Pembroke County Cricket club start their inter county season on Sunday (Jun 1) when they travel to Ammanford to take on the South Wales Cricket Association. Wickets will be pitched at 1pm for the encounter at Ammanford Park by umpires, Ben Roberts (Pontardulais) & Carwyn Williams (Ystradgynlais).

The County selectors of Paul Jones, Richard Merriman and Richard Scrive have made their selections on the current form of players in Division 1 and 2 of the Pembroke County League, the captain once again being Sean Hannon of Neyland. Hannon has a range of skills to continue in the role of captaining the County side, none more so than his astute cricketing brain and man management of players. which has seen Neyland crowned holders as league champions. The all whites under his stewardship have claimed the crown six times in the last seven seasons years, Hannon having taken over the reins from Greg Miller, the only time that he has failed to lift the James Morris Memorial Cup was in 2022 as the Cresselly won the league and Neyland finished fourth. Linked to Hannon’s success rate during this period are three years when he lifted the double which included the Harrison Allen Bowl and DR Moris cup winners on four occasions, plus in 2023 he won the treble.

Hannon for many years was a wicketkeeper and middle order batsman but he has added off spin to his armoury in recent years.

Opening batsman Paul Murray will also be in the side from Neyland, Carew captain Rhys Davies one on whom Hannon can lean on for advice, the Rooks also represented by all-rounder James Hinchcliffe. Another all-rounder selected is Tom Mansbridge of Saundersfoot who has been a force for his village side in all formats of the game in recent seasons, Cresselly are represented by three players, opening batsman Morgan Lewis, with scores of 38, 60no, 69, and 26, off spinner Christian Phillips, another who has shed the wicketkeeping pads and gloves since his move from Kilgetty and teenage all-rounder Charlie Arthur, who has nine wickets to his name this season as well as a seasoned reputation despite his young years, which has alerted clubs in the Premier League.

The selectors have also given youth an opportunity by giving County debuts to Herbrandston pair of Harry Nicholas and Charlie Malloy, who featured in an unbeaten opening partnership last weekend of 97 to secure a ten wicket win for their village side at Burton and picking up five wickets between them.

Promotion chasing Pembroke skipper Jack Harris makes the step up from Division 2, with 125no under his belt at Hook ten days ago and 87 from the first Saturday of May at Burton II and 37 on the opening day of the season victory over Johnston.

Other names that would have been considered were Ben Field (Haverfordwest), Tim Hicks (Carew), Ryan Morton (Lawrenny), Noah Davies who has recently moved from Llangwm to Burton and Simon Stanford after the Saundersfoot opening batsman had scorched 142no in early May against Haverfordwest alongside scores of 47 and 71no.

The SWCA will be celebrating their Centenary year next season and will be touring South Africa in February, taking with them a decorated squad which includes Tour Captain, Mathew Fisher and Richard Grant (Pontardulais), Tom Blake, and Matthew Blake (Ynystawe), Ashley Colston & Callum Walters (Maesteg), Dafydd Davies (Pontardulais), Aaron Bird (Maesteg Celtic), Josef Davies and Owen Davies (Ammanford), Ben Edwards (Llanelli), Will Collinson, Scott Phillips and Abdullah Rahim (Dafen), James Taube (Llangennach), alongside Gowerton pair of Lewis Hopkins and Jack Hobbs.

With such a plethora of personal available Brian Jones, team manager and coach Paul Rees (Gorseinon) have chosen Ynystawe’s Tom Blake to skipper the side and included some experienced players in Ben Edkins (Llandysul), Will Collinson (Dafen) and Josh Tobin (Port Talbot Town) alongside blooding some of the youngsters included in the South African touring squad.

Wicket keeper will be Ben Edwards (Llanelli) and Luke O’Connor (Dafen) will line up against the County his father, Leighton now plies his cricket in, his former home town of Maesteg supplying Callum Walters (Maesteg Town) and Sam Watkins (Maesteg Celtic). The captains brother Mathew Blake also makes the starting XI, alongside Josef Davies and Owen Davies who will be gracing their home ground, the final place going to Port Talbot Towns Josh Tobin.

Pembroke County are due to host the MCC on Thursday (Jul 17) at Cresselly, with wickets again pitched at 1pm, whilst the MCC will also play the SWCA, at Pontardulais on Tuesday (Jul 29) with a 1pm start. They also have fixtures arranged to celebrate club milestones in the Association, Centenary games against Cimla on Sunday (Jul 6) and at Mumbles on Sunday (Aug 31), whilst Skewen will be celebrating 125 years when the Association visit on Sunday (Aug 17).

The Team

Sean Hannon (C)
Paul Murray
Charlie Malloy
Harry Nicholas
Rhys Davies
James Hinchcliffe
Tom Mansbridge
Christian Phillips
Charlie Arthur
Morgan Lewis
Jack Harries

Photograph caption

(l-r) Harry Nicholas and Charlie Malloy who will make their senior County debuts on Sunday (Jun 1) at Ammanford CC against the South Wales Cricket Association