The old cliché, “Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man’ has never been shown in local cricketing circles more than when Hook 2nds played their match against Laugharne on a Sunday after it had been previously postponed because of a bereavement in the opposition club. But the cliche had to be changed to ‘Cometh the MEN’ because Hook found themselves in trouble getting enough players to turn out on that particular sabbath – until three old timers offered to step on alongside skipper Jamie Phelps (no spring chicken himself!), despite having ended their own tremendous service for the club some time previously.Jamie is now 54 and as well as playing his heart out for Hook he and his smashing wife Claire have produced three sones in Aled, Owen and Rhys who help form the backbone of the club – and his plea for help were heard and acted on by others who have also shown a similar commitment over many years.
At 63 years young, Keith James was an outstanding all-rounder who could have staked a claim with any club in the county but wouldn’t have dreamt of playing anywhere else, and whose son Callum follows in his footsteps. Keith was a very accurate bowler who surprised batsman with the pace of his ‘skiddy’ deliveries, and an excellent run accumulator whose speed between the wickets was legend – and on this occasion it was great that he played because he hasn’t long ago recovered from a hip operation!
Andrew Thomas (58) was for many years one of the club’s opening bowlers – and on this occasion his accuracy was admired by Mr Phelps, who was keeping wicket and told us how Andrew’s line and length was spot on from the outset after a gap of about seven years – and the following week he helped out again, overcoming his midweek stiffness to take a wicket first ball and finish with a 1 for 17 haul.
At 57, Dave Petrie now does a great job as the club’s groundsman after many years as a solid batsman, mainly in the seconds, and the only one of the quartet who has retired - so the other three say he has plenty of time to do work on the ground and is still young enough to be on the pitch more regularly!As Jamie pointed out, if it wasn’t for that trio, plus Bradley Flood (scorer of 47 runs) then talented youngsters like Ifan Williams (he scored 58 not out on the day), Charlie Holder, Kieran Sinclair and Rhys Tennick (an outstanding left arm bowler who at 14 is already following grandad Mike and dad John Tennick from Neyland as a real prospect), and a number of others. Hook lost the game but at least made sure the game was played – and in the final analysis isn’t that what local cricket should be about!
It shows the family spirit that has seen so many great prospects now beginning to blossom in the first team, with the club’s veterans lurking in the background looking to help put if required!