Jake is following in father's footsteps
Jake Jenkins is one of the talented breed of all-round sportsman coming out of Fishguard as he plays rugby for the Seagulls, football for Prendergast Villa and is a useful high-jumper and runner who has represented Pembrokeshire in the Three-Counties Championships.
If pushed, he would nominate rugby as his favourite sport; small wonder perhaps since his father Steve is captain of Fishguard & Goodwick RFC and his uncle Nathan is another key player in the team. Mum, Zoe Ryan, was a good swimmer in her younger days and gives Jake every support alongside his dad.
Early progress made
Jake enjoyed watching dad play and set out in the oval-ball game as a seven year old, playing tag rugby after Steve took him down to give it a try, under the watchful eye of Tracy Lewis. Jake has played ever since, moving through the age groups to his present spot as outside half in the under 15 team looked after by Judith Torau. He has represented Pembrokeshire since he was in the under 11s and after attending local trials made it into the Scarlets' 'Younger Generation' squad, which started out with 50 players but has now been whittled down to 25.
Football and athletics success
Again like Steve, Jake began his football at Goodwick United but eventually decided to join Michael 'Glenys' Davies and his talented team at Prendergast Villa. He plays central midfield and helped the Villa, to the league and cup double alongside Mike's son, who is also called Jake.
On the athletics' front, Jake came fourth in the Junior Schools' cross country competition at Oakwood and represented his current school in the high jump at the county championships - and did well enough to reach the Three-Counties Finals in Breconshire, where he came a creditable fourth.
Already much travelled
Not content with that little lot, Jake also plays rugby for the Ysgol Bro Gwaun team coached by Emyr Hughes, Meinir and Paul Walsh, and enjoys being involved there. His rugby has certainly allowed him to travel a lot as he played at La Garda, Italy, with the school, plus Spain and France with Jonathan Llewellyn and the county squad.
Jake has already scored his fair share of tries and also takes the place kicks so he is a natural points accumulator, and those in the know at Fishguard say that he is a good reader of play who passes and kicks the ball well – and. Like Steve, certainly isn't afraid to tackle!
And finally . . .
Ask about ambitions and Jake would say that he would love to play senior rugby at Fishguard and then perhaps Whitland or even further, but that is in the distance at the moment, as is his aim of taking a Sports Degree at somewhere like UWIC. In the meanwhile, he is happy to just enjoy his sport and there is no doubt that he is a talented young sportsman – and we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk wish Jake Jenkins every success in his sporting future!
PHOTOS:
Jake Jenkins
Jake with his dad Steve
Jake playing rugby in style
Jake as part of the Fishguard Juniors team