Welsh Cup win of 1985

The following is a brief story of the Welsh Cup run in 1985 as told by the winning Captain Dil Samuel :-

 

GIROBANK CUP 1985

 

The 1970's and 1980's were a period of success for Barry Athletic Cricket Club with many very experienced players playing throughout the 70's and then giving way to some talented youngsters in the 80's.Since 1973, the club had been Welsh Club Cricket Conference champions or runners upon no fewer than 8 occasions.

 

There had been no trophies won  in 1984 and so 1985 began with some expectation for more success under the captaincy of Dil Samuel. B.A.C.C. had reached the semi final of the Girobank Welsh Cup in 1981, losing to Ammanford who had a certain West Indian batsman Linton Lewis in their ranks and who wreaked some havoc.

 

Although doing well in early rounds there had been no success since.1985 was a particularly wet summer which necessitated several rearrangements in games throughout the tournament.

 

The beauty of the Girobank Welsh Cup was , as is the case in most cup competitions, the experience of playing teams not normally met in the league or friendlies. The tournament started in May with easy wins over Ponthir, Blaina, Llanvapley and victory over Blackwood at Barry took the club into the quarter final where they came up against local arch rivals St. Fagans who had beaten the previous year's winners Cardiff to reach this stage. As a result of the wet weather, Barry's home advantage was cancelled out and a rearranged match of 20 overs was scheduled. St Fagans with a certain M.P.Maynard and other big hitters in their side were overwhelming favourites. Barry's modest score of 108 seemed completely inadequate but Maynard and co. were restricted to 93 due to some accurate bowling all round.

 

The final was now only one match away but their semi final opponents were in form Maesteg from the West Wales League. Again, after several rearranged dates, the game was played at a very wet Barry with Maesteg including a Glamorgan and future England player in their ranks, Steve Watkin. Barry, without their injured captain, only managed 122 runs but once again the bowlers bowled beautifully to restrict their opponents to 107.Thus for the first time Barry were in the final at St. Helens Swansea to meet pre tournament favourites  Gowerton who included in their side former Glamorgan stalwarts Eifion Jones and Gwyn Richards. Gowerton won the toss and inserted Barry. Skipper Dil Samuel and Alan Storey gave their side a great start before Huw Grove continued with some excellent batting taking the score up to 195 for 4 in 40 overs with Samuel 79 not out.

 

With their impressive batting strength, this total was well within Gowerton's reach but from the start, the Barry bowling including Rhys Davies, John Clogg, Simon Westphal, John Murphy and Geraint Evans  restricted run scoring and only Eifion Jones was able to bat with any fluency. Gowerton managed only 129 in reply and Barry had won the  Girobank Welsh Cup.

 

The busful of supporters were overjoyed and made themselves heard. Other members of the side not mentioned above but who played their parts throughout the tournament were wicketkeeper Doug Curtin ,Gary Morgan and Carl Thomas.

 

Barry's  prize was to play an Old England X1 at St. Fagans.The Old England X1, under the captaincy of Jim Parks, included Basil D'Oliveira, John Snow, David Allen, Jeff Jones, Alan Oakman, Tom Cartwright etc.

 

However, England were no match for Barry on the day and 'Wales' won a low scoring match by 13 runs. What a way to end a most memorable season.