How would we compare?

It’s a well held belief that cricket in the shire is strong particularly among the more parochial of us but how do we stack up against the best clubs in the South Wales Premier League?

Believe it or not, I was going to write about this subject this week when by sheer coincidence an e-mail is circulated among clubs by county secretary Steve Blowes asking that any clubs wishing to compete in the Premier League (among other bits and pieces of information)  contact him or Tony Scourfield by August 14th.

So, how many takers would there be? My guess is not many due to the distances involved and the players they would come up against.

Consider this before you make any decisions. Bridgend, one of the best teams in the Premier league have an opening attack that is quicker than most first class teams in the UK.

At one end you have Simon Jones and at the other you have up and coming Glamorgan all-rounder Ruaidhri (Rory) Smith. Both bowl at over 90 mph when conditions suit. Then factor in a chap called Bradley Wadlan who has caught the eye of Sussex. He can bowl at a decent lick too and smash you out of the park when in the mood.

That’s just three of the team but the other eight aren’t bad either and teams like Sully, Cardiff and Neath have players of that calibre too.

So how do you fancy it now? The more ambitious among us would say ‘yeah, let’s give it a go,’ but in reality, I don’t think individual clubs would be good enough to compete on a regular basis yet that is not to say a team representing Pembrokeshire couldn’t do us proud.

If that were allowed who would represent us? I’ve been thinking about this all season and it’s not an easy task.

Firstly you could go with those already starring up there so Andrew Salter, Alun Evans, Dan Cherry, Steven Inward and Jack Murphy make the team immediately.

Simon Holliday would have to make the cut and although he’s in the Autumn of his career, Huw Scriven would take the gloves.

Daniel Sutton may be playing his trade in division two at present but he’d also get in having played up the line before and also having played some games for Glamorgan seconds in the past.

Now here’s a left field choice for you. Ross Hardy of Kilgetty. Division three’s best all-rounder by far is a quality player and is one of the best players in the county as Neyland can attest after is century against them in the Welsh Cup.

Spearheading the attack would be Adam James of Haverfordwest who would also add some much needed aggression with the bat but who would open up with him?

This is a tough one but I’ll go with Tom Murphy. He may only be 15, but he’s performed well enough this season to suggest he’ll be up there in a year or two anyhow so instead of other teams enjoying his talent, why shouldn’t we?

Nathan Banner would also make the squad as a player in the same mould as James while Ashley Sutton, Simon Cole, Iwan Izzard and Marc Hughes could feel aggrieved not to have a mention alongside players like Jonathan Thomas and David Dunfee of Whitland for example.

What it does prove is that picking teams is not easy and will always provoke a debate and that’s before you choose where the team would play and what they would be called.

So here’s my Pembrokeshire Premier All-Star team:


  1. Alun Evans (Capt)
  2. Dan Cherry
  3. Steven Inward
  4. Daniel Sutton
  5. Simon Holliday
  6. Jack Murphy
  7. Andrew Salter
  8. Ross Hardy
  9. Adam James
  10. Huw Scriven (wkt)
  11. Tom Murphy


Now for a much easier team to pick. Here’s the team of the week:


  1. Wayne Jones (Whitland 2nds) 128 not out v Cresselly 2nds
  2. Steve James (Johnston 2nds) 119no v Herbrandston 2nds
  3. Jonathan Thomas (Whitland) 89 not out v Lawrenny
  4. Ian Sefton (Carew) 85 not out v Saundersfoot
  5. Iwan Izzard (Cresselly) 79 v St Ishmaels
  6. Dominic Wright (Llanrhian) 70no & 3-38 v Haverfordwest
  7. Brennan Devonald (St Ishmaels) 56 v Cresselly
  8. Jonathan Pawlett (St Ishmaels)  51
  9. Huw Scriven (Haverfordwest) 31  and 3 x stumping; 2 x catches v Llanrhian
  10. Andrew Pawlett (St Ishmaels) 5-69 v Cresselly
  11. Raff Williams (Whitland) 5-32 v Lawrenny


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