Aberdare Boys’ Grammar School

Sporting Activities

Newspaper Reports of 1941 Cricket

from Elfed Davies

Schools Cricket

ABERDARE C.S.’ BRILLIANT VICTORY.

Aberdare C.S. entertained Neath C.S. on Saturday at the School Field, Aberdare, batting first on an ideal wicket, suffered a temporary setback when their two opening batsmen lost their wickets cheaply, but with the help of R. Mills, who made a very useful 17, the situation improved. With the additional help of G.S.Bird and Leslie Evans, who made 16 and 17 respectively, Aberdare finally reached 76. After the lunch interval, Neath, losing their first three batsmen for 2 runs, recovered sufficiently to make 47 runs. Aberdare won, therefore, by 29 runs.

Credit is due to the Aberdare team for brilliant teamwork, and it must be remembered that Neath have one of the finest teams in South Wales. “Laurels” must be accorded to John Davies, who took five wickets for 10 runs; to Leslie Evans, who took 3 wickets for 9 runs; to G. Bird; who took 2 wickets for 20 runs, and to a newcomer of the team, Nantlais Evans, who is to be complimented on his brilliant wicket keeping.

Aberdare Leader, 28 June 1941

County School Cricket.

REVIEW OF SEASON, 1941

It can be safely said that this season has been one of the best that the Aberdare C.S. has experienced for a very large number of years.

Out of 11 games played, 8 were won, 2 lost, and 1 drawn.

A “friendly” game with Public Schools XI was also won. The most conspicuous win was the one over Neath County School, when the school won by 29 runs.

Other wins included a win of 105 runs over Vaynor, one of 85 runs over Ilford, and one of 7 wickets over Cyfarthfa.

The head of the batting averages was Raymond Mills, the vice-captain who, with an aggregate of 203 and an average of 22.5 was easily ahead of the second, Fred James, who with an aggregate of 61, had an average of 12.2. Next came G.S. Bird (capt.) and Owen Thomas, both with averages of 9.66; then Leslie Evans with an average of 9.13. The last-named was very unfortunate in being run out no fewer than 4 times during the season.

D.M. Barling, headed the bowling with an average of 3.66 (33 wickets for 121 runs); then came Leslie Evans with 5.69 (26 for 148); then G.S. Bird with 6.39 (18 for 115); and then J. Davies and R. Mills with averages of 7.10 and; 7.66 respectfully [sic].

The highest individual, scorer was R. Mills with 44, and the highest score made by the team was 150 for 4 declared (v. Ilford).

So ends a great season.

O.L.T.

Aberdare Leader, 16 August 1941

O.L.T., was Owen Llewellyn Thomas of Broniestyn Terrace, son of D.E. Thomas.

Raymond Mills entered the school in 1934 and came from the Town Council School.

G.S. Bird was Graham S. Bird. He later became a second generation member of the Bird family to work at the law firm of T. Marchant Harries. His father, Spencer Bird had been with the firm since 1927; and Graham’s son works there now.

Leslie Evans came from Cwmaman and entered the school in 1934.

David Mansel Barling was the youngest of the three Barling brothers who attended the school. Their father was the mining engineer Gilbert B. Barling, who at one time managed Tower Colliery in Hirwaun. Mansel went to UCW Aberystwyth and was subsequently a lecturer in agriculture.

Nantlais Parry Evans came from Timothy Row in Cwmbach. Last heard of living in Dorset.

The School was sharing the Trecynon accommodation with Ilford County School in 1940 & 1941. The two schools kept separate identities and so it was not unexpected that the two schools should play each other. Similar arrangements were in operation at the other end of town, where Ilford County High School for Girls shared the Plasdraw building with the girls of the Aberdare Girls’ Intermediate School.

Some of the players mentioned can be seen in the team photo for the following year, Cricket 1st XI 1942, in the Sporting Activities section of this website.

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