Derek Roberts fools
the Bluebirds’ gang
Derek Roberts is a busy member of the Haverfordwest County management team but recently took a smashing holiday to New Zealand with wife Byddug, whose sister lives in the ‘Land of the Great White Cloud’ – and on his return managed to fool some of the ‘Bluebirds Bunch’ about his angling skills.
Derek did go fishing and caught some nice snappers and scorpion fish on a small rod but his picture appeared on the club’s excellent web-site alongside a giant marlin which weighed over 200kgs, with the obvious implication that he had caught the monster marlin.
What actually happened was that Derek and Byddug had been out for the day and when news came on the local radio about the marlin’s capture at a nearby beach they decided to pop down for a look. Derek did well to sidle over and have his picture taken alongside the huge specimen fish, as he did just later at the official shoot of the event.
Somehow, some of the lads at the Bridge Meadow, in expressing their admiration about his epic event, didn’t spot the link between the tiny rod and the mighty marlin – but all has been revealed now and ‘Del Boy’ has lost his short-lived reputation as an amazing angler!
Bernie gets his directions wrong
Bernie Armstrong is best known as a goal grabber with local teams, including Goodwick United, where he is now the dedicated and effervescent manager – but it seems that his eyesight is not now what it was, although he is eager to hide that fact since he rarely wears his glasses in public.
This had funny implications when he joined three friends and son Alistair in travelling to the Liberty Stadium recently to watch Swansea City hammer Preston in an evening floodlit match. It was raining heavily as Bernie took control of the tickets and the lads sought a quick entry into the ground.
“Look for the North End,” exhorted Bernie, “we are sitting there.”
After passing several entrances and with the prospect of getting wet, former fellow goal-grabber Steve Summers glanced at a ticket and had to point out that the ‘North End’ Bernie was alluding to was the name of the opposition – and their seats were back in the West Stand entrances they had already passed!
Needless to say, Bernie took some real ‘stick’ from Alistair, Steve and goal keeper Carl Woodhouse about his need to take his glasses everywhere with him in the future. And me? I fully understand about fading eyesight and I was simply glad to get out of the rain - and despite dire threats from Mr Armstrong felt it was my duty to share this light little incident with you!
Unlucky Les gets hit
Les Hastings is a popular and respected umpire who, as secretary of the Pembrokeshire Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers, is responsible for organising the umpires for league fixtures during the summer months – and willingly umpires the indoor league competition with other stalwarts in Alan Hansen and John Williams.
So spare a thought for Les at a recent indoor league match involving Fishguard where he was standing at square leg, the most dangerous spot in an indoor cricket match because of its close proximity to the wicket, where the young batsman received a full toss which he hit very hard and with such speed that poor old Les, as nimble as he is, was unable to dodge the ball and it struck him on the shoulder.
The youngster immediately apologised but was told by Les that he needed to think a little more about the indoor game, where deflections and nudges are more the order of the day, or words to that effect!
We are glad to report that once the throbbing in his upper arm was eased Les was back to his sunny self and although he repeated his advice to the youngster after the match it was far more gently delivered – and all’s well that ends well since Les is back umpiring in the indoor league set-up and still standing at square leg in his turn. Well done Les – and keep up the good work!
