The Captains Speak

So the season is upon us 116 days or 2784 hours after the fireworks went off to see the new year in.
In typical fashion, the weather is turning miserable again after a period of being spoilt. A bit of rain is forecast to come from the west before a plume of cold artic air blasts its way down from the north rendering us all freezing cold out in the field wondering why we’re all bothering to put ourselves through such misery.

As normal the usual merry-go-round of rumours has circulated around the shire. It’s one of the beauties of living in a place like Pembrokeshire. Despite the advances in social media and other communication platforms, talk of player movement in cricket spreads faster than any type of electronic messaging service and none more so can these rumours be heard than at the Quay, or The Cresselly Arms, to use its proper title.

You can guarantee that should you need a cricket fix in the winter you can always find it in the Shire’s most picturesque pub and if the folk down there haven’t heard of any player transfers you can bet your bottom dollar their not true.

It’s the Mecca of local cricket, the centre of the bat and ball universe, a place with cricket seeping out of every nook and cranny as much as the famed firewater flows from the taps. It’s a magnificent place slap bang in the middle of two cricket grounds, two clubs as much rivals as they are friends.

We’re all friends in local cricket despite having the odd ruck now and again. We claim to hate other clubs but in reality we don’t. Some players can antagonise but in the main we’re all out for the same thing namely and afternoon out with your mates, hoping to claim a win and score the odd run or take a few poles in the meantime.

Anyway, enough with me going all Geoff Boycott and talking nonsense, what do the captains think will happen this year?

Here’s a snapshot of what a few are thinking prior to the season starting. Not all have come back yet but there’s still time before the season begins so if your team isn’t mentioned, ask your skipper why, although do it in a nice way or you may not get a bat or bowl this season..

Division One
  1. Name? Dan Potter
  2. What team are you leading into battle? Hwest 1sts
  3. Any new recruits to marshal this year? No new recruits
  4. Where did you finish last year? Second in league, HA winners and DM runners up
  5. What are your hopes for the coming season? Win everything!!!
  6. Apart from you, who else could win your division? There are a few teams that could.  Neyland  are the ones to beat again I think but you can add Carew and Cresselly.  They are both very good teams and if they got on a run they could win the league very easily
  7. If the league title was determined by the quality of the teas produced, who would win? I’m not a big Tea eater but Carew or Whitland, its very close
……………………………………………………………………………………………
  1. Name? Paul Lewis
  2. What team are you leading into battle? Llanrhian CC
  3. Any new recruits to marshal this year? No new recruits
  4. Where did you finish last year? Fourth
  5. What are your hopes for the coming season? To again consolidate ourselves as a Division One team
  6. Apart from you, who else could win your division? Neyland and Haverfordwest
  7. If the league title was determined by the quality of the teas produced, who would win? Carew
………………………………………………………………………………………………
  1. Name? Gregg Miller
  2. What team are you leading into battle? Leading Neyland first X1 for third season, the previous two which yielded consecutive league titles and Duggie Morris success together with HA bowl in 2013.
  3. Any new recruits to marshal this year? Jonty Bennett has signed from Herbrandston and will hope to establish himself in the side, offering both attacking batting and bowling options as well as being solid and determined in the field. Unfortunately Paul Murray will be missing, at least the start of the season, possibly all of it, due to work commitments. He will be a big loss to us, and we welcome his return as soon as possible but the team have fought and stood together through injuries and unavailability, and hopefully can do that again this year. Nick Koomen took his opportunity at the top of the order and will continue to be a big player there for us, along with the class of Ashley Sutton, Nathan Banner and Windy in the batting stakes.
  4. Where did you finish last year? Top by 60+ points, but under no illusions that it was easy as there were games we won which could have gone either way.
  5. What are your hopes for the coming season? As a group of players we are confident, but not complacent. We believe that on our day we are capable of winning any game we play and so will be looking to continue from where we left off and secure more silverware.
  6. Apart from you, who else could win your division? I believe any team in the division can cause an "upset" but I suspect Cresselly and Haverfordwest will provide the biggest challenge this season. Town have last year’s bowl win and league 2nd to draw on, and Cresselly by their standards have had very limited success these last few years and will be desperate to put that right. Both have a number of potential match winners, very competitive captains and I'm sure they'll both go well. I'm expecting it to be a tough season that will go down to the last fortnight.
  7. If the league title was determined by the quality of the teas produced, who would win? I would have to say Whitland although that could be a little harsh not to mention Tish Carew and Cresselly
............................................................................................................................................

Division Two

  1.   Name? Wayne Jones
  2. What team are you leading into battle? Whitland 2nds
  3. Any new recruits to marshal this year? Wayne Howells joined club from Narberth.
  4. Where did you finish last year? Finished 7th last season.
  5. What are your hopes for the coming season? Hope to maintain Div 2 status; develop further players for 1st team and reach a cup final.
  6. Apart from you, who else could win your division? Historically the relegated teams are strong and tend to push for league. Killgetty will be dark horses.
  7.  If the league title was determined by the quality of the teas produced, who would win? Without doubt Whitland would win teas!!

........................................................................................................................................................................
Division Three

  1. Name? Stephen ‘Goose’ Vale
  2. What team are you leading into battle? Lamphey 1st 11
  3. Any new recruits to marshal this year? The return of the Yea
  4. Where did you finish last year? Middleish
  5. What are your hopes for the coming season? Consolidation
  6. Apart from you, who else could win your division?  arew 2nd’s
  7. If the league title was determined by the quality of the teas produced, who would win? The standard has very much reduced by all over the years, or my taste buds have altered, Stackpole are amongst the best, even if just the manner of the ladies serving and the setting in which they are eaten….. it’s not all about the scones!!!!

…………………………………………………………………………………………
  1. Name? Graham Keen
  2. What team are you leading into battle? Llechryd. I will be performing the on field duties for the first part of the season. We did elect a new skipper this season, Richard Connelly, but unfortunately he broke his ankle playing football for St Dogmaels in the last game of the season so he will be side-lined for the foreseeable future.
  3. Any new recruits to marshal this year? We're glad to have Jonny Lewis returning this year. I'm sure his batting and bowling will be a big plus for us.
  4. Where did you finish last year? Last year was definitely one to forget, finishing rock bottom of division 2. 
  5. What are your hopes for the coming season? The early signs are good. I'm not one for predictions but I'm expecting us to do well and re-group after the disappointment of last season.
  6. Apart from you, who else could win your division? I think division 3 is very close. With seven out of ten being first teams. If I had to pick one I think Stackpole will be there or there about.
  7. If the league title was determined by the quality of the teas produced, who would win? As my missus has volunteered to do our first one of the season I couldn't possibly say anybody else could I?
.........................................................................................................................................

Division four
  1. Name? Mike Terry
  2. What team are you leading into battle? Llangwm Second Team
  3. Any new recruits to marshal this year? It's all new to me!
  4. Where did you finish last year? Rock Bottom
  5. What are your hopes for the coming season? Develop a social side to the second team, make sure we have a fun atmosphere to play in for all ages, try and develop confidence in the younger players
  6. Apart from you, who else could win your division? I suspect anyone but us!
  7.  If the league title was determined by the quality of the teas produced, who would win? Tough call, teas are pretty good everywhere, its why people play cricket, right?
......................................................................................................................................


Division Five
  1.   Name?  my name is Kevin Bowen , having to use Kevin L Bowen or even Kevin fat Bowen as we already have a skinny Kevin Bowen I am new to Pembrokeshire cricket having moved from Hampshire  mid season last year , so had a few games in div 1  and div 5 during the second half of the season .. I started out playing cricket for Talybont _on _usk  as a child before work took me to Hampshire , finally playing for Bishops Waltham CC .. I am married to Hampshire's finest tea maker Mandy , her introduction to teas down here put her into a state of panic !! Best tea for me was Whitland !! mandy did a very good job on her debut though againest Llanrhian1's .
  2. What team are you leading into battle? St Ishmaels’ 2nds
  3. Any new recruits to marshal this year? Hopefully we’ll have a few
  4. Where did you finish last year? Lower half of division five
  5. What are your hopes for the coming season? so target is promotion this year to try and reduce the gap between the teams (first and seconds)
  6. Apart from you, who else could win your division? Llanrhian 2s  just missed out on promotion last year so will be a threat again .
  7. If the league title was determined by the quality of the teas produced, who would win?

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