IN local cricket circles it has always been said that some real characters have come out of Llandigige Fawr, the home of Llanrhian Cricket Club, and there is no doubt that their current first-team captain, Richard Reed, falls into that category.

Not for Richard the ebullience of some that have gone before him but a quiet assurance and a smashing sense of humour which is sometimes necessary at Llanrhian because they have a small squad out in their country home and there are jobs aplenty to be done at the ground and sometimes a need to chase around for players on a Friday night or Saturday morning.

His sense of fun comes out in unlikely places, like when we asked him about how he came to lead the club and how his first season of captaincy had gone.

“That’s easy,” he says with a typical chuckle, “no-one else wanted the job and although I’ve enjoyed my involvement I can’t say I have had a very successful campaign as a batsman.”

In point of fact, Richard did score 60 plus at Llechryd and 30 against Haverfordwest, plus quite a few double-figure scores, but hasn’t managed to score consistently as he has done other seasons.

Perhaps it’s the weight of responsibility that has reduced his fire-power but all it needs is one spark to get going - and it certainly hasn’t diminished his willingness to take on the role because he has already indicated that he is ready to take on the job next year - if no-one else wants to be skipper!

In previous years Richard has achieved success as an opening bat, and his first three-figure score came against Burton Seconds in 2011 where he struck ten fours and a six (an almighty hoick over square leg) in his 106 not out - and celebrated his first ‘ton’ in style at the nearby Sloop Inn!

Then three years later his second undefeated century came with a boundary-laden innings of 102 at St Ishmaels - and in the first division he scored 80 against Cresselly Firsts as his best score in the top echelon.

He had started at Llandigige Fawr after being encouraged to play there by his mum Angharad (“a great taxi driver!”) and dad Alan (who played rugby in school and later played football for Fishguard Sports) – and played initially with the under 11 team coached by Peter Sterling and Steve Brodie.

“I played my first senior game for the Third XI when I was 11,” said Richard, “on the St Davids School pitch with Peter Mogg and Tim Lounds as the most senior players - and I was soon keeping wicket regularly and batting at No 7.

“At 14 I was a regular in the seconds and claimed my first half century with 55 not out against Whitland 3rds, which was brilliant because my parents were watching.

“Then in 2011 I broke into the first team, with Ben Jones as skipper, and with players of the calibre of Gareth ‘Cadfael’ Davies, Matthew Bennett, Jack and Luke Jones we gained promotion to Division Two and I was delighted to be third in the batting averages amongst such quality players.

“I think we created a bit of a shock the following campaign because we got promoted into Division One and it was nice to play against the top clubs, although it was never easy, to say the least.

“Since then we have yo-yoed a bit but played with a sense of fun, which is Llanrhian’s way, and I was vice-captain to Paul Lewis, which I must admit I enjoyed, and is probably why I agreed to become club captain this season.”

Outside of his cricket, Richard was a useful footballer in his younger days, playing in goal for Merlins Bridge and also representing Pembrokeshire from under 11s to 15s under the coaching of Angela Nicholls, Jamie Lonergan and Gerry Rigby.

“I remember playing a few matches in Aberystwyth with Angela and I was picked alongside good players like Henry Durrant, Kieran O’Brien, Mikey Boswell and Dan Williams."

Golf has been another game that Richard has enjoyed for a number of years at St Davids Golf Club and is currently off a handicap of 14, despite the fact that he doesn’t play as often as he would like because of other commitments.

“St Davids is only nine holes but is a beautiful course and I started there when I was about ten and thoroughly enjoyed it from the start - and my father agreed to take me for a few lessons at Priskilly Golf Club on Sunday mornings.

“I try to play at least once a week but I’m not a competitive golfer and admit that I sometimes find the game maddening, but great fun - but I’m certainly not a winter golfer at all!

“I have managed to gradually reduce my handicap but to be honest it is cricket that is my summer sport so golf has to take second place to Llanrhian Cricket Club.”

Being captain not only entails leading the team in games but there are nets to organise, selection meetings to attend, help sometimes needed for Colin Holness (a great club man) in preparing the pitch, using the heavy roller on the square, fund-raising (always important in a village team) and anything else to help other characters like Alun Davies and Co.”

So what of the future for Richard and Co at Llandigige Fawr because they certainly haven’t been firing on all cylinders, although he points to a win at Stackpole as one that shows what they can achieve.

“We scored 190-odd and bowled them out for under 100 with a depleted side - and we have to remember that since last season we have lost quality players like Dom and Henry Wright, Luke Jones, Geraint Morris (back in Australia) and the Arundel boys; but there’s one thing for sure and that is the fact that we will keep enjoying our games, whatever the result.”

We asked club Chairman David Halse about his captain and he told us: “Richard has won titles with both the first and second XI in the past, and we had no hesitation in giving him the club captaincy for this campaign.

“He has taken it on at a difficult time for the club, as we know we have a lot of rebuilding to do after losing many of the players that helped us spend four years in Division One.

“But he is a popular captain and a great club man, and we hope he will stay in the role for some considerable time.”

We could pay Richard no higher compliment and can safely say that Llanrhian Cricket Club is in safe hands as long as they have people of his calibre taking such an active role!