and the child had been moved to the sofa.
Harriet Ealdon, defending, presented the court with messages exchanged between Back and the boy’s mother, illustrating their cooperative efforts to address the child’s behavioural needs. In one message, Back expressed pleasure in teaching the boy, to which the mother responded positively, noting her son’s excitement to attend school. Another message highlighted the “great teamwork” between them.
The court also heard that the child had been involved in 50 documented incidents at the school, all of which had been communicated to the parents—except for the alleged assault in question. The parents documented the bruise with multiple photographs taken over several days, leading them to raise concerns with the school. This prompted an investigation and the suspension of Back and two other individuals.
Matthew Back, hailing from Miskin, Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, denies the charge of assault. Back, who won four caps for Wales in 1995, has a notable rugby career, having played for Pontypridd, Bridgend, Swansea, Bristol, and Aberavon.
The trial, presided over by Recorder Bruce Gardiner, continues.
News
Haverfordwest County AFC launch 2024-25 away kit
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Haverfordwest County AFC have said this week that they are delighted to launch our away kit for the 2024-25 season.
Inspired by the history and heritage of Pembrokeshire, the shirt features the colours of the flag of St David, which is universally recognised and proudly flown at the Ogi Bridge Meadow. The flag itself is featured across the back of the collar.
The unique design will ensure that we represent the county on our travels around Wales throughout the season, while also enabling us to stand out on the field.
The shorts will be all-black, while the socks will be all-black with two yellow stripes at the top and a yellow Bluebird in the middle.
As is the case with the home shirt, the Haverfordwest County AFC and Tor Sports logos are printed in the top left and top right of the shirt respectively, while our ‘Playing For Pembrokeshire’ logo is featured in the bottom left corner.
You can purchase the new away shirt by visiting their club shop on Tor Sports by clicking here.
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