Adrian Harries is a popular cricketer with Lawrenny who is well known across the county as a solid opening batsman and very occasional bowler but in his time he has also played a lot of football at a variety of clubs and so built an ever-widening circle of friends throughout Pembrokeshire.
 
Known simply as ‘Adi’ or 'Harries', he started out in cricket in Carew as he played for many hours alongside Nigel and Neil Morgan in Kesteven Court, just opposite the village's sports ground, outside Steve Cole' grandmother's house' with games that also went on for days.
 

Started cricket at Carew

 
His first organised cricket came with Carew's under 13 and 15 teams that were superbly coached by Mike Brace until he went off to teach in Alderney.
 
"It was a very good side which included Robbie Hicks, Spencer Harries,  Kerry Waters, Darren Thomas and Mark Morris, and which won the Lords' Taverners under 15s final at St Helens, Swansea.
 
"In the next round we got hammered by Newport but the players at Lawrenny might be surprised to know I was chosen as best fielder by Bill Edwards, who presented me with a bat from his shop!
 

Ormond Cup appearances and moving on to Lawrenny

 
“I played in two Ormond Youth Cup Finals, losing the first to a good Narberth that included Paul Phillips, Wayne Howells, Richard Howell and Gregg Morris, and then beating Hook the following season with Andrew Thomas in the opposition.
 
"I was also a leg-spinner in those days and I played a couple of games for the county but Carew were so strong in those days that it was even hard to get a game in the seconds and when I was in my late teens Chris Williams invited me to join him at Lawrenny.
 

Harrison-Allen success a real highlight

 
“Joining Lawrenny was a decision I never regretted and the undoubted highlight was playing in the first team that won the Harrison-Allen Bowl for the first time, starting as rank outsiders but beating Cresselly on their own ground.
 
“I opened the innings with Chris Vincent and we put on 57 as Chris celebrated his half century and I was fourth out with 11 to my name - and in the second innings I scored 28 to show I was worth my place as we opened with another 70 stand.
 
"I think I caused a bit of a shock by hitting two sixes! The first when I landed the ball on the changing room roof and then more unusually when I pushed the ball into the covers and ran two - and a wild throw saw me credited with four overthrows to go be me my second six!
 
“Everyone in the county, other than Cresselly, seemed pleased for us and there was a lovely moment when we stopped on the way back to Lawrenny to show the cup to Rob Williams’ grandfather, who wasn’t well enough to go to the ground.”
 

Alec Colley Finals – one as skipper – and hitting the national headlines!

 
Adi also played in a Carew Seconds' side that won the Alec Colley  Cup and skippered Lawrenny to defeat in a final against a very strong Whitland 2nds team that was well captained by Dai Lee - and played a significant role when another match in this competition against their counterparts from Burton hit the national papers.
 
“We were in Division Five, three sections below Burton, and we seemed likely to gain a surprise success as we needed just one run off the last ball - but then 'Rocker' Morgan and I didn't bother to run because we thought the ball had reached the boundary and were hugging each other in the middle as the ball was thrown in and I was run out by miles!
 
"I daren't tell you what skipper Mackie Harts said afterwards and there was a similar story the next night when I scored 23 not out as we needed two runs off the last ball but could only manage a single to tie again!
 
“By now there was great interest about the possibility of a third tie – it even featured in the Barbados News – and, guess what? We finished all square again!
 
There were even TV cameras for the fourth match but there was great disappointment for us because we were stuffed – and I don’t think Mackie has ever forgiven me for that first match!
 

Football as his other sporting love also started at Carew

 
Adi’s other sporting love has always been football and he set out with Carew under 13s coached by the late Colin Waters and Reggie Hicks, two lovely characters in the village. When we started out we lost 42-0 in one match against Frankie Donovan’s All Stars at Pembroke Borough where Spence Harries, Jonathan Willington, Richard Kenniford and Darren Thomas were terrific players.
 
“But with Robbie Hicks, Kerry Waters, Nigel and Neil Morgan doing well for us we did much better at under 15 level – and when we started out in senior football I joined Kilgetty 3rds and then St Florence to make sure I had a regular game before playing a few seasons back at Carew.
 

Playing for Lawrenny was also great

 
“When I joined for Lawrenny Cricket Club it was the same players in their football side so I decided to play there alongside Steve Cole, Steve Lewis, James and Chris Buckle, Andrew Cole snr and jnr, Ian Jenkins and Robbie Williams – and played there regularly for about 12 years.
 
“During that time we got into the second division and I really enjoyed being involved, with the highlight being a goal I scored against Kilgetty where I hit a first-time volley from about 35 yards and it flew past Christian Phillips into the top corner of his net – perhaps I should have retired then,” Harries told us with a typical chuckle!
 
When he finished playing he went along to watch and played whenever they were short but in recent years he has become a convert to rugby and travels up to the King George Vth Ground to cheer on Cardigan, where his son Dean is doing a good job as second row with The Teifisiders!
 

And finally . . .

 
Back on the cricket front, Adi is still playing for Lawrenny Seconds and was captain last campaign as they did well to avoid relegation from division three after a slow start.
“We have a great team spirit and I’m looking forward to the new season in Division Three with a bunch of boys who love playing the game.”
 
It’s typical that he doesn’t mention himself in that group but we can safely say that we don’t know anyone who enjoys their sport more than Adi Harries – and long may he continue to be involved with a huge smile on his face!