Megan Jenkins is one of the better-known lady cricketers in Pembrokeshire, not least because she also plays regularly in men’s cricket for Cresselly, as well as for Cresselly Ladies in the local league and cup competitions.
Her teaching placements have been at Manorbier and Sageston and she has still managed to play regularly for Cresselly, despite these commitments.
Other sport
Outside of her cricket, Megan also enjoys playing football as a midfielder for Clarbeston Road over the past two seasons alongside Ceri Coleman-Phillips in a team superbly looked after by Jenny Lewis.
Sadly, there are only three teams left in the county and Megan would love to see more ladies playing the game.
Family matters and an early start
That Megan should play cricket comes as no surprise because she has followed her big brothers Stefan (29) and Sion (27) into playing as a pace bowler with Cresselly and all three have been well supported by parents May and Clive after starting out in the Jenkins’ family’s back garden.
“I started out with the Cresselly boys’ team coached by Dave Cherry,” Megan told us, “and moved with them through the age groups.
“I was lucky that Cresselly also had a ladies’ team in the club, skippered by Ali Brace, with Louisa Cole as her lieutenant, that got me started in senior cricket at quite a junior age.
Skipper – and cup disappointment
She still plays for them today and was vice-captain of the team which last season was runner up to Hook in the league and beat Burton in the Skelfayre Cup. This campaign saw Megan in charge of the Cresselly Ladies’ team and she has led by example with best figures of 4 for 15 against Crymych and 4 for 17 against Johnston.
Megan and Co lost to Burton Ladies in this season’s Skelfayre Cup but she scored 36 runs and took a couple of wickets before the Scale family led Burton to success.
Cresselly might have been forgiven for believing they would retain the silverware after taking a 27-run lead at the half-way stage as Megan was joined by Eleri Williams (from Pembroke), Lauren and Sophie Arthur (daughters of club chairman Richard), plus Rebecca Williams (niece of captain Phil Williams) all played well.
But then Elaine Scale and her daughters Wella and Finola played superbly to ease Burton home and left Cresselly disappointed to have lost such an entertaining and exciting tussle.
Playing alongside the fellers
Megan has also kept busy on Saturdays by playing league cricket with Cresselly Third XI on a couple of occasions and with the second team skippered by Matthew Lewis for the rest of the matches. She claimed 4 for 40 against Llechryd and showed her batting ability against table-topping Johnston as she scored 34 not out.
At one stage it seemed as if she and Matthew Lewis might save the game in a last-wicket partnership of 60 but the captain got himself out to leave Megan stranded at the crease!
Welsh honour a great thrill
Sadly, there was no county girls’ junior cricket when she was a nipper but she was thrilled in 2011 when she made her representative debut when she was called into the Welsh Ladies’ development squad as she played against the Welsh Over 50s men’s team at Kilgetty Cricket Club.
There were loads of runs scored but Megan claimed a couple of wickets and was understandably delighted when she was invited to the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff for a special dinner where she received her coveted Welsh cap.
“Everyone was delighted for me,” said Megan, “especially the Cresselly crowd, although I think Stefan and Sion might have been a little envious at first!”
College cricket in Aber
Megan also played ladies’ cricket for the three years she was taking her BA course in Childhood Studies at Aberystwyth University, and gained a 2.2 Honours Degree. In her first season the university gained promotion to the Universities’ Premier League, where she played against the likes of Southampton, Exeter and Bournemouth in their section.
She was chosen as captain during her second season and enjoyed a higher level of competition.
“Every match was tough in my final year,” she admitted, “but I managed a five-wicket haul as well as a few other wickets during those matches.”
And finally . . .
So what of the future for Megan in cricketing terms?
“I would love to try and continue playing for Wales but most of the team are from the Cardiff area and the nearest training sessions are at Neath during the winter – and I know that I am going to be kept very busy when I start out in teaching, which has to come first.
“But I aim to carry on enjoying my involvement locally at the moment, and hoping to see ladies’ cricket go from strength to strength as promising youngsters continue to break into the game.
“The ones I have in my under 13 squad are proof of the fact that girls and ladies’ cricket is on the up again in Pembrokeshire, and I would like to play a part in it over the next few years.”
One only has to chat to Megan Jenkins for a short while to see her total commitment to the summer sport and we feel that we can safely say that ladies’ cricket is in safe hands with people of her commitment and calibre being so involved!