Dai Sport

Growing up as a cricket-mad girl in Port Talbot, Alex Griffiths had far more opportunities to play the sport she loved than those who had gone before her. Still, by her own admission, cricket was a small part of her childhood sporting landscape which makes it all the more remarkable the 18-year-old has made it to the top of the game. A highly talented allrounder, Griffiths came through Wales’ development pathway and in one summer, she represented every team from her under-13 age group to the senior side.

The 2021 British & Irish Lions tour could be the toughest test of Warren Gatland’s coaching career according to three-time Lions tourist Dai Young. It’s not that Gatland won’t have the talent to face down the world champion Springboks, but Young believes his biggest challenge will be in keeping his players mentally fresh off the field when they are confined to their strict COVID bubble. “There is nobody more experienced than Warren Gatland and he knows how to get the best out of teams. But this is a different kettle of fish for any coach,” said Young.

Sam Gordon produced a blistering performance on the hottest day of the year to smash his PB in London. The Cardiff athlete clocked 10.25 in his second round heat at the Newham and Essex Beagles Sprints and Hurdles Open on Sunday.

Wales’ Euro 2020 hero Kieffer Moore had to be protected after a gruelling domestic season impacted by Covid-19, interim manager Robert Page has explained. Former lifeguard Moore was Wales’ saviour in their tournament opener against Switzerland as his second-half headed equaliser secured a 1-1 draw in Baku. The 6ft 5ins Cardiff City striker had only started two of the eight games Wales had played since manager Ryan Giggs went on leave in November, with Page preferring to play a false nine alongside two widemen.

Nick Selman labelled Marnus Labuschagne “a nightmare to run with” – but it didn’t deter the pair from sharing a century stand to lead Glamorgan to their first T20 Blast win of the summer against Essex Eagles. Chasing 154, Selman was joined by his fellow Queenslander at 21 for 1, and both passed 50 as they proceeded to put on 110 in 13.1 overs and ensure Chris Cooke’s team bounced back from Thursday’s agonising defeat against Gloucestershire. Man of the match Selman struck seven fours and two sixes to make 65 in just 45 balls before tamely giving a return catch back to Essex captain Simon Harmer.

Rising young Welsh distance athlete Osian Perrin produced a sensational run to break the 44-year-old Welsh junior 5,000m record in Watford on Saturday. At the end of a thrilling 5,000m B race where Perrin swapped the lead with Dominic Nolan several times, the Menai Track and Field athlete broke the tape in 13:53.03.

Kieffer Moore insists he will take confidence from a goal against Switzerland he believes Zlatan Ibrahimovic would have been proud of. The Wales striker – nicknamed Zlatan by his Cardiff City teammates after a 20-goal season in the Championship – has pushed himself into the Euro 2020 spotlight with his equaliser for Wales against Switzerland in the 1-1 draw. Now, Moore has turned his attention to Wales’ next game against Turkey on Wednesday, which is likely to be the pivotal in their attempts to reach the tournament’s knockout stages.

Wales have lost their seat at the top table of men’s European hockey and will have to qualify for the elite tier of EuroHockey next season. Danny Newcombe’s team needed to bet Russia to pip France for a top six finish at the current tournament in Amsterdam, but were held to a 3-3 draw. The result means Wales must now pre-qualify for a place in the first division at the next EuroHockey Championships in 2023.

Two of Wales' Olympic hopefuls experienced contrasting fortunes in the south of France on Saturday night. Jake Heyward clocked a big new 800m personal best while Melissa Courtney-Bryant dropped out of the 1500m on her final lap. Having run two 1500m Olympic qualifying times and a new personal best over the distance during the past two weeks, Heyward dropped down to the two lap distance at the Meeting International De Nice.

Wales U20 head coach Ioan Cunningham has told his players to win, but with style, when they launch their Six Nations campaign next week. The former Scarlets forwards coach – who was recently confirmed in his new role – has named a squad of 32 for the delayed tournament which kicks off next Saturday at Cardiff Arms Park against Italy. "Overall, it is a fairly young squad, there are only six players carrying over from last year’s group so it’s an induction of fresh new talent to the group which is exciting,” said Cunningham, who has taken over from Gareth Williams.