Kern can really smash a cricket ball

PHOTOS:
Kern Cunningham with Haverfordwest skipper Matthew Vaughan
Kern with man of the match adjudicator Gary Hughes

 
When Haverfordwest Cricket Club’s Third XI won the Ken Morris Cup Final at Narberth by easily beating their counterparts from Carew there was only one real candidate for the man of the match award and that was Kern Cunningham.
 
He came in at No 4 and smashed a brisk 55 runs in The Town’s first innings of 119 for 8 and was even more influential in the second innings, after Carew had been limited to 102 runs for 5 wickets.
 

Destructive batting – and a danger to spectators

 
Again he came in fourth and was even more destructive as he scored 67 runs to help set a daunting challenge of 180 runs in 20 overs which saw Carew shot out for 102 to give The Town victory by 78 runs. It was his second success in the competition and he has also played previously against Cresselly Seconds in the club’s winning Alec Colley team in 2013.
 
In his first innings he belted four sixes in as many balls and reached his half century in only 28 balls – and was even quicker after tea with 67 where he reached 50 in only 18 balls and had sped to 67 from 21 deliveries during his 18-minute stay at the crease, without a single ‘dot ball’ and eight massive sixes!
 
In fact, Kern was a danger to others as some youngsters kicking a ball around near the boundary had to be warned to watch out and a lady photographer had a near miss as she had the nerve to sit near the boundary rope at long-on!
 
Small wonder then that man of the match adjudicator Gary Hughes announced him as the key player and there wasn’t anyone in the ground who would have disagreed!
 

Family support but limited time to play

 
Kern has always received great support from his parents, Nicola and Martin, with brothers Iwan, Logan and Drew all liking sport as well. He played football at Clarbeston Road at under 14 and under 15 level and then started out in the senior game with West Dragons, where he played up front last season and banged in a few goals.
 
But with his commitment to work at the Haverfordwest Leisure Centre inevitably limits his availability and this campaign has seen him turning out for Haverfordwest Cricket Club’s football section, whenever he can.
 

Rugby involvement

 
But he has played a great deal more rugby in his time after starting out as a nine year old when his pals were going off to Merlins Bridge to play the oval-ball game at Haverfordwest RFC, where he had excellent coaching from the likes of Andy Grey, Steve Barnett and Andy Curtis.
 
He took to it straight away and as well as playing there alongside players of the calibre of Danny Morgan, Ryan Banner, Will Curtis, Ashley Sutton and Luke Harvard for both club and county.
 
One of the best performances at county level came with a win over a strong Swansea side and at club level he was part of a very good Blues’ squad which won the Pembrokeshire Youth Cup by beating Narberth at Pembroke Dock, as well as a very good win in the Griffiths’ Cup at Neyland to complete a deserved double.

 
Injury keeps Kern out

 
At 18 he switched to senior rugby and played a few games for Haverfordwest in the national leagues set-up but last season damaged an ankle which kept him out of action. Ironically, it came in football as Kern played for West Dragons because of the fact that there was no rugby because of an international match – and he cursed his luck as he got caught accidentally in a tackle and knew straight away that the damage had been done.
 
Ask Kern about playing again and he would admit that he misses the camaraderie, as well as the physical nature of the game, and hopes to return to action, work commitments not withstanding!

 
Teaches youngsters to swim is great

 
At the Haverfordwest Leisure Centre he is a leisure attendant and swimming instructor who has passed his life-saving certificates and is a Level Two swimming teacher which qualifies him to teach ages from four to 12 years old.
 
“I teach the children from all the local junior schools and also take classes during other times, specifically helping youngsters to start out in swimming.
“Some of them are badly lacking in confidence and one of my first jobs is to get them to put their faces in the water and realise it is quite safe to do so.
 
“From there it is a matter of building confidence alongside skill levels and there is no better sporting feeling than seeing a youngster who is initially almost afraid of getting into the water but eventually completing their first width, and then first length of the pool.
 
“There is often a look of joy on their faces and a few have even gone on to swim length after length before joining the swimming squad over a longer period of time, once they realise there is nothing to be worried about!”
 

Loves being involved in life-saving

 
Another area where Kern has every right be proud is in life saving because he is heavily involved in a ‘Rookie Life-Saving’ scheme where initial training takes place pool-side and then in the pool, supplemented afterwards with visits to beaches like Poppit Sands to put into practice what they have learned.
“The youngsters involved are made very welcome indeed and have to show competency in the pool by diving to the bottom of the deep end to retrieve bricks or other equipment, learn how to apply CPR whilst dealing with life-sized mannequins in a series of different situations that might occur on a beach, which is supported be being out at venues like Poppit Sands to put into practice what they have learned.
 
“We took about 50 of them to a ‘Rookie Life Saving’ competition at Fishguard Leisure Centre,” said Kern proudly, “and they really showed their talents and enthusiasm – and we came away with a load of medals as proof of how good they were
“Again it is very rewarding to see how good the trainees respond and who knows? One day they might be able to help someone out with valuable help in a dangerous situation.”
 

High praise from Darryl

 
It is pleasing to report that Kern’s work at the Haverfordwest Leisure Centre is appreciated because Darryl Sable, the assistant manager, told us,
“Kern is a keen and committed member of our team who can be counted upon to do his work with a thoroughness that is linked to enthusiasm.
“His tuition in the swimming pool is excellent and we are delighted to have him with us.”
 
We can pay Kern Cunningham no higher tribute and we wish him well for the future, not only in his work but in his other sporting involvement where he always gives 100% as he did in that epic Ken Morris Cup Final where he played so well for Haverfordwest Cricket Club!