Lilith
08-31-2002, 09:42 AM
Cricketers bare all at charity match
A six-a-side cricket team stunned hundreds of spectators by stripping off to play naked during a fund-raising tournament in south Wales.
The team from Porth, Rhondda, took off their clothes during the game when summer temperatures soared.
Maybe playing cricket in the buff is the secret of our success
Matthew Adams
They played the contest, against Pontypridd cricket club, in the nude and went on to win the match to make it into the semi-finals.
The six players admitted they had been drinking beer before stripping off in front of a crowd of about 400 at the Hopkinstown ground.
"It was boiling hot out there, so I stripped down to my boxers," said bowler Matthew Adams.
"The next thing, I looked around and all the fielders stripped off completely - even the wicket keeper.
"The crowd was cheering so I thought I would join them. It was great fun."
Money raiser
The 25-year-old believes the stunt helped them win the match.
"Our opponents were taking the match very seriously, so I think us stripping off might have put them off their game.
"We beat them quite easily so maybe playing cricket in the buff is the secret of our success," he added.
The players also refused to wear pads when going in to bat.
The tournament to raise money for youth sports clubs in the area was, held in honour of 37-year-old Robert Jenkins who died in a road accident last Christmas.
Naked Players
Matthew Adams
Max Hoffman
Spencer Flay
Richard Weeks
Damion Muff
Dai Sullivan
A spokesman for the organisers of the tournament said: "Robert was a great character and would have enjoyed the nude cricket match.
"The lads certainly livened up the day by stripping off but we hope this doesn't catch on."
Solicitor Damion Muff, 24, said the crowd were amused with their performance.
"The ladies were especially impressed," he said.
"We were given a round of applause and a standing ovation at the end of the game. It was all good fun," he added.
A six-a-side cricket team stunned hundreds of spectators by stripping off to play naked during a fund-raising tournament in south Wales.
The team from Porth, Rhondda, took off their clothes during the game when summer temperatures soared.
Maybe playing cricket in the buff is the secret of our success
Matthew Adams
They played the contest, against Pontypridd cricket club, in the nude and went on to win the match to make it into the semi-finals.
The six players admitted they had been drinking beer before stripping off in front of a crowd of about 400 at the Hopkinstown ground.
"It was boiling hot out there, so I stripped down to my boxers," said bowler Matthew Adams.
"The next thing, I looked around and all the fielders stripped off completely - even the wicket keeper.
"The crowd was cheering so I thought I would join them. It was great fun."
Money raiser
The 25-year-old believes the stunt helped them win the match.
"Our opponents were taking the match very seriously, so I think us stripping off might have put them off their game.
"We beat them quite easily so maybe playing cricket in the buff is the secret of our success," he added.
The players also refused to wear pads when going in to bat.
The tournament to raise money for youth sports clubs in the area was, held in honour of 37-year-old Robert Jenkins who died in a road accident last Christmas.
Naked Players
Matthew Adams
Max Hoffman
Spencer Flay
Richard Weeks
Damion Muff
Dai Sullivan
A spokesman for the organisers of the tournament said: "Robert was a great character and would have enjoyed the nude cricket match.
"The lads certainly livened up the day by stripping off but we hope this doesn't catch on."
Solicitor Damion Muff, 24, said the crowd were amused with their performance.
"The ladies were especially impressed," he said.
"We were given a round of applause and a standing ovation at the end of the game. It was all good fun," he added.