How the white fern grew

Now that the dust has settled, the days become shorter and thoughts of cricket turn to rugby or football it’s time to reflect on the season that’s just passed, one where the sun shone more often than not and the batsmen made hay while the bowlers toiled.

Some men stood out, others didn’t yet one team rose above the rest to confirm themselves as the best in the county, one that swept all before them and one that commands the respect of players past and present throughout the Shire.

That team is Neyland.

Idioms and clichés are well used in sport with the majority being derided by even those that use them yet the one that states ‘There is no I in team’ rings true of a side that refuses to lay down even when the going gets tough.

A quick look down the teamsheet reveals no star names. There is no Simon Holliday, no Danny Caine or no Johnny Pawlett. There are no dynamic cricketers (although Paul Murray could have something to say about that when he gets going) yet each player knows his role and executes it to perfection.

Haverfordwest skipper Danny Potter, a Neyland resident yet a Townie at heart, says it’s their professionalism as a unit that sets them apart.

“When you look at them in the field they all know what they have to do. They field in the same positions every week and I’ve been told they practice as though they are fielding in those positions at training.

It shows. Their off side field is the best around and it’s hard to get the ball through them which is frustrating as a batsmen as their bowlers bowl a good line and length. It’s basic stuff but it’s the basics that count.”

This wasn't always the case for the men with the white fern on their chest. During the mid to late 90’s, despite winning the league in that period, they were not a team to fear. They probably had more star players during that time with Phil Sutton, Ian Capon and Andrew Mine standing out yet they didn't come across as well drilled as they are now.

Their pitch certainly wasn’t as good; in fact it was tatty at best with the ruts in the outfield making it feel as though you were fielding in the trenches.

The town has always produced good cricketers though with Tommy Jones and Russell James still putting the fear into the batsmen that faced them while Jack Capon played enough sparkling innings to rival even Peter Hall at his best; there was always a legacy to fall back on even when Sutton, Capon and Mine left the club and they plied their trade in division two.

That’s when the transformation started. Andrew Miller took over as skipper and led by example. Not one for vocal histrionics he managed the team by churning out runs in his uncomplicated way and his brother Greg, the current skipper, can’t praise him enough.

“He was always positive, always encouraging even when we were struggling and the players followed him on the field. He’d be the one scoring the runs every week and you could sense then, that things were changing as he would never give up.”

They put more emphasis on youth as the junior sides grew year on year with players slowly drip feeding their way into the first team and money being procured to fund improvements off the field.

Today, they have a pitch that rivals the best, the outfield is flat, the wicket true, the scorebox could grace a county ground while their nets are state of the art. They have coaches for every age group from under 9’s onwards and the team is based around the Ormond youth winning side that contained the likes of Murray, Paul Miller and Sean Hannon.

Their indoor success has also been a factor in many people’s eyes having won the local title for virtually the last decade and becoming Welsh champions in the process although Miller doesn’t think this is as much of a factor as others may think.

“It probably helps but it’s a different game. The core of that side plays for us on Saturday’s but although the fundamentals are the same I just think we have learnt how to win and someone always chips in when we need them too.”

Learning how to win was something they did from losing tight games with Carew in particular showing them how to do it after winning nail biting contests in the years leading up to their Harrison-Allen win two years ago.

That’s when people started to take notice of the team as they pushed arguably the county’s most successful club all the way as Andrew Miller led the fledgling side.

Gradually, those players gained experience and every player knows that no matter how much talent you have, experience always counts.

“We’ve got six bowlers who can bowl and we bat all the way down so although we’ve been in tricky situations this year we’ve always managed to pull though. We just play with self-belief. We think that we’re going to win even when situations say that we might not. Someone always pulls a performance out of the bag.

What will define us as a team is how we manage those situations in the future. Everyone is going to be gunning for us now so we’ll have to make sure we react the same way when things don’t go so well.”

With the seconds winning division four this year containing youngsters like Scott Jones, Alex Codd and Lyn Rees the first team could find some pressure from within too. Those three score runs for fun and would almost certainly be playing first team cricket at other clubs.

The future of the club looks strong with scores of children turning up to practice and the sound of cork on willow echoing around the ground most nights in the summer.

“The facilities are a factor,” adds Miller. “When you have good facilities people will want to use them and every night there is someone up here practicing in the nets. It all helps.”

British cycling has seen remarkable success in recent years with supremo Dave Brailsford stressing that the little things all add up to make the bigger picture and Neyland are living proof that they play as a team that totals the some of its parts.

Team unity, strength in depth, good facilities and a strong junior section have helped turn the club into the force they are now.

Other clubs will be trying to emulate them.

The challenge for Neyland is to keep one step ahead.

Mr Jones enjoys his Miller time

Consider this. You are picked to play against Glamorgan in a benefit match. You accept.

You are asked to open the batting. You accept.

You are advised to wear a helmet yet you decline even though the bowler you are about to face has beaten the best for pace. A sign of bravado, stupidity or another reason for a situation that will go down in local folklore?

This is what happened to Greg Miller after playing in Mark Wallace’s testimonial match at Cresselly this year.  Not one to turn down an invitation to play in such games ‘it was an honour to be asked, he padded up with trepidation and excitement coursing through his veins.

At one end was a tall left-armer from Tenby eager to impress the powers that be, at the other, a former Ashes winner hoping to regain some much needed match fitness. Neither bowler was going to take this lightly. They were going to bowl fast.

The left-armer runs in and delivers it with more nip than anyone in Pembrokeshire. His name is Jack Murphy. “He’s quick enough,” says Miller with an obvious sigh of relief. The batsman survives.

Next up, a man that goes by the nickname ‘Racehorse’ due to his athletic physique limbers up.

Head shaved, broad shoulders, muscles flexing in his tight shirt, he runs in slowly from a short run. The batsman waits, knees trembling slightly, hoping that the bowler takes it easy on an amateur just out for an enjoyable afternoon’s cricket.

The bowler does not. As he nears his deliver stride he picks up the pace, jumps up and unleashes a thunderbolt that fizzes past you nose bowling with a speed that belies the ambling approach to the crease.

“Apparently it nearly hit me on the head,” laughs Miller. “The keeper and slips said I should go and get a lid but I’ve never worn one before so thought I’d go without one. In hindsight it was a stupid thing to do. It was frightening and exhilarating but it wasn’t meant to be disrespectful or anything, I’ve just never worn one before. I jumped at the chance to play against him, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity so I was never going to say no.

“Adam James and David Dunfee are sharp but they have nothing on Simon Jones, he was absolutely lightening.”

Greg Miller factfile:

Age: 38. Right hand bat, brilliant fielder, bit part bowler.

Highest score: 94. I’ve also scored 90 and 91 but never got a ton unfortunately.

Best Bowling: I rarely bowl.

Best local opponent: As a batsman it has to be Peter Bradshaw, he always does well against us. As a bowler I’d say Adam James

Fastest local bowler: We played Johnston in a cup game this year and Simon Williams was quick that day so I would say him.

Most memorable experience: Winning the treble in my first year as captain. The team makes it easy for me really but it’s still something you dream of.