| 19 August 2009, 10:30 am |
| Rugby Union Legends hit the Rugby League Legends for Six in charity 20/20 Cricket Match |
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| A team of Rugby Union Legends hit a team of Rugby League Legends for six in the Spoon charity 20/20 Cricket match in North Wales last weekend.The rain stayed away from the stunning Pontblyddyn cricket ground for a fun family day of action-packed cricket. |
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Click on the galleries listed to view the selection of images from the day. Gallery1 Gallery 2 Gallery 3
 Many legends, including England 2003 World Cup winners Will Greenwood and Neil Back, plus 1980 Grand Slam winner Dusty Hare, donned their pads. England internationals Charlie Hodgson and Man of the Match, Tim Stimpson were part of the Union-11 that notched up victory over their League counterparts. The League Legends, featuring Wigan head coach Brian Noble, Widnes and Wigan star Andy Gregory, former Leeds and Great Britain player Garry Schofield and Abi Ekoku, helped make the day a wonderful spectacle for all who came to support. All the funds raised will go to Wooden Spoon.
Captained by World Cup winner, Will Greenwood, the Union team batted first and despite a tentative start from opening batsmen, Tim Stimpson and Simon Halliday, they were soon clocking up the runs. Some on-target bowling ensured the wickets fell at regular intervals keeping the appreciative crowd thoroughly entertained. The presence of 12 year old Jack Griffiths, son of former cross-code player Jonathan Griffiths batting at No. 6 set the tone of the day – it was all about having fun and fundraising!
It was a good job that the organisers had brought a few spare balls as the Union team hit out in the final few overs, dunking several balls for six in the stream that surrounds the picturesque pitch.
 An impressive score of 191 was set for the League team to chase. The first ball of the innings was bowled by son Jack to dad Jonnie and along with fellow opener, Cameron Phelps the League team began to attack the total. But the enthusiasm of the players to keep the score ticking over resulted in reckless stroke play and the wickets began to tumble thick and fast.
A cameo performance by Pontblyddyn overseas guest from Sri Lanka, Charlie Fernando provided a wonderful crescendo to the match with a flurry of sixes dispatched around the ground. The 19 year old is sure to be a future star. But despite the last blast, the League team ran out of overs, falling seven runs short of the total.
Dick Greenwood and Charlie Womersley of the Ribble Valley and Manchester & Cheshire Regions pooled their resources to generate a wonderful inaugural event that is destined to be a regular fixture on the Spoon calendar. Richard Greenwood, was delighted with the inaugural event's success. Richard said: “It went spectacularly well. There was a magnificent response from the public. We hope to run it again next year.”
“If you could measure its success by the width of smiles, length to length, we've gone a very long way.”
Spectators, sponsors and players had a wonderful day which wouldn't have been possible without the awesome support of so many people. Thank you from Spoon to all those from the world of rugby who gave up their time and energy to join in the fun and help raise funds for Spoon.
Sponsors:
Without the commitment of the Sponsors the event would not have taken place. A huge thank you for everyone's support and dedication to the project.
Title Sponsor:
Seabrook Crisps
Supported by:
Pontblyddyn
Davies Wallis Foyster
Butterworth Spengler
Fraser Wealth Management
Medhurst IT Solutions
NJL Consulting
With special thanks to the Kaufmann Family for their hospitality and use of the ground
And last but by no means least, the various sponsors of players
Scorecard
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Batting |
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Bowling |
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Rugby Union
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Score |
4's |
6's |
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Wickets |
Runs |
Over No's |
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Tim Stimpson
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31 |
4 |
2 |
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0 |
21 |
16 & 18 |
| Simon Halliday |
25 |
2 |
2 |
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0 |
22 |
7 & 9 |
| Charlie Hodgson |
5 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
16 |
8 & 10 |
| Dusty Hare |
26 |
3 |
1 |
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1 |
22 |
4,6 & 20 |
| Will Greenwood |
16 |
0 |
2 |
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1 |
17 |
12 &14 |
| Neil Back |
2 |
0 |
0 |
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2 |
17 |
15 & 17 |
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Jack Griffiths
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3 |
0 |
0 |
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1 |
23 |
1 &19 |
| Henry Paul |
7 |
0 |
1 |
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0 |
0 |
DNB |
| Adam Partridge |
8 |
4 |
0 |
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1 |
13 |
2 |
| Charles Fernando |
32 |
1 |
4 |
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2 |
7 |
11 & 13 |
| Kevin Owen |
20 |
2 |
1 |
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1 |
14 |
3 & 5 |
| Extras |
16 |
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| Total |
191 |
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Batting |
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Bowling |
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| Rugby League |
Score |
4's |
6's |
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Wickets |
Runs |
Over No's |
| Jonathan Griffiths |
48 |
7 |
0 |
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0 |
41 |
9 & 11 |
| Cameron Phelps |
11 |
1 |
1 |
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1 |
15 |
6 & 8 |
| Pat Richards |
7 |
1 |
0 |
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0 |
18 |
2 & 4 |
| Andy Northey |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
2 |
1 & 3 |
| Dave Rotherham |
17 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
DNB |
| Jason Critchley |
10 |
2 |
0 |
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0 |
26 |
17 & 19 |
| Ady Spencer |
6 |
1 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
14 & 16 |
| Abi Ekoku |
16 |
2 |
0 |
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1 |
21 |
10 & 12 |
| Garry Schofield |
5 |
0 |
0 |
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2 |
24 |
18 & 20 |
| Andy Gregory |
11 |
1 |
0 |
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2 |
20 |
13 & 15 |
| Charles Fernando |
35 |
2 |
4 |
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0 |
0 |
DNB |
| Brian Noble |
DNB |
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1 |
22 |
5 & 7 |
| Extras |
18 |
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| Total |
184 |
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| Rugby League Legends: |
Rugby Union Legends: |
| Andy Gregory (Wigan, Great Britain) |
Will Greenwood MBE (Harlequins, England, Lions) |
| Garry Schofield OBE (Leeds, Great Britain) |
Neil Back MBE (Leicester, England, Lions) |
| Jonathan Griffiths (St Helens, Great Britain) |
Charlie Hodgson (sale Sharks, England, Lions) |
| Abi Ekoku (Great Britain Athletics, London Broncos, Bradford Bulls) |
Tim Stimpson (Leicester, England, Lions) |
| Pat Richards (Wigan, Ireland, via Australia) |
Dusty Hare (Leicester, England, Lions Nottinghamshire Cricket) |
| Andy Northey (Lancashire Schools Cricket, St Helens) |
Simon Halliday (Oxford Uni Rugby & Cricket, Bath, England) |
| Jason Critchley (St Helens, Wales) |
Sean Morris (Durham Uni, CEO PCA, Hampshire Cricket) |
| Ady Spencer (Cambridge Uni, Great Britain U19's London Harlequins) |
Henry Paul (Bradford Bulls, Great Britain, Gloucester RFC, England) |
| Dave Rotheram (London Broncos) |
Adam Partridge (Auctioneer, TV Presenter of Flog It) |
| Cameron Phelps (U19 Australia, Wigan) |
Jack Griffiths (Pembrokehsire U12, son of Jonathan) |
| Brian Noble (Bradford Bulls, Wigan, Great Britain) |
Kevin Owen (Pontblyddyn Cricket Club) |
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Charlie Fernando (Pontblyddyn Cricket Club & Sri Lanka) |
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| Author: Sarah Griffiths |
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