HARRY Phillips created quite a stir at Kingsmoor Cricket Ground in Kilgetty as the 14 year old increased his personal best cricket score by an amazing 89 runs – and was not out in the process!

Harry was playing for Kilgetty Seconds in their division six match against table-topping Camrose Seconds, who included seasoned players like Gelly James and Brian Hawkins, but it mattered not one jot because after facing only 75 deliveries he scored a massive 132 not out in a final total of 232 for 3 wickets.

He also claimed two wickets as Camrose were shot out for only 62 runs to give Harry and Co victory by 168 runs!

He was chosen to bat at No 5 by his dad Chris, who doubles up as the team’s captain, and joined Peter Hall at the wicket; one of the best-known players in the county over the last half century or more, who has surely scored more runs in that time than anybody else.

Now ‘Horlicks’ is 53 years older than Harry and gave him every encouragement from the outset until he was dismissed for 27, whereupon another 14 year old in Jack Waters proved to be a more than useful partner.

Harry certainly took the Camrose bowling to task so that skipper Gelly James returned unlikely figures of 0 for 69 and Brian Hawkins was marginally better with 3 for 50. The only half chance he gave came from a no-ball where Father Paul Boyle, fresh from administering a wedding ceremony and looking quite splendid in his pre-match religious regalia, thundered in for a brave effort, only to hear the ‘No Ball’ call!

During his stay at the crease, Harry smashed 18 fours and five sixes so 102 of his runs came in boundaries of one sort or another. Indeed, he reached three figures with a big hit over mid wicket off the bowling of Ben Skudder and the cheering, led by proud mum Merrilee, was the first inkling that Harry had that he had scored his maiden century.

It was a great moment but he soon knuckled down again so that he was there at the end of the Kilgetty innings – and clapped in by the sporting Camrose team!

Outside of his cricket, Harry is also keen on other sports and none more so than football, where he plays up front for the Tenby junior team that is coached by Ian Poole which has had a win in the final for their age group when they won the under 14s cup at Marble Hall.

He is already looking forward to grabbing his share of the goals again when the new season starts at under 16 level, with Christiano Ronaldo as his favourite goal grabber for Real Madrid and Portugal.

Harry also plays as flanker for the Greenhill School rugby team coached by Mr Chris Oliver and for the Narberth Junior side that won the Under 14s cup final on play-off day at Haverfordwest, beating Crymych by 14-10 in a final generally agreed to be the best of the day.

It is a similar story in cricket because Harry plays for a school team coached by Cresselly captain, Mr Phil Williams, as well as for Kilgetty and the county.

That he should be so involved in sport is perhaps only natural because Harry’s dad Chris has always been involved in football and has been a referee for the past three seasons, and has already been on the line for junior finals.

Henry’s mum Merrilee, as well as watching him play cricket, has run in half marathons, whilst older brother Leon (17) is hoping to be back in action for Kilgetty AFC at the start of the new campaign.

Then there’s younger sister Mia, who is 11 and plays football for Stepaside Junior School, has also represented them in Kwik Kricket, as well as swimming for Tenby Dolphins.

The sporting part of the family is completed by Harry’s granddad Wallace Howells, who is Merrilee’s dad and a well-known footballer for Kilgetty AFC in his time alongside Graham Jenkins.

Harry set out in cricket after Chris took him down to try the game at Kingsmoor Sports Association ground after he had shown promise at Stepaside School. Dad had teased him about the fact that he had an Ormond Youth winner’s medal at Narberth in a team that included Paul Phillips, Richard Howell and Gregg Morris – but Harry has already helped win silverware in football and rugby and on this latest cricket performance will pass Phillips senior in cricket too!

Harry’s performances as a developing left arm fast bowler and middle order batsman has earned him selection for the county team alongside Kilgetty colleagues Liam Cullen and Toby Poole, plus former playing colleague Tom Murphy.

His coach for club and county is Ian Poole and the club side hasn’t lost for a long time – and did brilliantly last season to reach the Welsh Cup Final. It was played at Ynysangharad Park in Pontypridd, with Harry and the rest of the Kilgetty lads just missed out on bringing the coveted silverware back to Pembrokeshire!

But now Harry’s back in action for the Kilgetty club’s seconds’ side and clearly doing very well indeed. It’s great that there are old hands like Peter Hall and Chris Phillips to help the youngsters develop their skills and there is no doubt that we are sure to hear a great deal more about Harry in the future.

Peter Hall started out as a very precocious young talent at Carew in the early 1960s and perhaps Harry Phillips might be another to follow in that run-scoring manner. He has certainly made a flying start because there can be few batsmen who have scored 132 not out as a 14 year old – and we will watch Harry’s progress with great interest!