Dinas Powys Cricket Club pay tribute to Peter Colley

DINAS Powys Cricket Club paid a fitting tribute to one of its fondest members on Saturday as the Peter Colley Memorial Match raised more than £5,000 for charity.

A roaring raffle, a keenly-contested auction and many generous donations online and in person were testament to the high esteem in which Pete was held, as players past and present gathered on the Common to celebrate the life of a much-missed Villager.

In an entertaining 40-over contest, Pete’s brother Geoff led an all-star Pete XI, including the lesser-spotted Derek Waite and Mark Ryan, as well as some more recognisable faces in Gordon Hannah, Gareth Evans, Ian Coughtrey, Jack Fleckney and Gareth Marks.

Peter Colley's family

Among those fronting up for Alex Vowles in the DP Select XI were John Clogg, Mavis Wilton, Red Todd-Bennett, Andy Ford, Rob Tucker and sun-kissed West Walian Neil Thomas.

Batting first, Pete’s XI amassed 245-11 off their allocated overs, owing largely to fifties for Miles Wilton and Hannah, with Lloyd DiMauro picking up 3-23.

In response, Dinas battled to 224-13, with Curtis Wingren (53), Jason Harries (32) and DiMauro (34*) doing the bulk of the damage with the bat.

Action from Saturday's game

Derek Waite’s 4-22 was the highlight of a mixed bag with the ball, and while Pete’s boys ran out worthy winners by 21 runs, the result was largely irrelevant on a fantastic day held in aid of Marie Curie.

Special thanks to umpire Ian Richardson, scorers Ken Hannah and Adrian Colley, music maestro Nathan Waite, tea lady Ruth Clogg, fundraisers Shelley Williams and Maria Lewis, head chef Jeff Mitchell and his front of house Sue Godden and Kelly Mitchell, and all who helped with setting up, packing away and supporting such a worthy cause.

Peter, a long-serving player, supporter and clubman at DPCC, passed away in March but will always be remembered as a funny, entertaining and loyal companion to so many in the village across many different sports.

Geoff Colley bowls

And there is little doubt that Pete was looking favourably on his old teammates on Sunday as Dinas recorded three league wins in a weekend for the first time this season.

In fact, the Villagers won each game comfortably, with the First Team sweeping aside Newport Fugitives Seconds by eight wickets, Dinas Seconds turning over Miskin Manor Thirds by 10 wickets and DPCC Thirds scoring 71 more runs than Abercynon Seconds.

The crowd enjoying the cricket on the weekend

Bowling out the Fugitives for just 113, the First XI held their catches as Will Palmer (3-17) and Lewis Clarke (3-16) bagged the most wickets, not that the latter’s 12-ball opening over promised such a healthy haul.

Gordon Hannah was the Dinas mainstay with the bat, racing to 61 off just 50 balls to see the Villagers home in the 19th over.

Elsewhere in Tonyrefail, the Seconds dished out a hammering for a young Miskin side, which succumbed for just 28 inside 17 overs.

A fine all-round display saw everyone contribute a catch, wicket or score with the bat (aside for M.S. Donut, who drove well), as Dinas romped home in a match lasting almost as long as the return journey.

Richard Morgan (4-12), Reuben Mitchell (2-10) and Rhys Lloyd (2-0) were the main Dinas destructors, with Andy Palmer (22*) hitting 5 fours in his brief assault on the Miskin attack.

Finally, on the Common, Andy Smith (29) and Niles Wilton (33) set the Thirds on their way to 144-6 off their 30 overs, before Abercynon collapsed to 73 all out.

Andy Hurley (3-24), Hywel Owen (2-22) and Rhys Bradley (2-9) were the pick of the Dinas bowlers as the Villagers wrapped up their third win in a row.

• Donations to Pete Colley's fundraiser can be made via the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/peter-a-colley?fbclid=IwAR1zzHutH5FUKhesqgyYJ0A0p021ZNioe1Ei5qvLqkkBX5jtl9w7lLny--I