The history of Llanelli Cricket Club

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A similar situation soon followed when the Wanderers 'A' XV entered the Llanelli and District Junior Union competitions also in season 1978/79. So ends the story of the Club's first 30 years. A period which witnessed many changes and achievements, and a period for which every Wanderer can justifiably feel immense pride. Whilst many clubs are celebrating their centenary seasons, the Wanderers' first 30 years certainly have a story to tell. What of the next 30 years?

At this time, the Wanderers had a useful bowls team, under the guidance of Ken John, and although to date, the Club's honours were restricted to achievements by its players on the rugby field, the selection of Club member Mr. Hugh Andrews to the Welsh Bowls Team in 1960 was greeted with immense pride. He epitimised all that the Wanderers Club stood for, and his dedication to the development of the Wanderers was outstanding, he had proved himself as a most capable administrator and a referee who held respect all over the rugby playing world. This urge to spread their wings was not the outcome of any split with the Y.M.C.A. The matter was thoroughly discussed and agreed that the team should become a Club in its own right instead of an agency of the Y.M.C.A. So what had been a dream for several years became reality. November 1968 saw the Wanderers 5th Triennial Dinner when along with the various civic dignitaries and officials of other clubs, the chief guests were John Reason, W. H. Clement, Carwyn James and Ivor Jones, the then President of the Welsh Rugby Union.The Wanderers and indeed the town ofLlanelli, suffered a great loss in May 1965 with the passing of T. Graham Pugh. He had been a founder member of the Wanderers Club and had served in the capacity of Honorary Secretary from the Club's inception in 1951 until 1958 when he became Chairman, a position he held until his passing. His contribution to the formation and development of the Wanderers Club is immeasurable. It was largely due to his vision, drive and enthusiasm, that the Club's reputation, both on and off the field, has been held in such high esteem for so long and the tributes received by the Club from many local rugby clubs, West Wales Rugby Union, Welsh Rugby Union and Societies of Referees, only stand to show how highly he was regarded. As well as holding the offices in the Wanderers Club, he served as Chairman of the Llanelli and District Rugby Union. As a tribute to him, the Wanderers Club commissioned a portrait in oils from local artist Mr. John Bowen. This portrait now hangs in the clubhouse in honour ofa man who the Wanderers can consider as being their first "statesman".

In a 1998 with me, he said: “Robert was one of the best passers, but I was never impressed with his all-round game. The enterprising Wanderers again proved their versatility in other sports by involving themselves in ten pin bowling. The 1964/65 season saw the 'A' XV achieve a success rate of over 50% for the first time in their comparatively short existence. The skipper of the first XV, in this season, Gareth Morris, played a true captains role in playing in all 45 first team matches. Such was the popularity of the Wanderers that it had become necessary to form a second team in season 1960/61. Under the inspired leadership of Dennis Shanahan, they played their first match at Tumble coming away victors by 6 pts. to nil.As part of the Welsh Rugby Union Centenary Year celebrations during season 1980/81, the Club was delighted to host the visit of Roger Gardener. Although a Welshman by birth, he had emigrated to South Africa and had become coach to the Natal team. The Club also took part in the relaying of the Queen's Message to the Welsh Rugby Union during this special year by carrying the message, which was sealed in a small replica of a rugby ball, from the Furnace R.F.C. headquarters to the Wanderers headquarters at Station Road. Christmas Social –Wednesday, 13th December, 7 p.m., at the Selwyn Samuel Centre – Quiz Night with Steve Brown

That night was a particularly proud one for the Wanderers and the Club was particularly proud when the Lions surpassed even what the 1971 Lions in New Zealand had achieved to become the most successful Lions tour in history. The Club's motto "Cyfeillach Trwy Grwydro" means "Friendship Through Wandering", and whilst it is known that there was plenty of friendship at this time, so too was there plenty of Wandering with the Club moving its headquarters from the Prince of Wales Inn to the Bush Vaults and then on to the Salutation Hotel, which was also used at this time as a headquarters by Llanelly R.F.C. The close links between the Club and the Scarlets continued to develop over the years with the two Clubs jointly organising numerous social functions.

Allan Evans smashed the Club record of 111 pts. for the 1st XV which he set in season 74/75 when he scored a total of 173 points in season 75/76, a record he still holds. As an exercise, selectors were chosen from the Club membership to select what they considered to be the strongest side that the Wanderers could field. The selectors were chosen from members who have had a long association with the rugby of the Wanderers, both as administrators and as players. Their brief was to select a XV on the merits of each player being at his best during his rugby career, having due regard to rugby at that time, and to be eligible for selection, each player must have played at least 20 games for the Club. Their task was a difficult one with so many accomplished players to choose from, but eventually, the team selected is as follows: The 1974/75 season saw Allan Evans establish a new Club scoring record when he amassed a total of III points for the 1st XV, and also saw the evergreen Steve Pike's record of 82 consecutive appearances for the 1st XV come to an end. This amazing run started in the 71/72 season and remains a Club record. Phillip Johnson and Stephen Pike left the field injured and were replaced by Nigel Parsons and William Davies respectively. After a particularly hard game, the former players XV were defeated by 21 pts. to 10 with Alan Evans having the distinction of scoring the first points on the ground with a penalty goal. A reception was held at the clubhouse after the match which was attended by the many dignitaries present for the opening ceremony, the players, the officials of the Wanderers Club and various other clubs who had been invited to this very special evening in the Club's history. Season 1968/69 was certainly a memorable one for Wynne Davies. Having been appointed as captain for the 'A' XV, he became the 'A' XV highest scorer with 48 pts. from a total of 16 tries. In his appearances with the 1 st XV, he had scored a further 7 tries which meant that the record of 22 tries established in 60/61 by Roger Evans, had at last been broken. Wynne's total of23 tries is a record which stands to this day. Here again, it is worthy of note that the try scoring record was broken by yet another wing threequarter. Wynne continued to distinguish himself when, along with scrum half Lincoln Law, he represented the Llanelli and District Junior Union in their cup winning side.

Ocr tesseract 5.2.0-1-gc42a Ocr_detected_lang en Ocr_detected_lang_conf 1.0000 Ocr_detected_script Latin Ocr_detected_script_conf 0.9733 Ocr_module_version 0.0.17 Ocr_parameters -l eng Old_pallet IA-NS-1300457 Openlibrary_edition The Wanderers continued to play open attractive rugby and were gaining the respect of other rugby clubs to such an extent that they were invited to play against Furnace in September 1957 to open Furnace's ground.

The Club continued to attract notable personalities of the rugby world to guest at "Smokers" when in February 1966, the Club was delighted to play host to Norman Mair. This was at the start of a season which was to see the first Wanderer raise his personal tally of points into three figures. This distinction fell to Harry Thomas, who also repeated the feat in seasons 59/60 and 61/62. The Wanderers undertook a journey to Guernsey in April 1977 when it was quite clear that the island's healthy environment was found to be to the tourists liking when they ran out winners by 34 pts. to 9 against New Milton. Following Handel Greville's recall to the Scarlets side, the Club captaincy was bestowed on Huw C. Williams, and the Club's playing record at the end of its first season was certainly something to be proud of: In October 1982 the Wanderers vacate the premises at No. 2 Station Road for the more spacious accommodation of "Dan-y-Coed" No. 2 Queen Victoria Road. Although "Dan-y-Coed" means "Under the Trees", you can be certain that the Wanderers will not rest there. No doubt, the repertoire of the Club's "choir" will continue to resound in the new premises and that the Club Committee will continue to extend its activities and ensure full use of the new accommodation. The Club's motto "Cyfeillach Trwy Grwydro" - "Friendship Through Wandering" is in itself a tribute to the spirit of the Club and to the joys which the game of rugby football affords to those who are fortunate to have enjoyed its pleasures.