Steve's jetted off to Western Australia
This is a very exciting time for Steve Inward because the talented young cricketer who hails from the Burton/Llangwm area has just jetted off to Australia to further his cricket career for at least seven months, and perhaps longer.
He is off to Perth in Western Australia, where he is going to play for Halls Head CC, who play at Peelwood Parade and have an impressive record of 13 'A' grade championship successes in the past 17 years, as well as doing almost as well with their 'B', 'C' and 'D' grade teams.
Pembrokeshire connection
and better weather!
There is a Pembrokeshire link to the trip because former Lamphey star Dave Lovell does some coaching at Halls Head after previously playing for them, and as well as playing for the club, Steve is hoping to get a job and generally enjoy life in the Southern Hemisphere for a while as he gains experience in a country renowned for breeding tough players. And there's one thing for sure: the weather is sure to be better and he'll have a lot more cricket than he had in the recent season with Gowerton in Division One of the South Wales League because they had nine matches called off because of rain!
Steve only batted nine times and had a top score of 78 not out with an average of over 40, which he says is not up to what he hoped for but sounds pretty good to us at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk!
Supportive family and new pals to make
He flew out of Heathrow via Hong Kong to Perth, a trip of 20 hours – with his Kookaburra bat somehow squeezed into his 20kgs of luggage – and he was taken to the airport by big brother Chris, Luke and Jonathan Brock, who all play cricket for Llangwm, with a last-night stop-off to relax in Reading. Chris has always been supportive, alongside parents Martin and Tina, and Steve readily admits that he might have to conquer a little home-sickness at first!
But there's one thing for sure. This popular and modest young feller will soon make friends and we wish him every success in the forthcoming months – and we will make sure that we let you know how Steve Inward gets on at Halls Head Cricket Club!
PHOTOS:
Steve Inward
Steve salutes a century as a youngster