In this set of snippets we are delighted to highlight some of the great women who have graced the column over a number of years – and there are many more in the pipeline!
 

‘Buggy’ made cricketing history . . .

In August 1988 I reported in the old ‘West Wales Guardian’, in our very popular ‘Sporting Snippets’ feature, that a little bit of cricketing history was about to be made because for the first time ever a girl was about to play in the Ormond Youth Cup Final – and she is still playing well now and appearing in more cup finals as a key player in ladies’ cricket...

That girl was Kath ‘Buggy’ Huxley (now Adams) and she not only led a young Stackpole team in the final at Carew but was also captain – and although they were unable to beat the home club she bowled well and deservedly received a huge cheer when she led up her team to receive their runners-up medals.

As she grew up ‘Buggy’ was a regular member of the Stackpole Seconds’ team which played in men’s cricket in Pembrokeshire (and she still plays for them!) and took her share of wickets with her deceptive medium pace swing bowling.

When Ladies’ cricket grew in our county she played a little at Pembroke and Cresselly but then became a key player with Hook Ladies – and was capped for Wales alongside Jo Kerrison, Sam Rossiter, Jackie Williams and Julie Garlick when she played a number of matches all over England and Wales.

She  has lost count of the number of trophies she has won in the local league and the Skelfayre Cup competition, which was sponsored for a long time by her father Clive, who owned the company and as well as being a member of the MCC loved playing for Stackpole when the family moved to this area. She is also now a member of the MCC and enjoys visits to Lords with Richard, the Narberth batting ace who is now her husband.

As someone who kept wicket to Kath, who is now Mrs Adams after marrying Narberth’s ace batsman Richie, I can say that she was always a pleasure to play alongside and she was a valued member of the team – and long may she continue to grace local cricket.

 

. . . And  Sam is still starring after a long time at Hook

Another cricketing lady who deserves a mention is Samantha Rossiter of Hook Cricket Club fame, and a team mate of Buggy’s at Hook Ladies, as well as being a good batsman with Hook in men’s cricket. We had this to report over 30 years ago . . .

Another local young lady beginning to make headlines is Samantha Rossiter, who has already played regularly for the Tasker Milward under 13s that won the Welsh Cup and has already played a few times for Haverfordwest CC’s fourth XI.

She is a more than useful batswoman who can also turn her arm over to bowl off-spin – and there is no doubt that her willingness to practice, practice, practice is beginning to pay off.

I spotted her bowling in the nets during the Harrison-Allen Bowling Final was taking place and some of The Town’s senior players were very complimentary about how much she had improved. Keep up the good work Sam!

Sam eventually moved to Hook and has been the Hook Ladies’ skipper for an amazing 25 years! Not content with that she represented Wales for a number of games at the start of ladies cricket and has been wonderful organiser of Ladies Cricket over recent years.

Her batting performances have also been a key factor in helping the club’s Ladies’ team to great success, having won their league competition ten times since 2008, including seven times on the trot from 2013  - and there has also been nine cup wins and the double in six of those campaigns.

In the men’s local league her top score is 84 not out against Hundleton in 2017, plus an undefeated 76 against Saundersfoot Seconds and a string of half centuries over the years.

Sam Rossiter has been a great ambassador for cricket and Hook CC is very lucky to have such a great club lady!   

 

Angharad James has flown our ladies football flag with style

When Angharad James came through the ranks of local girls’ football with Gerry Rigby at Manorbier he made it clear that he thought she had star potential and, knowledgeable coach that he was, Gerry got it right because she has now acquired well over 160 Welsh caps at under 17, 19 and senior level – 83 of them for the senior side all over the world.

Angharad was signed by Arsenal Ladies' Academy in 2010 at the age of 16, where Jane Ludlow was manager, and her first team debut came in the 6–0 home UEFA Women's Champions League win over Bobruichanka Bobruisk in 2011. 

Then she went on loan to Bristol City and so impressed that she signed on full time for them, playing really well for them before they were relegated and manager Willie Kirk said of her transfer to Notts County,
"You never want to lose top players, but following relegation it was inevitable that we would lose a few.

Angharad played a big part in the club's successes over the past few seasons and at only 21 she has bags of potential and can achieve a lot in the game.”

When Notts County folded she finished the campaign with newly promoted Yeovil Town and in 2017 signed for Everton, where she enjoyed two seasons before joining current club Reading at the very top level as they currently lie sixth behind the likes of Chelsea, both Manchester teams, Arsenal and Everton.

She has clearly impressed this season because so far she has played in midfield for every minute of every match and continues to catch the eye at international level.

But she has never forgotten her Pembrokeshire roots and is heavily involved with her mum Sarah and dad Clive after a visit home over Christmas and regular Face Time meetings!





 

Jasmine is a flier on the rugby field but has always stayed true to her roots

Jasmine Joyce originally hails from St Davids but her tremendous pace and rugby skills have taken her far away from the UK’s smallest city in an exciting rugby career since we first got to know her in an article after she had done so well for The Scarlets on her debut.

We asked Fraser Watson, another St Davids stalwart, about her and he told us,
“It  has certainly soared since she was picked up by The Scarlets aged 15, having previously played junior rugby for St Davids and then Haverfordwest RFC when she became 13 and was unable to play in the boys’ team. 

“On her Under 18s debut for The Scarlets against the Dragons, she scored a hat trick of tries on the wing, and soon after was picked as part of the Wales A squad for the UK School Games in 2012. In 2015, whilst studying at Cardiff Met, she was selected to play for the Wales women's national rugby sevens team in Dubai – and immediately cemented a regular place. 

“But her career highlight so far would come in 2016 when she was picked in the GB Sevens side to compete in the Rio Olympics. She would famously score with her first touch in the opening game against Brazil, and also crossed in a bronze-medal play-off match amidst an agonising defeat against Canada. A second Olympic appearance this year remains on the cards, pending confirmation the event in Tokyo will go ahead as planned. 

“She is also now well established at 15-a-side level, having appeared in the 2017 World Cup for Wales and become a regular fixture in the Six Nations. She’s also had the honour of playing for Barbarians Rugby Club in the first-ever women's BaaBaas game. 

“Currently, she is in superb try scoring form for Bristol Bears in the Allianz Premier 15s Division, having notched 12 tries so far this season.”

Despite her high profile in ladies’ rugby, however, it is good to report that she has always found time to chat to us in the local press – and taken part whenever I’ve asked her for  a chat with  local radio.





 

Lisa came late to rugby but is making a real impact

Lisa Neumann may have come late into top level rugby, but she’s since wasted little time in making an impression as she has moved swiftly through the tiers and is now playing at the highest level since we since wrote our first article about her and spoke to her for our radio show.

As Fraser Watson told us this week:
“In school at Ysgol Dewi Sant, it was cross country and athletics that represented her main sporting focus – earning two Welsh vests in the former. She later took up the oval ball and produced a string of standout displays with Haverfordwest which had top players like Clodagh Llewellin, Awen Prysor and Nina Colville earned her regional recognition with the Scarlets. 

“In the 2018 Six Nations, she made her first start for Wales against Ireland at full back, and soon became a regular under Rowland Phillips. University studies took her to Manchester, where she switched regions to represent RGC and signed for Firwood Waterloo Ladies – before her form proved enough to persuade Sale Sharks to sign her this summer. She is currently an integral part of their Premier 15s campaign with her ability to play at centre, wing, or 15. 

“She continues to be very much part of the Welsh set up, and played every game in the 2020 Six Nations before the tournament was curtailed with a game to go. She’s expected to add to her 15 caps when the 2021 version belatedly gets going.” 

Of course we at Pembrokeshire Sport.co.uk wish Lisa every success in the future, as we do with all the committed sportswomen highlighted in this set of snippets!