Page revision date: 25th September 2008
Nigel feels brain pain
Spare a thought next for Nigel Phillips, the long-serving all-rounder with Pembroke Cricket Club, who felt the pain when he played at Treleet against Haverfordwest Seconds towards the end of the cricket season.
Nigel was fielding under the trees at the railway end of the ground when the equally venerable Steve James was batting for the opposition and produced one of his trademark sixes that soared towards the top of the trees. Nigel pretended to fold his arms over his head in mock protection but when he withdrew his arms he was literally stunned when the ball plummeted from above and cracked him on the head!
Fortunately there was no lasting damage to the tough old warrior but it was some time until his tea-mates reached him because they were also prostrate on the ground – with laughter.
Steve James eventually trotted over to help his old mate and apologised profusely but even Jamer had to admit that he had to delay facing the next ball for a while because he was also breathless with laughter. Nigel bravely carried on and was able to laugh about it afterwards – but I bet it will be some time before he fields under those trees again.
Plain sailing for Evan – but granddad has sinking feeling!
Congratulations to seven year old Evan Lewis, who has taken to sailing like a duck to water and already passed levels one and two to show his potential at such an early age.
Sailing is very much in Evan’s blood because grandparents Margaret and Stuart Lewis have been keen sailors for many years, as has dad Martin, although dad and granddad are not quite up to Evan’s standard judging by this little story.
It seems that Martin and Stuart were sailing in a race off Neyland when Martin looked around to shout instructions to Stuart, only to find dad wasn’t there! He found him in the drink, coughing and spluttering and after collapsing with laughter himself managed to pull dad back into the boat.
Stuart admitted afterwards, “Once I had shaken the water out of my ears I could hear the chuckles from those on terra firma and I know that I am going to have my leg pulled for quite a while.”
We are happy to let others who were unlucky enough to miss Stuart’s impromptu dip in the briny know about it so well done Evan – perhaps you ought to drag dad and granddad out on some of your courses!
Bernie bruises easily
After many years as a well-known footballer Bernie Armstrong has taken up cricket with Fishguard this season and has gained a medal in his first campaign since he was part of the club’s second string which reached the final of the Alec Colley Cup.
He’s earned a reputation as a good fielder for his advanced years as he throws himself about to stop the ball – and has a safe pair of hands to take catches when they come to him. He readily admits that he is no bowler but fancies himself as a bit of a batsman and has been showing everyone who isn’t squeamish the bruises on his thigh which he sustained when he opened the batting against Hundleton and was part of a ten-wicket victory.
Hundleton were bowled out for 76 and Bernie batted alongside John de Groot and when the target had been reached had managed the magnificent score of seven not out as his batting partner finished with 60-plus runs! Bernie actually had as many bruises as runs as he played a gritty defensive role and was thrilled to be part of the success – but having to look at the bruises was actually worse than having to watch him bat!
Where’s my car keys?
Derek Brazil is a knowledgeable man regarding football and the Haverfordwest County manager has the greatest respect from all at the Bridge Meadow Stadium, although he is also known for creating laughter with his occasional outpourings of Irish brogue. After one recent training session, club chairman Rob Summons was back home when the phone rang and it was the afore-mentioned Mr Brazil asking Rob if he had seen his car keys. Rob replied in the negative and was told the sorry saga of the search for the keys by the players – and reminded his erstwhile manager that turning the floodlights back on for the search was a waste of club resources!
It was then that Derek made the classic comment that if he couldn’t find his keys he would have to leave his car there for the night, to which Rob readily agreed!
Fortunately, the story has a happy ending because the keys eventually turned up and he was able to motor safely back to his home near Cardiff – they were nestling neatly underneath Derek’s kit bag all the time!
Rhys is a real winner
Rhys Dalling is a very talented young sporting all-rounder who has quickly earned a reputation as a winner at football with Clarbeston Road, cricket at Fishguard and rugby at Crymych – but he’s now got another string to his competitive bow because he was a winner in the poultry section at the recent County Show!
Rhys attended the show at Withybush last year and was taken by the poultry, coming away with a Buff Orpington hen that he has looked after since, with good advice from his grandma, Eira.
The chicken was duly entered for this year’s show and, lo and behold, won its class to show that Rhys has done a great job. So well done, Rhys, we’ll see you again at the show next year for another chat about chickens!
One Wicket in 65 balls!
And finally on this occasion, a nice little story about how the ladies at Hook celebrated winning the Ladies Cup Final, where they beat old rivals Neyland. There were 13 of them set out on the Bank Holiday Sunday, with Kath Adams driving the mini-bus to a range of venues around the county which had included Pembroke for the Alec Colley Cup (but it was called off because of bad weather) and Carew, where the npower Village Cup semi-final was being played.
They all had to bowl at a set of stumps before they left the Hook Sports Association Ground and at every stop before and including Carew, but of the 65 attempts at hitting the stumps only Kath managed it on one occasion.
Even top all-rounder Sam Rossiter, batswoman Kate Miller and veteran bowler Lynne Thomas were unable to hit the target but I am reliably informed that the girls had a rattling day out so that was the main thing, I suppose!
Simon strikes for the third time
Simon Cole was deservedly man of the match in the Duggie Morris Cup Final at Burton for his superb 107 not out against St Ishmaels, an innings which included nine big sixes, one of which landed flush on the bonnet of his parents’ car!
It was all the more galling for Glyn and Pauline because this was the third time that he has managed to single out their cars for his target practice in matches – and even worse because his car was parked next door but he managed to avoid hitting that.
They would have to admit, however, that it was a smashing innings and the only consolation was the fact that he didn’t single out their windscreen to make it an even more smashing innings!
Jenkins trio opens the bowling
This column is always eager to promote the lighter side of sport or nice little family stories to show what good things go on in Pembrokeshire, We have previously featured fathers and sons and dads and daughters but on this occasion we can highlight a rare occurrence where two brothers and their younger sister opened the bowling for Cresselly Cricket Club on the same day.
Stefan was the main strike bowler with the first team whilst brother Sion opened the bowling for the second XI – and Megan did exactly the same for the club’s third string. It would be interesting to know if this had ever happened before – but I suspect not. Well done all three, especially to Megan for showing that anything her big brothers can do she can do every bit as well!
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