Cricket clubs across region to honour tragic umpire

NEARLY 50 cricket clubs across South Wales will mark the start of their games on Saturday with a minute's silence in memory of umpire Alcwyn Jenkins.

A message has been put on the South Wales Cricket Association website today urging all 46 first and second XI teams to take part.

Mr Jenkins, aged 72, was umpiring a game between Swansea and Llangennech at the city's St Helen's ground last Saturday when he was struck on the head by a ball thrown by a fielder. The widower, from Skewen, died on the way to hospital.

It is expected that dozens of Mr Jenkins's contemporaries in cricket will attend his funeral, a date for which has not yet been announced.

Speaking earlier this week, the association's honorary chairman Neil Hobbs, said: "I've umpired with Alcwyn — great guy. He was well respected throughout the league and everybody knew Alcwyn."