5th August 2014
| Mallory Gray
John Glover oversees the first use of the nets
A thriving South Wales cricket club has unveiled new nets at
the ground it has used since it was founded more than a century ago.
Glamorgan CCC’s John Glover, who learned the game in the
Gwent Junior League, playing for nearby Panteg, officially opened the nets at Malpas
Cricket Club, Newport, during a junior training session.
The nets were jointly funded by England and Wales Cricket
Trust, Welsh Government, Lord's Taverners, and by the club itself, in a project
dating back to 2012.
The Malpas element of the funding was administered by former
chairman Marc Collins, former secretary Natasha Collins, former playing member
and juniors coach Phil Hicks and club treasurer Ian Wheeler.
The club was founded in 1909 and has used the same Bettws
Lane ground ever since. It now runs two
senior sides in the Gwent Men’s Cricket League, a Sunday X1; a Ladies X1 and a Junior / Youth
section with 50 members from U9s upwards playing in the Gwent Junior League at
U9, U11, U13 and U15.
John Glover with Junior Members of Malpas CC
Malpas CC bought their ground in 1920, and played in the
Welsh Cricket Conference, the Alliance League until they joined the Three
Counties League in the early 1990s. In 1992 the club built a new pavillion with four
changing rooms, and then joined the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) accredited South Wales League in 1999.
In 2005, the club reintroduced junior cricket to Malpas and
achieved Club Accreditation in 2007. This led to a resurgence in the club's
fortunes, with the 1st XI winning the South Wales League Division 2 in 2008 and
runners-up in the newly formed Glamorgan and Monmouthshire League in 2010.
The
next stage of the development is to improve the coaching facilities.
The club also has an association with Desmond Llewelyn, who
played Q in 17 Bond films 1963 – 1999. He was brought up in Blaen-y-Pant House
on Bettws Lane, just 100 yards from the club and was a club member and
spectator.
“We’re keen to support the growth, quality and accessibility
of cricket in Wales,” said Cricket Wales chief executive, Peter Hybart.
“The
nets at Malpas will provide high quality practice facilities and enable the
club to recruit and retain players.”
Club chairman Peter Rose added: “The nets are proving a
hugely valuable asset to the club, and are already having a positive impact on
membership.”
Rhwydi newydd i glwb criced
hanesyddol
Mae clwb criced ffyniannus yn Ne Cymru wedi dadorchuddio
rhwydi newydd ar y maes a ddefnyddiwyd ganddo ers ei sefydlu dros ganrif yn ôl.
John Glover o Glwb Criced Morgannwg, a ddysgodd y gêm yng
Nghynghrair Iau Gwent, gan chwarae i glwb Panteg gerllaw, a agorodd y rhwydi’n
swyddogol yng Nghlwb Criced Malpas, Casnewydd, yn ystod sesiwn hyfforddiant
iau.
Ariannwyd y rhwydi ar y cyd gan Ymddiriedolaeth Criced Cymru
a Lloegr, Llywodraeth Cymru, Lords Taverners, a’r clwb ei hunan, mewn prosiect
sy’n dyddio’n ôl i 2012.
Gweinyddwyd rhan
Malpas o’r ariannu gan gyn-gadeirydd y clwb, Marc Collins, y cyn-ysgrifennydd
Natasha Collins, y cyn-chwaraewr a hyfforddwr iau Phil Hicks, a thrysorydd y
clwb Ian Wheeler.
Sefydlwyd y clwb yn 1909 ac mae wedi
defnyddio maes Bettws Lane byth ers hynny.
Erbyn hyn mae’n rhedeg dau dîm hyn yng Nghynghrair Criced Dynion Gwent,
Cynghrair XI ar y Sul; Cynghrair XI Merched ac adran Iau/Ieuenctid, gyda 50 o
aelodau dan 9 oed i fyny’n chwarae yn yr adrannau D9, D11, D13 a D15 yng
Nghynghrair Iau Gwent.
Prynodd Clwb Criced Malpas eu maes yn 1920, gan chwarae yng
Nghynhadledd Criced Cymru, Cynghrair y Cynghreiriau, nes iddyn nhw ymuno â
Chynghrair y Tair Sir tua dechrau’r 1990au.
Yn 1992 adeiladodd y clwb bafiliwn newydd gyda phedair ystafell newid,
ac yna ymuno â Chynghrair achrededig De Cymru Bwrdd Criced Cymru a Lloegr
(ECB).
Yn 2005, ail-gyflwynodd y clwb adran griced iau ym Malpas,
gan sicrhau Achrediad Clwb yn 2007. Arweiniodd hyn at don newydd o lwyddiant
i’r clwb, gyda’r tîm XI 1af yn ennill Adran 2 Cynghrair De Cymru yn 2008 a dod
yn ail yng Nghynghrair newydd Morgannwg a Sir Fynwy yn 2010. Y cam nesaf o’r datblygiad yw gwella’r
cyfleusterau hyfforddi.
Mae gan y clwb hefyd gysylltiad â Desmond Llewelyn, a
chwaraeodd ran Q yn 17 o ffilmiau Bond rhwng 1963 ac 1999. Fe’i magwyd yn Blaen-y-Pant House ar Bettws
Lane, dim ond canllath i ffwrdd o’r clwb ac roedd yn aelod a dilynwr o’r clwb.
“Rydym yn awyddus i gefnogi twf, ansawdd a hygyrchedd criced
yng Nghymru,” meddai prif weithredwr Criced Cymru, Peter Hybart. “Bydd y rhwydi ym Malpas yn darparu
cyfleusterau ymarfer o ansawdd uchel ac yn galluogi’r clwb i recriwtio a chadw
chwaraewyr.”
Ychwanegodd cadeirydd y clwb, Peter Rose: “Mae’r rhwydi’n ased hynod o werthfawr i’r
clwb, ac maent eisoes yn cael effaith bositif ar yr aelodaeth.”