Lawrence Williams, a fast-medium bowler from Tonna , was a member of Glamorgan’s Championship-winning team in 1969.
Lawrence had graduated from club cricket for Ynysygerwn CC and Gorseinon CC straight into Glamorgan`s side in their Championship winning season of 1969. He made his first-class debut against Yorkshire at Swansea and finished the season with a highly creditable 56 wickets.
His fast-medium seam bowling won him a regular place in the county`s attack during the early 1970`s, taking over 50 first-class wickets every season from 1969 until 1974. He proved to be a most effective foil to Malcolm Nash or Tony Cordle with the new ball, before reverting to a clever change bowler when the county signed Greg Armstrong, the West Indian quick bowler.
1970 was Lawrence’s most productive season with 61 first-class wickets, although his best Championship performance came in 1973 when he returned match figures of 11/120 against Kent at Swansea. He also enjoyed some fruitful summers in List A games, and in 1971 he took 33 wickets and returned several excellent spells, including 4/21 against Leicestershire at Neath and 5/31 against Surrey at Byfleet.
Lawrence struggled with injury during 1975, and made just three appearances in first-class games. He also lost form in 1976, but even so, he was still quite surprised to receive a letter from the Glamorgan committee midway through the summer, warning him about his performance. Several players received similar letters, and like Lawrence, they too were shocked at this quite abrupt treatment. He decided to quit the county at the end of what had been a very troubled season for the Club during 1976, and had there not been so much angst off the field, Lawrence would surely have had a much longer professional career.
WILLIAMS, David Lawrence
Born – Tonna, 20 November 1946.
Died – Ynysygerwn, 26 May 2023.
Best performances for Glamorgan:
In First-class cricket – 37* v Essex at Chelmsford, 1969; 7/60 v Lancashire at Blackpool, 1970.
In List A cricket – 10 v Kent at Swansea, 1973; 5/30 v Hampshire at Bournemouth, 1972.
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| First-class | 150 | 144 | 72 | 399 | 5.54 | – | – | 38 | – |
| List A | 138 | 56 | 30 | 103 | 3.96 | – | – | 14 | – |
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| First-class | 21214 | 816 | 9839 | 363 | 27.10 | 13 | 1 |
| List A | 5884 | 113 | 3716 | 194 | 19.15 |