That's my boy

There’s a few tell-tale signs letting you know you’re getting old. Your belly develops a paunch, you get a little slower, your hair starts to thin and your contemporaries post pictures of their off spring in full county kit having played for Pembrokeshire at Cricket all over social media.

U10s, U11s, U13s and so forth, they’re all there to see; proud parents presenting pictures of even prouder kids standing tall and looking smart and why not? Representing the county is an honour, playing for Wales even more so.

No picture is complete without a comment from friends or family, each and every one of them congratulating the player on their achievement providing an instant boost to confidence.

They usually go along the lines of ‘well done Johnny’ but one stood out on a friend’s recent post after his son recently played for Pembrokeshire U10s.

‘Enjoy your county days,’ it said succinctly.

Your county days are just as good as your club ones but given they are less frequent the memorable times stand out a little more, not so much for the performances of star players but usually the high jinks that go on off the pitch.

Yogurt in boots, players being sick whilst batting after a skinful the night before and one player, bored on the pitch while fielding making a mark on the turf that was in fact the wicket for the Ireland V West Indies match the following week.

All of those came from an U15 tour by the way and the batsman? No names mentioned here but he went on to score a ton!

At an Aberystwyth U14 festival one player received a soprano inducing wedgie (or melvin if you were from Tenby) while on the same tour the players were entertained with a film night showing of The Hitcher, recommended for 18 year olds given it’s gory, slasher content of drivers being mutilated and one poor unsuspecting soul being ripped apart after being tied between two trucks!

On the same tour, a jet flew above us and crashed into a mountain.

Legendary goings on are not confined to junior games however, some senior away games were equally as memorable.

Pembrokeshire were due to play Glamorgan 2nds once at Llandarcy but it rained so we went out in Neath instead. Suffice to say some were in worse states than others and one player was missing as the bus prepared to leave only to be discovered in a pile of his own vomit and wee slumped on the floor of a cubicle.

So yes, good advice. Remember your county days indeed!

 Team of the Week

1.       Kevin Bowen (Fishguard) 123not out v Johnston 2nds
2.       Steve Alford (Pembroke Dock 108 & 7-32 v Neyland 3rds
3.       Richard MacKay (Stackpole) 96 & 3-54 v Whitland 2nds
4.       Dai Davies (Haverfordwest) 93 not out v Neyland
5.       James Venables (Llangwm) 89 v Hook
6.       Robbie Thomas (St Ishmaels’ 2nds) 87 v Stackpole 2nds
7.       Dafydd Bevan (Carew 2nds) 82 not out v Cresselly 2nds
8.       Jonathan Strawbridge (Fishguard) 70 & 4-65 v Johnston 2nds
9.       Jamie Lewis (Lawrenny) 5-57 v Narberth
10.       Chris Inward (Llangwm)5-31 & 36 not out v Hook
11.       Graham Keen (Neyland 2nds) 5-16 v Haverfordwest 3rds.