Sport
St Clears RFC ‘local hero’ named Principality’s Clubhouse Champion
ONE of the founder members of St Clears RFC has been selected out of over 800 entries to be named Clubhouse Champion and be part of Principality’s ‘Unofficial Squad’.
Jeff Davies, 72, from St Clears has been awarded the honour of Clubhouse Champion after being nominated by his local community in a competition run by Principality Building Society.
As a hero of St Clears RFC’s clubhouse, it was his tireless dedication to the club that saw him selected for a place in the Unofficial Squad. From cleaning the exterior grounds, helping to run and decorate the clubhouse, cleaning the pipes and managing staff, Jeff was nominated because no job is too much for him and he is considered a true local hero in the community.
Wales’ largest building society, as proud sponsors of the Stadium and partners of the Welsh Rugby Union, launched a search for the country’s Clubhouse Champions ahead of the Guinness Six Nations starting. Principality was looking for individuals who have worked hard to make their local clubhouse feel like home.
Jeff is one of 15 people named to be part of the Unofficial Squad who will be given VIP treatment by Principality at Wales vs Italy on 19th March at Principality Stadium, including watching the match from a hospitality box and a meet and greet with Welsh international, Ken Owens.
Jeff, along with the other 14 winners will also be presented with their own framed Welsh shirt for their clubhouse, as a memento of being selected in the Unofficial Squad.
Jeff said: “I’m one of the founder members of the club, which we started back in 1984. I started as a player, then I became treasurer and then chairman. Now that I’ve retired, I run the bar, clean the club, and mark the lines before the game on a Saturday. I can’t describe how it feels to be picked in as a Clubhouse Champion, it means so much. It’s an indescribable experience.”
A panel of judges – including Wales’ top try-scorer Shane Williams – were responsible for choosing the 15 winners to form the Unofficial Squad.
Shane Williams MBE said: “The clubhouse has always been at the heart of the community and it’s the community that makes the clubhouse. We were thrilled to see hundreds of nominations and it was a big challenge trying to pick the winners, but Jeff’s and the other 14 winning stories really stood out to us.
“After reading Jeff’s nomination I can comfortably say that he would be my captain of the squad. This was a great opportunity to shine a light on the Clubhouse Champions and one I was honoured to be a part of.”
Vicky Wales, Principality’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “As title sponsors of Principality Stadium we wanted to celebrate the deserving club heroes across the country for the continued effort they give to their home club.
“From the grounds person to the cleaner, to that person who works hard behind the scenes, the Unofficial Squad has been named with individuals whose dedication and commitment makes a massive difference to their local club. Clubhouses and the fans in them are the foundation that Welsh rugby is built upon and the glue that holds rugby communities together.”
Sport
South-West Wales Athletes Aiming to Shine at the Summer Olympics
Two of the finest athletes in south-west Wales are dreaming about bringing home medals from the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Track cyclist Emma Finucane and sailing star Micky Beckett will head to France in a buoyant mood after enjoying a successful build-up to their respective events.
Welsh athletes collected a record-equalling 11 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games and hopes are high that the tally could be beaten this year.
The Carmarthen-born rider cemented her rapid rise up the sprint ranks by winning a gold medal at the 2023 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.
She became Great Britain’s first women’s sprint world champion since Becky James in 2013 and is now on track to chase more medals at the Olympics across three events.
The 21-year-old has yearned to compete at the Summer Games since watching Team GB sparkle at London 2012 and she is eager to make her mark this summer.
“It’s a massive dream of mine and it’s pretty cool that I’m kind of living my dream,” Finucane said. “I’m just trying to enjoy the journey and hopefully I’ll get selected and compete for my country.
“And it’s exciting because as the Team GB women’s sprint. I feel like we’re in a really good place to do well at the Olympics, not just compete as Olympians.”
Pembrokeshire-born sailor Beckett will also head to Paris with his sights firmly set on winning gold in the hugely competitive ILCA 7 class.
He will renew rivalries with Australian Matt Wearn, who controversially claimed the World Championship title ahead of Hermann Tomasgaard and Beckett earlier this year.
Online bookmakers rate Wearn as the favourite to emerge victorious this summer, but Beckett’s recent form gives him every chance of turning the tables.
Several new sports betting sites in Australia cut the Welsh sailor’s Olympic odds after he completed a trio of World Cup successes at a recent event in Palma.
Beckett believes the hard work he has done over the past few months gives him every chance of toppling Wearn when the action gets underway this summer.
“There is still plenty of work to do and managing form is probably the most important thing of any athlete’s job,” Beckett said. “There is no point being the best in the world unless you are the best in the world when it counts.
Sport
Kilgetty and Carew Share Spoils in End-of-Season Showdown
In the picturesque setting of Kilgetty, under the soft glow of the evening sun, local football fans were treated to an enticing clash between Kilgetty and Carew in the Pembrokeshire League Division 1. With the season winding down, both sides took to the pitch amidst numerous squad rotations, following a hectic week of multiple fixtures.
The match kicked off in a leisurely pace, resembling more of an end-of-season friendly than a fierce competition. Kilgetty seized the early initiative, with the trio of Josh Bevan, Richard Tebbut, and Richard Cope causing headaches for the Carew defense, skillfully led by Gareth Lewis. It was Jac Waters who broke the deadlock for the home side, putting Kilgetty ahead 1-0 as the first half came to a close.
However, Carew emerged revitalised after the break, with Jonty Bennett, James Hinchcliffe, and Zac Rowell putting in the hard yards to level the score. The introduction of Harvey Drummond for the ineffective Sam Christopher added further depth to Carew’s attacking prowess, culminating in an equaliser courtesy of the excellent Hinchcliffe.
As tensions rose, the game took on a newfound intensity, marked by needless bookings, after a clearly offside goal and a few heated moments on the field. Despite the fatigue evident from their recent fixture congestion, both teams showcased their competitive spirit, treating the fans to an entertaining second half.
In the end, neither side could break the deadlock, with Kilgetty and Carew having to settle for a well-fought 1-1 draw. While neither team was at their absolute best, the match provided a fitting conclusion to their respective seasons.
Sport
The stage is set – Senior Cup Final
It’s the time of the year again, Saturday see’s Bridge Meadow host the senior cup final. The sun has been shining and both teams will be dying to get on the pitch. This year the final will be contested by Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road.
League champions Goodwick will go into the final as favourites, and most around the county expect a Goodwick win. It has been an outstanding season for Goodwick however cup success has evaded them so far. Clarbeston Road have impressed everyone this season and really deserve their place in this years final.
Neill Crawshaw will referee the game, with Tudor Walters and Stefan Jenkins running the line.
There will be a unique contest on the pitch as brothers Will Haworth and Laurie Haworth come face to face on opposing teams. Adrian their father was a great player in the county, and played in many cup finals himself.
The stage is set, Clarby will feel less pressure than Goodwick and will be a threat with Haworth, John and Davies in attack. Meanwhile Goodwick are also blessed with quality players in every department, there is no weak link in O’Sullivans team. Cup football and finals in particular never go as people predict. On paper Goodwick are firm favourites, Clarbeston Road will be happy the game will be played on grass though and not paper, anything can happen! Hopefully it’ll be a good crowd down at the Meadow for the show piece of Pembrokeshire football.
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