Prestatyn pen their own tale of success

Jun 7 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

”COME to sunny Prestatyn,” begins one of Philip Larkin’s poems before considering the difference between the idealised worlds promised by advertising and the grim realities of daily life.

OMore than 40 years later, Prestatyn’s cricketers are echoing the words of Hull’s grumpy genius, but with no secondary purpose. They really would like players and supporters in the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition to visit their Beach Close ground and they hope to entertain them royally if they do.

Skipper Morné Williams is as intent on securing Premier League points as any other captain in the league but he takes a broader perspective on the game.

“I always tell my players to enjoy the time that we are playing together because we don’t know what’s round the corner,” he said. “To visiting teams, I say that we should relish playing a game of cricket together and then enjoy each other’s company afterwards.”

This sense of sporting togetherness and of competition being only one aspect of what cricketers do on their summer Saturdays is reflected in the sense of community which is at the heart of the Prestatyn ethos.

In addition to playing and training together, Williams’ team organises barbecues and poker nights at the club; all the squad turns up on Friday evenings for the junior coaching sessions at which numbers have risen from 70 to around 120. Williams believes that it is these habits which helped his men over the line in the promotion run-in last September.

“We have very much the same side that we’ve had for the last three or four years,” he said. “We’re a unit, and on a Thursday night we might discuss Saturday’s opposition and how we will approach the coming game. Of course, we have our disagreements on the field – it’s like a good marriage – but essentially we’re together.”

Playing good, tough cricket matters too, of course, and what Williams’ players talked about a couple of evenings ago in advance of today’s visit to Firwood Bootle would make fascinating hearing. The captain himself is content to take refuge in a straightforward assessment.

“What can I say ? They’re the best team in the league,” he admitted. “We’ll just try to be a bit stronger than they expect.”

Prestatyn’s strengths have already been very evident to the four teams they have defeated this season and Williams’ side is well on course to achieve the captain’s objective of finishing among the top six in the Premier League.

A key element in the Welsh side’s bright start had been the batting of Daniel Thomas. In nine innings the 23-year-old opener has scored 392 runs with centuries against Formby and Hightown.

“Daniel’s Prestatyn through and through,” said Williams. “He’s got a good technique and a fine temperament, and we’re playing around him at the moment.”

But before very long, any Beach Close tale will return to the sense of collective achievement, and so it proves with Thomas.

“Daniel’s father is our president and our sponsor and our motivator,” explained Williams. “He and his friends were on the ground to see Daniel get his hundred against Formby and that was a good moment for the whole club.

“Lots of people believe in us, as does the local authority, and that’s enabled the club to buy new covers, sightscreens and nets recently.” he adds, without needing to mention that those facilities are being used by appreciative juniors, thus enabling the Prestatyn success story to carry on.

“We’ve been impressed by the standards of fielding, spin bowling and captaincy in the Premier League and every second-team player at the club wants to play at that standard.” Williams said. “There’s a real buzz about the place.”

TODAY: Business Assistance Liverpool Competition: ECB Premier League: Bootle v Prestatyn, Colwyn Bay v St Helens Recs, Fleetwood Hesketh v Wallasey, Maghull v Hightown, New Brighton v Formby, Northern v Lytham, Ormskirk v Southport and Birkdale. First Division: Ainsdale v Skelmersdale, Leigh v Rainford, Newton-le-Willows v Huyton, Orrel Red Triangle v Sefton Park, St Helens v Northop Hall, Wavertree v Highfield, Wigan v Liverpool.