Cricket News . . . from PembrokeshireSport.co.uk

‘Doc’ Holliday stars for The Town

in the run-making stakes

To say that Simon Holliday’s batting had hit Pembrokeshire Cricket like a mallet blow would still be something of an understatement because since he arrived in Pembrokeshire midway through the 2010 season and joined Haverfordwest he has amassed a huge number of runs – and also taken his fair share of wickets.

Simon moved to the county with his work as a doctor and his big-hitting exploits as a right-handed batsman, allied to a string of not outs, saw him finish what was left of the campaign with an amazing average of about 180, give or take a few runs either way!

Inauspicious start

But his start in our cricket was less than auspicious because after joining his new team-mates for a couple of practice sessions he found himself making his debut in a Duggie Morris Cup tie where he opened the batting, ran out his partner in the first over and quickly followed to the pavilion for a duck as he attempted a sharp single, fell over in a heap and was speedily despatched to the seconds for the next match!

But he soon showed his mettle because he scored a century there, was reinstated in the firsts against Carew and rattled up 130 runs to announce his arrival in first division cricket. He also helped The Town reach the Harrison-Allen Bowl Final against Carew but had something of a game to forget as he admits to having been nervous. The first ball he faced was a wide down the leg side before he chipped the next ball, a full toss, straight to mid wicket. This duck was followed by 20+ in their second innings but he couldn’t raise the tempo and was as disappointed as the rest of the team to go down to defeat.

Record run-making – and a second Bowl final

This season saw Simon struggle a little in pre-season games but he gradually came into form after being dropped twice early on but then starting to fire the ball to all parts of the ground. His 1501 runs (including three league and two cup centuries) saw him record superb scores of 173, 154 and 144, all not out, and neatly sandwiched in between two of them was a knock of 100 not out to help The Town win the Duggie Morris Cup Final. In that final at Oatfield Park he also claimed six wickets from his slow left-arm stuff and there was little doubt over who would be man of the match! That haul helped him to a total of 38 wickets and it is small wonder that he was the recipient of the George Cole Trophy awarded by Pembroke County Cricket Club. Simon was unable to attend the County Club dinner but was re-presented with the magnificent silver cup by Dave Loosmore, who is chairman of both Pembroke County and Haverfordwest Cricket Clubs, at the clubhouse in front of his Haverfordwest team mates.

There was also a second appearance in the Harrison-Allen Bowl Final, where he started like a rocket against Neyland with 79 before he was out with five overs left. But The Town were unable to prevent Neyland from building a brave second innings comeback in which Nick Koomen was outstanding – and if you could force a list of cricketing priorities from ‘Doc’ Holliday then it is a fair bet that a third Harrison-Allen Final appearance might feature high on that list!

Other sports for a family man

Outside of his cricket, Simon also played hockey as a centre forward and once came to Pembrokeshire as his team Whitchurch (Cardiff) lost 3-2. He has a golf handicap of 24, the same as when he was 19 years old, and when he plays squash can sometimes confuse opponents because he uses either hand to grasp the racquet, depending on where the ball is!

His wife Annaleene also enjoys sport and has played lacrosse for Wales in two World Cups, and is back in training for a possible third now that children Seren (5) and Gethin (3) are growing up a little.

Casual start in Nottingham

But it has always been cricket that was Simon’s sporting love after starting out as an eight year old with Unity Casuals in Nottingham, and coming under the care of John Laurie, a very good coach who nurtured him through his teens. Simon played for Nottinghamshire throughout the different age groups, principally as a slow left-arm bowler – and at 13 played for Junior England following trials and training at Lilleshall. At 18 he played at Trent Bridge with Unity Casuals when they won their regional cup competition, as well as the league, with his best bowling figures being a 7 for 40 haul as John Laurie stood at mid-off and told him what to do with every delivery! He also had his best-ever score with Unity Casuals – a mammoth 242 runs.

University success

Then it was on to studying medicine at St George’s Hospital Medical School in Tooting, where they had such a good cricket team that they won the Hospitals’ Cup five years in a row – and he captained London Universities as they got through to the regional competition and eventually lost out to Durham, who had a terrific side.

Simon also skippered the British Universities against Minor Counties’ teams like Bedfordshire, which was ultimately the highest level he played at because after qualifying as a doctor he went to Australia for a year but his work there in Accident and Emergency prevented him from playing much.

Six years at St Fagans

From there it was back to the UK and marriage to Annaleene before studying psychiatry at Cardiff for four years that involved more exams but also lots of practical work in hospitals. It was there that he joined St Fagans CC, was made very welcome there and had six enjoyable seasons where he honed his batting skills and played mostly at No 4 or 5 in the batting order, starting out in the third team but playing for the first XI before the end of his first season there. He saw Tom Maynard develop during his time at St Fagans and usually averaged about 35 to 40, which was quite good considering he was often sent in late to score quick runs.

Warm welcome in Pembrokeshire

Then Simon found employment in Pembrokeshire and looked at several clubs before plumping for Haverfordwest – a decision he says he has never regretted because Huw Scriven, Karl Rhead, Ben Field and Co have made him very welcome – and he laughingly admits that he didn’t buy a drink for the first half of the season he played on The Racecourse!

Ask him about differences between cricket here and anywhere else he has played and he says that one of the major features is the fact that everyone knows everyone else, through the generations, and so there is great rivalry but also mutual respect and friendships. He adds that he has been made very welcome and already feels accepted as a part of that set-up after such a short time

External recognition

As well as the George Cole Cup from the county club his batting exploits were also recognised at the fifth annual Sport Pembrokeshire Awards, where he was nominated for the Male Achievement of the Year’ award where he joined ‘Iron man’ Ollie Simon as runners-up to top gymnast Harry Owen. He was delighted to receive his engraved cut-glass trophy and is already eagerly looking forward to the 2012 cricket campaign with some relish – and PembrokeshireSport.co.uk is confident that we are sure to hear a great deal more about ‘Doc’ Simon Holliday’s exploits at Haverfordwest Cricket Club!

 

PHOTOS

Simon Holliday.

Simon straight drives.

Simon off drives.

Simon hits another boundary.

Simon raps yet another ball to the fence.