BAA-BAAS PAY BENNY TRIBUTE
BARBARIANS assistant coach Shaun Edwards has revealed the team watched old videos of Phil Bennett last week ahead of an inspired and dominant 52-21 victory over England.
The Barbarians players formed the number 10 before the match in tribute to Wales legend Bennett, who died last week.
And after the Baa-baas inflicted a record triumph over England, Edwards – who has strong connections with Wales given his years coaching the national team alongside Warren Gatland – saved a few words for Bennett, one of the most famous Barbarians of all, in his post-match interview.
“We’ve been watching clips of him all week and obviously the famous 1973 try in Cardiff has been played numerous times,” Edwards said of a man who played 20 times for the Barbarians.
“I was lucky enough to meet him on numerous occasions in Wales and one thing that always shone out was his humility for such a great player.
“The biggest respect to his family in this very difficult time.”
Bennett won 29 caps for Wales from 1969 to 1978, played for Llanelli 413 times and starred for the Lions on two tours, to South Africa in 1974 and New Zealand three years later.
But his exploits for the Barbarians – particularly his contribution to Gareth Edwards’s famous score against New Zealand in 1973 – were just as memorable.
His 20 appearances placed him as the second highest Welsh Barbarian, with only fellow Llanelli legend RH Williams playing more times for the famous team.
He also scored 181 points in the black and white shirt, toured Canada in 1976, played against Scotland, Fiji, Canada and Australia as well as the All Blacks twice and, for good measure, captained the club on 10 occasions.
So fittingly tributes were paid to the legendary fly-half at Twickenham.
As a minute’s applause was observed by the crowd, players representing the famous invitational club formed the shape of a 10 on the pitch in honour of Felinfoel’s finest.
Another tribute saw Bennett’s name marked out specially on the back of the fly-half jersey, worn by Antoine Hastoy. The Barbarians’ jerseys had the names of former players written out in their number; however, Bennett’s was marked out in red rather than grey.
Last week, Barbarians president John Spencer said: “The rugby world will feel keenly the loss of Phil Bennett.
“He was a true icon of our sport and a loyal club man, for Llanelli, for Scarlets, for his country, the Lions and of course the Barbarians.
“On behalf of all the Barbarians across the world, we would like to extend our wholehearted condolences to Phil’s wife Pat and all of Phil’s family and friends.
“We have lost one of the greatest Barbarians, but Benny’s memory will always be in our hearts.”
ONLY five games in the Peter Lynn & Partners Solicitors South Wales Cricket Association were played to their conclusion on Saturday as rain swept across South West Wales.
Many clubs attempted to get their games on and started playing, but the regularity of the showers put paid to the majority of them.
All the games in division one made a start but not one was completed.
Leaders Dafen’s trip to Aberdare saw the hosts make 112-2 before the match was abandoned, and it was a similar tale for second-placed Llangennech at Maesteg Celtic, where even less play was possible as the game was halted when Celtic were on 25-2.
The overnight rain meant a delayed start at Bronwydd where Gowerton won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first in a game reduced to 47 overs.
Bronwydd were soon in trouble at 20-4 with Will Collinson and 14-yearold debutant Tom Sanu causing the damage. Geraint Jones came in and changed the momentum, scoring 43 from 34 balls, while at the other end James Cale provided the backbone to the innings with 57 from 110 balls.
They recovered to 153-7 but the return of Collinson brought the innings to a premature end as they were dismissed for 160 with more than seven overs still remaining.
Collinson was twice on a hat-trick and ended with figures of 6-38, his best ever league return. Captain Matthew Mason took 2-43 while young Sanu (1-35) and 15-year-old James Cable (1-20) were the other wickettakers.
Wicketkeeper David Gascoyne also had a good day, claiming five victims.
Rain came in at teatime and the players were unable to return to the field.
Llandysul opener Rhidian Harries made hay while the rain kept away at Baglan, stroking 10 fours and a six as he made 103 before rain forced an early finish after 39 overs with the visitors on 211-3. Skipper Ben Edkins made 46.
It was a similar story in division two, with no game getting anywhere near a conclusion, and the Morriston v Pontyberem game at Tircanol was called off before a start was made.
The only result in division three saw Dyffryn beat Bronwydd Seconds in Bryncoch.
Bronwydd won the toss and elected to bat, but they slumped to 78 all out in 30.3 overs, with Chris Davies taking 4-14, Lewis Day 2-23, Colin Tucker 2-28 and Paul Amphlett 1-8 off eight.
Owen Thomas (19no) and skipper Day (30no) then eased Bryncoch home on 79-2 off 10.3 overs.
The Felinfoel v Pontardawe game, third against second, nearly made it through to a finish after Pontardawe had made 165-9 in their 46 overs.
Kevin Thomas (43) and Neil Jones (24) rescued Ponty after they fell to 29-4, and Jeff Hapgood (28no) and Jason Rourke (19) helped them to a respectable total.
The wickets were shared between Craig Richards (2-14), Stuart Parmenter (2-35), Gareth Smith (2-15) and Andrew Thomas (2-38).
Felinfoel openers Robert Bowen (24no off 26 balls) and Thomas (50no off 40 balls) went for a quick win but they were beaten by the returning rain with the hosts on 82-0 off 11 overs.
Both teams held a two-minute silence before the game in memory of former Felinfoel cricketer Phil Bennett, the Llanelli, Wales and British
Lions great who lived in the village.
Llandeilo recorded their third win in a row in division four as they beat Skewen Seconds by 10 wickets, the only match in that division to reach a conclusion.
Having won the toss and decided to bowl, Llandeilo made the breakthrough when Llew Davies took two wickets in the eighth over. This brought Scott Dunnet to the crease and he top-scored with 20, but wickets continued to fall, which slowed Skewen’s progress and the visitors were eventually all out for 48.
Davies picked up 4-22, Phil Harries 3-10 and Anthony James 1-9 from his seven overs.
With rain threatening, the Llandeilo
opening batsmen were on the front foot from the off and reached their target in just eight overs, with Neil Harries unbeaten on 38 and Rhys Jones 11 not out.
In division six, runaway leaders Pontarddulais Thirds made short work of their eighth consecutive victory, winning by 10 wickets at Pontardawe Seconds.
Pontardawe were dismissed for 85 in 39.2 overs, late-order batsmen Dean Osell (15) and Chris Richards (12) the only men in double figures. Vasanth Sampath took 3-19 and William Davies 2-21. Openers Peter Jones (29no) and Josh Jewell (51no) then eased Bont to 87-0 in 15.2 overs, just in time to beat the returning rain.