Llandeilo Cricket Club

Toyota Good for Cricket Prize draw

This year the club has signed up to Toyota's prize draw where you could win a car or one of many other prizes!

Every penny of every ticket bought will go to the club and support the refurbishments we will be carrying out over the winter.

The club is growing fast and we appreciate all the support the club gets from members and sponsors. Buying just a few tickets will help us make our club even better for next season, and will give you a chance of winning a car 🚗

The draw closes at the end of September so don't leave it too long ☺️

Good luck and thank you for your support!

https://www.toyotagoodforcricket.co.uk/support/llandeilo-cc-sa19?utm_campaign=cause-page-social-share&utm_source=cause-page&utm_medium=social&utm_content=Hyperlink

The Red Kites descended on Gowerton for the final league showdown of the season, fully aware that the title was on the line and the tension was high.

​First up were the hosts, Gowerton. Winning the toss, Captain Gemma unleashed the team with strict orders: fight for every single bonus point like it’s the last chip in the basket. Gowerton snagged a couple of early catches to give the Kites a momentary sweat, but openers Sian and Sharon quickly found their groove. Emily and Yvonne swept in next, treating the boundaries like suggestions and running like they’d left the oven on. Rhian and Carys kept things rock-steady before Gemma and Kayley closed out the innings with pure swagger, blasting nine boundaries and setting Gowerton a downright menacing target of 116.
​Kayley opened the bowling in her trademark style—by instantly ruining a Gowerton batter's day with a wicket—with Sharon and Emily following suit. Gowerton put up a fight and sneaked a few boundaries past a diving Carys and Yvonne, but lightning-fast glovework from Sian behind the stumps and more scalps from Gemma and Kayley kept the Kites firmly in the driver's seat. A masterclass in the field sealed a comfortable 60-run victory.

​Fueled entirely by sugar, grapes, and Haribo-induced adrenaline, the Kites marched back onto the pitch to face Neath. Batting first again, Llandeilo went full demolition mode. Smashing a whopping 18 boundaries—including two magnificent sixes—they posted a monster total of 152, led by Emily’s top-scoring 31. Neath needed 143 to win; Llandeilo just needed wickets, and fast.
​Emily set the tone with a quick strike, followed by Rhian, before Carys stepped up to claim her very first competitive wicket. Gemma casually bagged another two, but the absolute highlight was a lethal hat-trick from Emily—two clean-bowled timber-rattlers topped off with a sensational caught-and-bowled. Another dominant display wrapped up a massive 99-run win. With their job done, all that was left was a nerve-shredding wait for results from other grounds.
​Huge thanks to Gowerton for being fantastic hosts and providing a warm welcome!

​Heartbreakingly, it wasn’t to be. The Kites missed out on the league title by a agonizingly tiny handful of points. But what a season! One single loss all year (by a tragic two runs), two players dominating the league bowling charts—Kayley taking 2nd with 15 wickets, and Gemma claiming the crown at #1 with 16—plus both Gemma (3rd) and Kayley (9th) cracking the top ten batting stats!

​A massive well done to the whole squad and everyone who cheered us on. Time to celebrate at the end-of-season presentation before we take this show indoors!

2XI match report:

Llandeilo CC End Seven-Game Losing Run with Family Partnership and Vintage Munday Performance

After seven consecutive defeats, countless near misses, and an entire season wondering whether away victories had been removed from the laws of cricket, Llandeilo CC finally put things right with an excellent 59-run victory over fellow strugglers Llandarcy.

The signs were positive before a ball had even been bowled. Club veterans Phil Harries and Max Munday carried out the traditional pitch inspection and quickly declared it a batting paradise. The instruction to captain Harri Lloyd Davies was simple: win the toss and bat.

What happened next was arguably the biggest surprise of the day.

The captain actually won the toss.

With the decision made, Llandeilo's youthful side took to the field. Six juniors featured in the XI, including three players still digesting their GCSE results from earlier in the week and three others with the luxury of a few years before experiencing that particular form of stress.

A solid opening partnership laid the foundations, with Gavin Matthews contributing a useful 21 as Llandeilo made a steady start.

Valuable runs also came from George James-Wrigley and Emily Hatfield as the visitors attempted to build a competitive score.

However, when wickets began to tumble and Llandeilo found themselves struggling at 90 for 6, Max's prediction that at least 160 would be needed looked increasingly ambitious.

What followed may become one of those Llandeilo stories that gets retold for many years.

Middle-aged captain Harri Lloyd Davies and his 13-year-old son Henri came together with the innings in trouble and produced an unbeaten seventh-wicket partnership worth 111 runs. Harri struck a career-best 92 not out, finally proving that persistence can eventually substitute for talent, while Henri showed a maturity far beyond his years with a superb unbeaten 31.

The father-and-son double act transformed the innings from peril to plenty, carrying Llandeilo to an imposing 201 for 6 from their 40 overs.

It was a special day for another youngster too, as Shiv Patel made his senior debut for the club. The scorebook will not capture his contribution, but anybody watching saw a terrific fielding display featuring several diving stops and plenty of energy in the field. Senior debut completed, uniform dirtied appropriately.

The Llandeilo bowling attack then took centre stage.

Llandarcy appeared comfortable at 27 without loss before Max Munday intervened. Having endured a season where wickets had largely gone on holiday without informing him, Max produced a remarkable spell of 3 for 5 from eight overs, including four maidens. His victims included both openers and a first-ball duck, leaving Llandarcy reeling at 30 for 4.

Phil Harries, who had answered a last-minute call to arms after morning drop-outs threatened selection headaches, rolled back the years with a miserly seven-over spell and claimed an important wicket. Joseff Davies also chipped in and deserved more than 1 wicket after some excellent bowling, while Emily Hatfield deservedly got among the wickets with another tidy performance. A special mention as well for Andrew Williams who produced an excellent spell when pressed to bowl and kept the spirits high on a hot day in the field.

The main resistance came from Ian Davies, who anchored the innings with 45 and briefly threatened to keep Llandarcy in the hunt. However, just as he began to look dangerous, he advanced down the pitch only for Gavin Matthews to complete a smart stumping off the bowling of Osian Matthews.
Osian finished with two wickets, including the dismissal of Ian Davies and another key breakthrough as Llandarcy's challenge faded away.

There was also a moment to savour for George James-Wrigley, whose catch helped maintain the pressure and capped another valuable all-round contribution.

When the final wicket failed to arrive before the overs ran out, it made little difference. Llandarcy closed on 142 for 8, leaving Llandeilo winners by 59 runs and, perhaps most importantly, able to forget about that seven-match losing streak.

Special thanks must also go to Clare, who spent the afternoon expertly scoring the match and remained on standby throughout should the injury crisis deepen and a surprise playing appearance be required.

So, to recap: six juniors, a senior debut, a father-and-son century partnership, a career-best score, a vintage Max Munday spell, Phil answering an emergency call-up, and Llandeilo's first away victory of the season.

Not bad for a Saturday in Division 9.

*Llandeilo 2nds Match Report* :

Llandeilo 2nds suffered a heavy defeat to promotion chasing Gorseinon 3rds, despite a spirited effort in the field. Gorseinon batted first and amassed 238-3, with a powerful top order punishing anything wayward. However, there were positives as Henri Marks, Phil Harries and Osian Gould-Davies each claimed a deserved wicket, while the economical spells of Emily Hatfield, Max Munday, Gemma Pugh helped keep the score below 240.

In response, scoreboard pressure and some quick, accurate bowling proved too much as Llandeilo were dismissed for just 38. Harri Lloyd-Davies once again top-scored (14), while Henri Marks and Phil Harries showed patience and determination that frustrated the oppostion and salvaged some late pride.

Despite the humbling defeat, there were plenty of positives: excellent half-time cakes (thanks Elin!), only one duck (no names mentioned), and valuable senior cricket experience for the junior section players. We go again next week in search of a late-season win to end the drought!

On a slightly warm, windy , cold evening with a touch of frost on the ground, our U11s travelled to Carmarthen. The already champions of the league were in no mood to leave off the gas and get another win.
Captain courageous for the night was Rhydian Jones. We lost the toss and Carmarthen decided to bat.
With Mark Drakeford standing on the boundary, to make sure Lewys Rees Davies kept his bowling to 20 mph, we knew it was going to be a tough evening.
A brilliant performance from our bowlers , taking 10 wickets, Lewys (2) Lewis Hickman (2) Tomi Walters (1) Benjamin Thomas (1) Cato Davies (1) Rhydian Jones (1) Rocco Kindred (1) and a run out from Rhys Hickman kept Carmarthen to 156.
So we reached halfway and Mr Drakeford was watching on.
Out came the Llandeilo batters of captain courageous and Tomi the gun Walters to make a solid start. Next in was Archie Shovels and Benjamin Thomas who again were solid in ticking the scoreboard over.
Then came the Hickman boys. Even Churchill would have been impressed with the defence from these boys.
New lad Theo Otterburn was outstanding with his cut shots and is a great addition to the team, supported well by Rocky kindred.
Last up were the big hitters of Lewys and Cato ( the Johns Villas boys) to hit hard and get us closer to the total.
A good win for Carmarthen by 41 runs.
Mr Drakeford went home speeding away at 21 mph and breaking the speed limit (naughty)
A great season for the boys and I’ve personally enjoyed every minute.
Until next time

Seconds match report. Once the team learned that the skipper had permitted Max the Miserable to compile the match report bribes and offers of drinks came in thick and fast for favourable mentions. Even Merv sent a donation and he wasnt playing. Anyway back to the action. We were put into bat on an axminster carpet. Our innings was founded upon an excellent 77 from harri ld and with good supports from the likes of Sam (yes that is correct) and Andy. We got to 177 for 8. There was excellent umpiring, good support play and only two ducks, unlike the first team where there seems to an internal poultry market running. The reply from PYG was steady and relentless. Our bowlers battled hard. There were several good attempts from younger players to knock out the opposition literally. Key moment in the 16th over. There was a Mahler symphony playing somewhere and then a sudden pre raphaelite style moment when bowler Gemma Never fly Ryanair Again Pugh floated through the air loosing the ball to run out their opener. Several players noted that GP continued to float for several seconds until the ball split the stumps. Anyway back on earth we battled on but our total was whittled away. Well done PYG. Big game for seconds next week.

Llandeilo v Llandysul.

So after a week of what must have been numerous mortar attacks and military manoeuvres, the Cae William wicket was again the scene of an important game.
2nd v 4th and with us still in with a chance of promotion, we were hopeful of a chance to post a target for our bowling attack to defend....
That hope soon wained when the ball showed the inconsistency in our pitch that opposition teams have come to fear... nearly as much as us.
Seeing off the first few overs, both Richard and Anthony survived early edges to slip and managed to push a few runs to a tight Llandysul bowling attack.
When a ball took off from a length ball, the first time at Cae William in 48 years and caught Richards gloves, the wicket claimed its first victim.
13 runs later, Haydn couldn't quite clear cover and was caught trying to take the game to the bowlers.
In came a determined Mervyn but, only briefly as he fell to his first ball. Caradog also getting a golden duck, gave the Llandysul opener his hat-trick and showed the fragility of our batting and our love of duck.
Anthony (22) and Steff (16*) put up some resistance however, we were all-out for 82 in just 27 overs with the gathered Saga holiday patrons giving their opinion and reminiscing how it never happened in their day...
The more astute and aware players from Llandysul, after seeing how difficult the pitch was, took to the field with intrepidation. This was soon realised when openers fell as did the next few batters. Only Jack Deal put up any resistance until Llandysul reached 35 for 8. A victory for Llandeilo looked achievable.
Their no 10 however had other ideas.
The experienced Daffydd Hatley compiled an unbeaten total of 29 to win the game with 1 wicket to spare.
With dropped catches and edges going wide, we were unlucky not to defend such a low total.
The close boundary and dry outfield still not achieving the 400 runs chase each week we were expecting, we move to the last 3 games with promotion potentially lost but still worth fighting for.
Special mention to Mervyn Davies for his endless contribution to the club and especially for getting the beers to stock the fridge.
On to Swansea Warriors next week and the challenge of an item from your own bathroom and something beginning with the letter J.

🙌🏻Last week marks the end of our women’s team games, juniors and midweek.
What a season it has been.
With plenty of games played thanks to the glorious weather we have had there has been so many star performances and some fantastic team work across all teams.
Stay tuned for match highlights…👀
This week we have games from the seniors 1st and 2nds teams with the same sponsor as last week so go check them out🙌🏻
Thankyou again for all the continued support. Without it the club would not be where it is today👏👏

⭐️Tuesday night the Llandeilo under 17s travelled to Llandysul for the last fixture of the season. With there first debuts for Henri Marks and Cormac Ford. Llandeilo decided to bowl first and despite a few early wickets the Llandysul batters put a good total up.
🏏The Llandeilo batters gave a valiant effort but fell short of the total being bowled all out in 17 overs.
It been a tough season but it's great to see the Llandeilo players holding their own and taking 2 first places and a 2nd place in bowling,fielding and batting. Plenty to work on for the next season but for now a well deserved rest! Well done to all the players that have played and helped the team out this year.
🙌🏻Thankyou to their coaches Haydn and Clare for all your time and effort.
Not forgetting the parents and supporters.