Another delve into our ‘Snippets’ past!

In this time of isolation it is nice to have a bit of a chuckle regularly as we look back over the past 30 years or so with regard to the popular ‘Sporting Snippets’ series which I started in the ‘West Wales Guardian’ and continued in the ‘Western Telegraph’ – and there are some names of lovely characters that inevitably crop up because of the scrapes they seemed to get themselves in.

Mackie’s bravery sees him through – brother Colwyn gets in a muddle!

My old friend Mackie Harts is sure to feature from time to time and on this occasion it wasn’t his sporting prowess earned him a mention but his devotion to duty with the old Dyfed County Council.

We mention Mackie Harts this time for the way that he gives all to his work as well as a football referee. Mackie was called out in the recent storms which shut down the Cleddau Bridge and he was doing yeoman work in moving debris from trees.

All was going well until he tried to pull one branch away but it swung back and belted him across the nose, causing it to bleed profusely.

It would have seen off a lesser man but Mr Harts is made of sterner stuff and after a quick check up from the medics he was back out doing his duty.

But he was left with two black eyes and a swollen hooter – and had to put up with taunts in work for the next week about how his wife Jackie had finally lost patience and swiped him.

But I can categorically state that Mrs H is a lady of the highest calibre and wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing, even when sorely tempted – so come on lads; he should be getting a medal for devotion to duty, not having his leg pulled!

Mackie’s brother Colwyn featured in the same column for his antics at Tenby United, where he joined Johnny Richards and Carl Evans as my favourite front row of the time.

Colwyn Harts had sustained a back injury so was unable to play against Blaina in the old Heineken League match at Heywood Lane but he turned up to support, looking resplendent in his club blazer and tie, grey slacks and shiny black shoes.

He was asked to go around the ground selling the chance to win a cash prize by picking the correct scoreline of all the games that day in their section – but it almost drove him mad having to explain the complex rules to everyone who coughed up one pound – and had to chase up some who said they would pay later.

As a result our Col saw little of the game and admitted afterwards,

“I would rather play with an injury than do this every week!”

He did a good job, however, and made a few bob – and have The Seasiders hit on a new way of ensuring that players are eager to regain fitness rather than do other jobs on match day?

Pennar start own Fanzine but The Athletic have been doing it for years!

In a match at Bush Camp a Pennar Robins committeeman showed me their excellent new ‘Fanzine’ and was proud of the fact it was the first in the county.

Pennar Robins new supporters’ magazine is brilliant and great value too – which will go to charity – the printing is superb and it is great to see it springing up.

But I can tell them it isn’t the first because Milford Athletic had started their own Fanzine, called ‘The Hedge End’ almost eight years before under the guidance of Terry ‘Stan’ Davies and Robert Kettle.

Although it had an amateur print it was packed with news, cartoons, team lists, quizzes and membership cards and was initially sold to those sheltering under the hedge at Pill Lane, but growing in popularity and becoming collectors’ items.

So well done both clubs – others perhaps take note and give it a try!

They are a cruel lot at Bierspool

Mark Bradney was an excellent try scorer with Pembroke Dock Harlequins and on one occasion grabbed five tries in a match, and naturally hoped to see his name in lights in the Western Mail and local papers – but it didn’t happen . . .

When Mark Bradney scored his five-try haul it was reported in the Western Mail but he was labelled as Mark BRADLEY – and in the local press was named as MIKE Bradney, who as everyone knows, is his father; the Quins’ expert first-aider and Hon Secretary of Pembroke County RFC, but nothing like his son in shape or speed!

Mark recently claimed a four-try haul against St Davids and some of his team mates told the reporter on the phone from ‘up the line’ that the try quartet had been claimed by mike BRADDENY – and then tried to persuade me to do the same in the old ‘Guardian’.

Of course I refused with a chuckle and was able to boast that local was best if you wanted ‘proper’ reports of local matches!

Alan runs in four-timer too but is removed from kicking duties

As far back as 1992 Milford beat Fishguard and Goodwick 70-3 and Alan McClelland scored four tries (worth only four points in this days!) but wasn’t a totally happy bunny.

Scoring four tries is no mean feat but twinkle-toed Alan McClelland scored 20 of those  points as he also added two conversions – but after an outrageous dummy took him to the posts for his fourth try he was a little casual with the conversion and was relieved of his duties.

I’m reliably informed that he was not over-impressed but two team-mates told me on the phone that it was a ploy to stop him having too much to talk about in the bar afterwards






 

Club fixture sec Steve has a hiccup with his car!

And someone else who might recall that particular match was Steve Holmes, a former Pembroke County selector and now the club’s president but was Fixture Sec in those days after a terrific playing career with The Mariners and Pembroke County.

Steve Holmes was at the match with his daughter, who was happy to sit in the car and read but when it was time to go met her in the parking area and asked for the car keys. She explained that she had got out to stretch her legs and had accidentally shut the car door and locked the keys inside.

Maths teacher that he is, Steve didn’t use too much logic to realise that he would cause damage to his treasured vehicle if he tried to break in – so it meant a quick phone call from Steve to home so that the spare set of keys could eventually be brought to the ground.

Of course he had his leg pulled but took it in good part – not least because his beloved car was still in one piece!

Be honest, how many rugby forwards do you know who have had the dream of dropping a goal to win a match in the last seconds- but for our next little story the No 8 involved actually did that!

‘Gwangie’ guides Wasps to last-ditch victory

For some reason Ian Thomas is known to all at Pill Parks as ‘Gwangie’ and during his long career with Llangwm, alongside his brother Chris (dubbed ‘Blackthorn’ in his dim and distant past) was a first-team regular who gave total commitment from his regular berth at No8.

But recently he had a run-out with the seconds in their away tussle at Newport (Pembs) and found himself for a while at outside half.

The Wasps trailed 11-0 at half time but a try Keith Locke, converted by Richard Scriven alongside a penalty put them within a point of Newport, but with time running out.

It was at this time that Gwangie told flanker Tim Pounder that if he chance came he was going to go for drop-goal glory – and when scrum half Jamie Campbell slung out a perfect pass from a scrum on the home side’s 22  he did just that and the whole team watched  with delight as it flew through the posts to earn his team a 13-11 victory.

Gwangie certainly celebrated in the bar afterwards and it will remain in his rugby memory for years to come – and brother Chris? He just shook his head in disbelief and just said nothing!

Have a good non-sporting week!