Talented young cricketers:

 
 
Charlie Malloy is very much a born and bred cricketer with Herbrandston, where his father Dai has played for many years, and it is a fact that Charlie has been playing first division cricket this season with a maturity beyond his 17 years.
 
Indeed, such is the attention that Charlie attracted last season, when Herbie gained promotion back into the top echelon of Pembrokeshire Cricket, that he might have been tempted to join one of the clubs regarded as fashionable in the county but he declined with thanks because he wants to play in his home village and develop his play there.
 
His only excursion outside has been to play for Neyland in the Ormond Youth competition because there weren’t enough players in that age group to field a team - and he joined them because the coach was Ian Milsom, who is captain of Herbie Seconds in the senior league! He has played at junior level with Neyland since the age of 10.
 

Settled well into senior cricket

 
It was in 2019 that Charlie started out as a 13 year old as he opened the batting with dad and has since shown his development by out-scoring Malloy Senior, who tries to counter the more runs gathered by Charlie as he tries to say he has the better average overall because he usually bats low down and is not out and so his runs per completed innings looks very good!
 
Charlie also received the second team ‘Young Player’ and ‘Player of the Year’ awards and attended coaching at the National Development Centre at Neath.
 

Already has a hat-trick to his name

 
It is also worth recording the fact that Charlie is also a more than useful bowler and has always taken his fair share of the wickets and whilst playing for Pembrokeshire he grabbed 4 for 28 and in 2022 he claimed a hat-trick against Whitland Firsts and also bowled well as captain of the county under 13 team against North Wales.
 
In 2021 Charlie played the first two games for the second team and was then selected for the first team, where he has been ever since.
“All the older players have been very good in supporting me and I’ve been lucky that Jonty Bennett and Kristan Bennett have taken me under their wings in giving good advice alongside Gary Davies and dad.
 
“I scored 52 against Fishguard on their new pitch and made my debut for the firsts with 51 not out against Kilgetty in a game we lost in the Harrison-Allen.”
 

Into first division cricket

 
Last season saw Herbrandston gain promotion as they finished a point behind Burton after a real set back when they played a game against Pembroke which had the overs reduced because of bad weather.

“We declared when we thought we had a enough runs and were delighted when we won - but were shattered when we lost the points because the league decided we couldn’t declare so early and although we understand now it was a body blow and although it meant we weren’t division two champs at least we got promotion,” explained The Malloys when we spoke to them.
 

Semi-final defeat in The Bowl

 
In an interesting season for the club they also reached the semi-final of the Harrison-Allen Bowl in unusual circumstances because an early bye and a withdrawal saw them take on Llanrhian in the quarter finals.
“We played at Llanrhian and were delighted to win a low scoring game,” said Charlie, “and although I didn’t come in until late on I did manage to hit the winning runs with a six I timed nicely!”
 
Herbie lost their semi-final on the day they received news of their points’ deduction but overall it was a season to celebrate and gave the Charlie the chance to test his skills as a skillful player who likes to play shots but never wants to give his wicket away - and whose accurate bowling has seen his wicket-taking total in double figures as he usually opens the bowling with Dean John.
 
“I did have 51 against Cresselly in our second game and had a few 20s and 30s since, including one against Llangwm where we really had to tough it out before winning against such an experienced team.”



 

Football another sporting love

 
Outside of his cricket, Charlie also enjoys football and played junior football with Milford United and with dad Dai as coach they reached the under 13s final and came third in the league as they competed hard alongside top teams Goodwick United and Camrose - and last season was playing senior football as a goalkeeper with Milford United.
 
He also played for Haverfordwest County as an under 12 player and enjoyed that experience too.
“I started in senior football at Marble Hall in 2022/23 and was delighted to receive the ‘Players’ Player’ award for 2022/23 - and I’m going to carry on playing as soon as next season begins.”
 

And finally . . .

 
Last season also saw Charlie selected by Jonathan Willington to play in the first-ever Pembrokeshire Vikings’ squad selected at youth level and was delighted to receive his kit and specially-designed commemorative cap.
 
Jonathan told us.
“I am impressed by Charlie’s attitude to cricket because he plays with a maturity beyond his years as well as having high skill levels which he is looking to improve all the time by working hard and listening to good advice.”
 
That is high praise from someone who knows the game inside out and we can only echo his sentiments and wish Charlie Malloy continued sporting success because he is already a credit to his family, club and county - and we will hear a great deal more about him in the future!