The Beamer

Adam Chandler scored a stylish ton v Tish as Rchie Benaud would say "Pretty to Watch" Considering it’s been the wettest winter on record the cricket pitches of the county were in fine fettle for the season’s opener on Sunday with runs being scored almost everywhere apart from the odd blip. While 2015 saw 10 centuries posted during the first game, 2016 only saw seven although that could have been eight had Kevin Bowen of St Ishmaels 2nds settled for 100 and gave the extra seven run he scored to Robbie Thomas who was left high and dry on 93 not out! Without being at the games it’s difficult to comment on which would have been the best. Adam Chandler’s Bradmanseque form continues and his 123 not out v St Ishmaels would have been possibly the most stylish while Doc Holliday’s 123 v Carew was chanceless according to those who saw it. Kern Cunningham’s 125 for Haverfordwest 2nds v Carew 2nds would have been a wham bam thank you mam affair while Luke Hayman’s 118 f

Having written about sport for close on 20 years one of the biggest challenges I find is how to make the same thing sound interesting year after year. When a new season starts, it’s inevitable that some will be excited by it but read between the lines of any sports preview and it will say pretty much what it said last year. The truth is it can be a bit of a bore. So how can I preview tomorrow’s (or today’s if you’re reading this on Sunday) opening game of the 2016 Pembrokeshire cricket season without sounding samey? The truth is I’m not. I’m not going to mention cricket, except in passing because this preview is all going to be about Ted. I’ll come to him in a moment but first the weather forecast. It’s going to be dry but cold; with a stiff easterly breeze winging its way down from the Artic picking up a few Scandinavian scents along the way. Inevitably there will be moans and groans about this from experienced umpires wrapped up in dozens of jumpers and fielders with