Unsung Heroes

Dai has done brilliantly for Lawrenny for half a century!

When Lawrenny Cricket Club held a special commemorative match during the recent season it was to mark the fact that Dai Jones and Owen Williams had both played 50 years for the club, a record of tremendous loyalty to be respected and celebrated as only Lawrenny Cricket Club could do.

Both were ready, as usual, to under state their contribution to the club but we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk felt it was appropriate to mark the occasion with our own little tribute – after much persuasion of the modest duo.

Early days at the cricket pitch

Dai Jones is known to all in local cricket circles as ‘Ossie’ and he has always been a wicket-keeper batsman who scored his fair share of runs and took more stumpings than he can recall with his ability to stand up to the wicket. That he should be involved in playing for Lawrenny was only natural since he was born in the pink cottage right next to the picturesque ground, playing there most days each summer of his childhood alongside Owen Williams, Dai Arthur and Tony Scourfield (now with Carew CC and the current vice-chairman of the Pembroke County Cricket Club. Matches went on for days and Dai benefitted from the regular practice because by the time he was 13 or so he was getting the odd game in friendlies, and became a regular after a few years of helping out.

No other club for him

He set out as a bowler but started wearing the gloves when a slightly younger Chris Williams came along, and Dai stayed as wicket-keeper for over 45 years, mainly in the first team! Ask him about staying loyal to Lawrenny all that time and there would be a look of amazement on his face:

            “Lawrenny was our village side and I would never have dreamt of playing anywhere else,” said Dai, “and we were chuffed when we won the old Third Division (South) and after a spell in the second division eventually made it into Division One in 1981.”

Dai played in many Harrison-Allen Bowl matches during his long career and although he had stepped down into the second team by the time his club won the coveted Bowl it is fair to say that no-one was more delighted than he and Owen Williams were.

            “It was a memorable day for Lawrenny,” he told us, “and us old ‘uns celebrated as much as anyone!”

Other sports

Outside of his cricket, Dai was also a useful footballer who played at Kilgetty as a junior before moving on to senior football at Carew and then playing for most of his time with Narberth. Carew reached a couple of Senior Cup Finals when he was there alongside the likes of Tony Scourfield, Brian Morgan, Dai Morris, Mike Allen, Peter Hall and Graham Jenkins, and he also won a league championship medal before joining Mike Johns, Peter and Gary Hughes in a Narberth team that was well coached by Des Stone.

When he spent a couple of years working in Kenya Dai also took up golf on some quite beautiful courses and he quickly improved – but has been too involved with cricket to carry on the game back home.

First century celebrated

Ask Dai about best performances and he would have little idea of scores because he just enjoyed playing.

            “But I do remember my best score,” he said, “because it came when I was well past my 50th birthday. I had a few decent scores before that day when I played against Cresselly Seconds and scored exactly 100 not out. I was shattered afterwards but it was great to achieve a three-figure score before it was time to call it a day.”

And finally . . .

Dai only plays now when he is needed but insists on playing down his contribution, saying that he was lucky to have support from his wife Muriel and children Helen (32) and Christopher (30).

But Chris Williams, like Dai a tremendous Lawrenny stalwart, told us,

            “Dai is typical of what is best in local cricket and we are very proud to have had him playing for so long at Lawrenny because he is a top man.”

PembrokeshireSport.co.uk could pay Dai Jones no greater compliment and we wish him a long and enjoyable continued involvement with the club he has graced for half a century because he really is a credit to local sport!