Colin still loves his cricket after over 60 years of involvement
Around The Boundary Feature:
At 81 years young Colin Phillips is a very regular visitor to Pill Parks to support the Llangwm Cricket team that he played so well for over a very long period as a very good medium-pace bowler at a time when the club ruled the roost in Pembrokeshire Cricket.
We sat to chat on the boundary at Llangwm, with team mate Dai Davies (a mere stripling at 77), Burton legend Brian Griffiths (also 81) and me as a mere stripling of 75 as we took a veritable ‘Walk Down Memory Lane’!
Loves to watch his grandsons play
As well as his support for the whole of the current Llangwm side, he is more than delighted that his talented teenage grandson Joe is already an integral part of the first team and is already a faster bowler than granddad ever was!
Colin and wife Pearl are also quite regular visitors to the nearby Hook Sports’ Association Ground because they like to give equal support to Joe’s younger brother Jack, who at 14 is already catching the eye as a very good all-rounder with both boys having represented the county and Joe having played an integral part in the county senior side’s recent epic win over the MCC as he smashed two big sixes in the final over to see the county home. Jack is playing senior cricket on a regular basis and both have very bright playing futures.
Started out in the rustic surroundings of Angle CC
When Colin was a nipper he started out in the game as a 15 year old at Angle, who no longer have a team but in those days played in the Third Division (South) of the Pembrokeshire League and he bowled alongside Ronald Watkins.
The games were played in a local field where a wicket was cut with a hand mower prior to the match and Colin can recall entertaining Saundersfoot, who had Barry Wood as their star player. Colin and Ronald felt very pleased with themselves as they reduced the opposition to 40 all out - but then Mr Wood & Co shot Angle out for 22!
Even lower were the scores at one incredible match where Angle were bowled out 3 (two of them extras!) and the opposition hit the first ball for 4 to make it arguably the shortest game in the history of local cricket!
Joined a great side at Llangwm – and their only league title in his first season
But when the family moved to Haverfordwest, Colin decided to join Llangwm because he knew most of the players - and is quick to say how much he enjoyed his involvement as a player alongside the likes of Tony Kiff, Bert Jones, Dai Davies, Barry Jones, Roy Jones and others later of the calibre of Martin Charles, and much later like Martyn Inward.
“In my first season we won the first division title for the only time in our history and won the Harrison Allen Bowl in 1972 and 1977 as we beat Haverfordwest and then Rosemarket, where I had three wickets in the first innings and then 4 for 6 in the second innings; just missing out on a hat-trick.
“I was a bit disappointed to miss out on three wickets in three balls but then won the man of the match award to more than make up for it! We also lost by one run in another final against Kilgetty, which was a bit of a sickener.
Loved the Esso Six a Side – and met great characters too
Colin also enjoyed taking part in the annual Esso Six a Side Tournament played on the old Esso Petroleum Ground in Hakin and Llangwm traditionally featured well because of their potent mix of big hitters, accurate bowlers and excellent fielders - alongside a very competitive attitude!
Colin could also wield a bat as a lower middle-order batsman, with several 50s over the years and he also enjoyed the social side of cricket and would rate Barry Wood and Peter Hall as players he rated highly as all-rounders, alongside Brian Morgan and Martin Cole, also of Carew fame.
And finally . . .
It is easy to see what a modest and unassuming character Colin is but although he had his leg pulled by Messrs Davies and Griffiths about their view that any bowler could take wickets at Angle he more than showed his worth in his playing days at Pill Parks, as he took more than his share of wickets for so many years where his name was a watch-word for accuracy.
After being forced to finish at 45 with a knee injury he has continued to grace local cricket grounds - and PembrokeshireSport.co.uk enjoyed our chat - and can only finish by saying, “Long may Colin Phillips continue to enjoy his love of local cricket outside the boundary ropes of Pembrokeshire matches!”