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Jemma’s delighted to play for Wales
15 year old Jemma Phillips is certainly showing that she is following in the family’s footsteps because she is a Welsh international Cricketer for her age group, as well as playing in the Hook Ladies’ team which this season has again won the Skelfayre Cup for ladies’ cricket in Pembrokeshire.
Jemma’s dad Andrew, uncle Stephen and granddad Hugh have all played cricket for Haverfordwest with some success and Jemma showed in the Skelfayre Cup that she will carry on the tradition because she bowled really well to record figures of 1 for 23 in the first innings and then an even tighter 1 for 8 from her five overs in the second innings to help ensure a Hook victory. Not content with that excellent performance, Jemma also batted in the second innings and contributed 5 not out to the Hook cause. Jemma also played in the winning Hook side last season but played a far more significant role this season to show just how much she has progressed.
Early start before joining Hook Ladies
She started out playing cricket in the family garden and then at the Friday evening junior practice sessions on The Racecourse where dad organises the coaching. There are usually close to 100 children there every week and she soon showed enough prowess to be picked for the club’s under 11s and under 13s teams, where she developed her bowling skills.
From there it was off to Hook Ladies and a place in their team alongside other young players like Alice Thomas, Tracy Bushnell and Angharad James – and although she was understandable nervous she was made very welcome by senior players of the calibre of Sam Rossiter, Jo Kerrison and Kath Adams, all Welsh internationals at senior level, and Jemma is delighted that her sister, Hayley Thomas, also plays for Hook now.
Other sports
Jemma is also a good player of other sports because she plays hockey for Haverfordwest at under 15 and under 18 levels, playing on the left wing under the guidance of Elaine Scale, as they compete against other local clubs like Pembroke, Milford Haven and Tenby. She also plays in the same position for STP School and used to play for the county at one stage. It is a similar story with netball because she plays at wing attack and has also represented Pembrokeshire but has difficulty fitting in all her sports alongside school work.
County cricket and Welsh selection
She also plays for Pembrokeshire under 15s in cricket, with Emma Summons and her father John as coaches, and Jemma really enjoyed a tour to Llandovery last season where they won one and lost the other of their games. It was Emma who recommended Jemma for Welsh trials at Neath and there were three trials where she had to bowl, bat and field well before having confirmation of her selection for Wales.
She was understandably thrilled to receive her Welsh kit, which comprised two Welsh tops for playing in, a jacket, training kit of red top and shorts, plus blue polo shirt for wearing to matches and her Welsh baseball-style cap, all emblazoned with the Welsh badge.
Playing for her country
Jemma made her debut in Swansea and although she didn’t manage to take a wicket she was pleased with the way things went – and claimed her first victim in her second game for Wales.
At the time of writing, Jemma had played six matches for her country, coached by Sarah Ginn (Cardiff), and was eagerly anticipating a five-day tour to the Wrexham area to play more games. Giving her support, as always, will be mum and dad, Diane and Andrew, sister Lucy and grandparents Jean and Hugh. Then it will be back to play more cricket with Hook, where she aims to stay as a player for as long as possible.
There is no doubt that Jemma Phillips really enjoys her cricket at Hook and with Wales – and PembrokeshireSport.co.uk wishes her continued success with both because she is a very pleasant and modest young lady who fully deserves her success!
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