Lewis Hough is certainly heavily involved in sport in Narberth because the talented 15 year old is a county regular in cricket and rugby, plays football and tennis whenever time allows, has run in the 400 metres for his school and can already lay claim to being a Welsh Cricket international at under 11 and under 12 levels.

Doing well at club and county level

At the moment Lewis is playing cricket for the first team at Narberth Cricket Club, where he is a useful seam-up bowler who can also bat well when given the chance. He also turned out at the Lewis Lloyd Ground in the previous campaign as well, helping his team to promotion in the process.

Lewis is also a regular in the county cricket set-up, as he has been for a  number of seasons, playing alongside other talented youngsters like Noah Davies, Aled Phelps, Jack Scriven, Jack and Harry Nicholas, plus Chloe Hood, playing for the under 15s team coached by Simon Williams, Huw Scriven and Nitin Mathias, who all still play for Haverfordwest CC.

“We did really well last year,” Lewis told us, “but we missed out on a place in our age group Welsh final by losing off the very last ball of the match to Gwent, which was really disappointing.”

Early start with Hook and county junior teams

He first started out playing at Hook as a nine year old alongside other talented players like Noah Davies, Aled Phelps and Jacob Lay after his father Ian took him along and he took to it straight away when he lived in Haverfordwest, before eventually moving to play in Narberth as well as at Ysgol Dyffryn Taf.

He also played a year early for the county at under 11 level and it was whilst attending the Aberystwyth Festival he caught the eye of selectors because he was invited to attend trials at the Swalec Stadium, the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club.

Thrilled at Welsh U11 call-up . . .

"At first we worked in the indoor school and then had a few trial games outdoors when the season began - and the number was gradually cut down until one day I received a letter telling me that I had been chosen for the Welsh squad to play against some of the top English counties like Lancashire, Somerset and Warwickshire.

"I was really thrilled because it had meant a lot of travel just to get in the side but I was lucky that my mum Cath was a brilliant unofficial taxi driver and I had full support of from her and my father Ian, as does my younger brother Olly, who also plays a lot of cricket and rugby.

“Playing for Wales under coaches Peter Davies and Colin Burgess was a fantastic honour and at the end of the season I attended the presentation ceremony at the Swalec Stadium, where Robert Croft presented me with my Welsh cap, which was a very proud moment.

. . . And back at U12’s too!

"It was the same at under 12 level where I played throughout the season at Ebbw Vale and the Swalec Stadium, as well as a few matches away, but sadly there is no second cap because you only get one, no matter how many times or seasons you play, but it was another wonderful season which I enjoyed to the full."

“My best figures were 4 for 15 against Cheshire in a festival game at Taunton and I had two or three wickets in some of my other games as well – and I once had a hat-trick in a junior game for Hook but that was a long time ago and I can’t remember who I got it against!
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“I usually batted at nine, ten or jack for Wales but I have worked at my batting and I have had a few 30s and 40s in local games and I have progressed with a few half centuries as well.”

Other sports

Outside of his cricket, Lewis also enjoys tennis and has played in central midfield for the Narberth Juniors team run by Mark Lee - and recently competed for school in an athletics competition amongst schools in and around the Carmarthen area.

But it is difficult to find time to play other sports as often as he might like because he is also heavily involved in rugby at under 15 level with Ysgol Dyffryn Taf, Carmarthenshire Schools and Narberth RFC – and is already a Level One Coach.

"I play at outside half or full back for Narberth, where Alan Harries, Shane Higgon and Martin Bowen are my coaches," explained Lewis, "and I play alongside some very useful players in a school team looked after by Mr Geraint Evans and Mr Mark Corby – and with Carmarthenshire Schools we reached the semi-finals of the Swalec Cup before losing to Mynydd Mawr from the last kick of the match!”

Cricket switch to Narberth

Back on the cricket front, Lewis moved eventually to Narberth because he now lives nearby and plays alongside Llewellyn Jones, Kyle Williams and Lewis Davies in a useful under 16 team coached by Richard Howell and Andrew Williams.

He was also drafted into Narberth Cricket Club’s first team last season and helped them gain promotion back into the top echelon of Pembrokeshire Cricket – and he was back in action for them in their first match this campaign against Lawrenny, and although they lost he enjoyed the experience of bowling against some of the best batsmen in the county!

High praise from coach Richard

Coach Richard Howell, who has done so much in helping to develop young talent at Narberth CC told us,
“It has always been a pleasure to have Lewis involved since he joined our squad because he sets a high standard in terms of commitment and a willingness to listen to good advice.
“He never misses a training session, encourages others on the field and gives 100% with his bowling and batting, and even volunteers to help umpire our under 11s in matches!

“He is already a very good player and can only get better as he gains in experience and is certainly one to watch out for in the future.”

We could pay Lewis Hough no higher praise and we wish this modest and popular young sportsman success in any sport in which he participates, and when he eventually goes on to study something like Sports Science as he gets older!