Rhiwbina Pines Cricket

This weekend sees our annual tour fixtures against the Bradford-on-Avon 39ers. To whet your appetite, here’s some archive footage of the Pines on tour…

The Mighty Pines are back in action this week in the Willow League against the Cardiff Uni Staff.

The game takes place at Llanrumney starting at 6pm. Please be there in good time.

1. Andy McKenna (c)

2. Dom Cain

3. Phil Holt

4. Oli Jenkins (w)

5. Mark Edwards

6. Dave Fielder

7. Jay Tuffnell

8. John Davies

9. Grant Jones

10. Dai James

11. Andy Damant

Reserves: Andrew John, Nick Young

Here is the Rhiwbina Pines team to play South Glam Education in our Willow League opener this Wednesday at St Fagans (you can fight amongst yourselves for the wicket-keeping position!)

1. Dai James (c)

2. Ashleigh Crowter

3. Mark Sutton

4. Dom Cain

5. Jay Tuffnell

6. Gareth Davies

7. John Davies

8. Nick Young

9. Dave Thomson

10. Grant Jones

11. Andrew John

DIRECTIONS:

The cricket ground is just outside the village of St Fagans on the same road as the Plymouth Arms Pub. Click here for map and directions from the Gabalfa interchange/A48. In five easy steps:

• From Gabalfa roundabout, head along A48 past UWIC and Llandaff Cathedral School on your right, across Cardiff Road crossroads/lights and the next lights too. Stay in right hand lane.
• At next lights, just before railway bridge, turn right (signposted Fairwater and Ski Centre I think).
• Go straight on on that road for a few miles through Fairwater and into St Fagans.
• Just before the road goes downhill to the left, and before you get to the museum, turn right.
• Pass Plymouth Arms on your right, head out of village and cricket club is immediately on your left.

Please try to be at the ground before 6pm. Give Dai a call (07828 274618) if you are having trouble.

If the Willow League did awards for match reports . . .

The first of this season’s journalistic flurries in to the happenings of the Pines on a cricket pitch is now available for public release. Here’s a snippet:

As the sun began to set in spectacular fashion over mid-wicket, the Pines padded up and prepared to chase what could be described as a par score in these conditions. Openers Mystic & Oli Jenks were gradually getting to grips with the conditions, including some very lively bowling from Dileep. The pace meant that runs came off the bat nicely – but it was when Dileep chose to bowl round the wicket, that the wheels began to wobble on the Pine wagon…

READ THE FULL MATCH REPORT HERE . . .

(Scorecard also available on the Scorecards page)

South Glam Education v Rhiwbina Pines (League)

WEDNESDAY 4th MAY, 6pm, ST. FAGANS CRICKET CLUB

Our first league match is against the 2010 league champions, South Glam Education. We play them over at St. Fagans for what promises to be an excellent test for the Pines as the curtain is raised on the league campaign. Please get in touch with your availability by 12pm on Monday 2nd May.

As we prepare to get cracking with the 2011 season, it’s probably time that I draw your attention once again to the rules page of the website.

Here you will find essential guides to:

• The rules for our league and cup competitions
• Umpiring
• Scoring

Please read and inwardly digest these – as all of us will have to take a turn at scoring and umpiring at some point in the season. When the opposition thow up their war-cry of an appeal, and your index finger starts twitching, will you, in that split second, be able to make the right decision? Remember, no 3rd umpire, hawk-eye, or review system will help you in the heat of battle at Llanrumney!

There’s your bed-time reading sorted for the next few days!

Here is our eleven for this Thursday’s friendly fixture against the Cardiff Bay Barbarians. Thanks to all those who made themselves available. We welcome both Mark Edwards and Andy Damant to the team on debut after sterling showings in the nets last night:

1. Andy McKenna (c)
2. Andrew John
3. Oli Jenkins (wk)
4. Dave Fielder
5. Mark Edwards
6. Jay Tuffnell
7. Gareth Davies
8. Dave Thomson
9. Jeff Baldrey
10. Simon Collick
11. Andy Damant

PLEASE REMEMBER:

• This game takes place at 6pm on Thursday 21st April at Fitzalan School. Please be at the ground in good time.
• Fitzalan School is on Lawrenny Avenue (CF11 8XB) not far from the Cardiff City Stadium.
• We’re playing on an Artificial Wicket, so no spikes please!
• Please bring £2 to cover the playing fees for this game (as it is a pre-season friendly, normal subs rules do not apply, however, we need to cover the cost of pitch hire along with our opponents).

Let’s hit the artificial ground running with a good victory! Come on the Pines!

See you there (or if you’re not there, you might be able to follow live updates on Twitter [see top right]…you think I’m joking…!)