HOWZAT for equality in cricket!
A Swansea Valley maiden is pushing the boundaries of gender roles in the game after playing for her village club's first team in the South Wales Cricket Association.
Gwenan Davies, a 19-year-old from Trebanos, made history after playing for Clydach against Gowerton in a league fixture last weekend.
Steff Davies, vice captain of the Waverley Park club said: "She's a class act. We don't class her as a girl we class her as one of the boys, she's that good.
"She's not scared of the ball and she does her bit in the field as well, that's why she was selected.
"It's the first time that we have selected a female for the first team in the league and I think she may be the first to play in a South Wales Cricket Association league match."
And the selection has won the approval of the Thomas Carol Insurance South Wales Cricket Association 1st XI Championship Division 1 side with Mr Davies saying: "The supporters are happy because they know that she can do the job better than a lot of the boys.
"It's brilliant to see her playing, she's a good all-rounder."
Miss Davies, who is studying sports' coaching in Loughborough University, said that the game was in her blood.
"I have been playing cricket since I was five or six years old, my father used to be wicket keeper for Glamorgan and he taught me everything I know, my brother Sam and my two uncles and grandfather used to play as well," she said.
Breakthrough
Of her recent breakthrough she added: "I have played for Clydach since I was eight and I have been in the second team for the last two years but the game against Gowerton was the first time I have played for the first team in the league.
"There are a few other girls playing for second teams but I think that I'm the first to play in the South Wales League match.
"Everyone was really keen to get me in there and my father said that it was about time.
"I was nervous to start with but I don't think I did too badly. The Gowerton boys were very respectful as well."
Her sights are now set on enjoying a run in the side.
"I'm in the team again this Saturday to play Tata Steel so hopefully I will become a regular," she said.
Proud dad, Kim, who was a left-handed batsman and wicket-keeper for Glamorgan in the 1970s, said: "It's a proud moment to see her play at anytime but to play in a first division cricket match is no mean feat, it was a special day.
"It's been a long journey, she has been through the Wales girls' age groups and is currently in the England U19 development squad."
Gwenan isn't the only current cricket star in the family with her brother, 21-year-old Sam, having recently played for Glamorgan's second XI.
Mr Davies added: "From my grandfather to my father cricket has been in the family, Arthur Francis is my first cousin, and while I was playing for Clydach the children would come along and watch me play.
"I suppose it all took off from there."
