Cricket Scorers Feature:

 

Rob has followed his better half into being a Whitland scorer

The reverse adage that behind every good woman there is a supporting man is certainly true in Whitland Cricket Club because whilst his much better half Ann-Marie Jenkins is first team scorer Rob Benjamin has also become a qualified scorer and does almost as good a job with the club’s second string.

‘Benji’, as he is known to everyone, has been hugely involved in the Whitland rugby teams (but more of that later) and always enjoyed a bit of cricket across the road – but like a lot of good scorers Rob took up his cricketing role almost by accident when he stepped in to help out the third team, in which his sons Gethin and Sion played, about six years ago.
 

Really enjoys his scoring – and playing on Friday evenings for The Die-Hards

He was quite happy in that job but when Jenny Davies-Scourfield stepped down from her duties with the second team he was happy to step up and has since got a few others interested in scoring for the thirds.

“I’ve also done a few matches for the firsts when Ann-Marie has been jetting off on holiday but it doesn’t matter because all the boys in the club are good company – and I’ve also made good friends amongst the scorers, especially the few other fellers who score like John Laugharne (Neyland), Malcolm Thomas (Lawrenny) and Des Brace (Cresselly).”

It is good to report that Benji also enjoys playing cricket and has helped out the third XI when needed and played socially on Friday evenings with ‘The Diehards’ team started up with the likes of Paul Kirk, Colin John, Arwyn Thomas and the late, great Roy Newton, who play friendly fixtures against all sorts of other groups – and certainly swell the club’s coffers in the bar afterwards!
 

Other Sports:

Rob’s involvement in rugby with Whitland saw him be an excellent Hon Secretary for 26 years, as well as doubling up as match announcer for a number of them.
 
“I have followed the Borderers since I was knee high to a grasshopper and although I had to work some Saturdays then I always managed to watch most games as Uri John use to pick me up en route to places like Milford Haven, Neyland and Llangwm.

“I did the job until Gethin and Sion started playing and I wanted to watch them – but now I have to travel a little further afield since Gethin plays for Pontyates and Sion is al Llangadog.”


Rob also played a fair bit of darts at the ‘Station House’ in Whitland.
“They had a terrific first team so I captained the ‘B’ team which was made up of all the rest interested – and we actually won the ‘B’ League on one occasion.”

And finally . . .

Back on the cricket front, Rob has scored at the finals of the Alec Colley Cup and the Ken Morris Cup, as well as the Ormond Youth Cup –and I’m pleased to report that he was able to qualify as a scorer, with Ann-Marie helping him with his homework between sessions.

He is organised at matches, is a very neat scorer and is unflappable when answering his phone at different stages in the games to give an update to the local press.

Above all Rob Benjamin is a great advert for cricket in Whitland and they are lucky indeed to have such a capable scorer in second team cricket!