Owen Jones was reputed to have been the fastest bowler in South Wales during the 1880s and 1890s with the former pupil of Llandovery College producing some useful bowling returns. He was also something of a fiery character and whilst at Jesus College, Oxford, during the late 1870s he had been rusticated from the university after causing damage to a railway carriage and travelling in a first-class compartment whilst possessing a third-class ticket!
Jones was a stalwart member of the South Wales CC and played for the gentleman’s side on several occasions before getting the call-up to play for the Welsh county in June 1891. His first appearance for Glamorgan saw him appear against the MCC at Swansea. He played again in 1892 in the two matches against Monmouthshire, at Swansea and Newport, posting a career-best 79 in the latter game at Rodney Parade.
The following year, he made three further appearance for Glamorgan and in the match against Monmouthshire at Swansea he posted a combative 52 before returning career-best figures of 5/34 against the MCC at Lord’s. Rev. Jones did not play for Glamorgan during 1895 or 1896, but appeared in four further games in 1897 but without any major effect. He subsequently became a mainstay of the Cowbridge club.
He was reputed to have been a man of great physical energy and tact, and frequently restored order in the Vale of Glamorgan town amongst the assorted local ruffians who quaffed in The City Inn. Jones’ own favourite hostelry was The Duke of Wellington, kept by his great friend Arthur Spencer, and in subsequent years it was not unknown for this cricketing cleric to spend a quiet hour there while his team was batting.
Earlier in his career, Jones had taught at Abingdon GS and the Royal Medical College, Epsom before acting as the curate of Llansannor, Cowbridge. He was subsequently appointed to a curacy at Ganarew in Monmouth, allowing him to act as secretary of Monmouth CC.
JONES, Rev. Owen.
Born – Pontllanycharan, Aberystwyth 1860.
Died – Llangan, Bridgend, 20 December 1923.
Batting and Fielding Record
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| MC Championship | 3 | 6 | 1 | 54 | 10.88 | – | – | 1 | – |
| MC Friendlies | 14 | 22 | 0 | 362 | 16.50 | – | 2 | 2 | – |
Bowling Record
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| MC Championship | 100 | 5 | 73 | 1 | 73.00 | – | – |
| MC Friendlies | 1112 | 54 | 603 | 32 | 18.88 | 1 | – |
Career-best performances
Minor County Championship – 21 and 1/19 v Monmouthshire at St. Helen’s, Swansea, 1897.
Minor County Friendlies – 79 v Monmouthshire at St. Helen’s, Swansea, 1892 and 5/34 v MCC at Lord’s, 1894.