COOPER'S Edge Cricket Club is gearing up for its third season but is still struggling to find a permanent home.
The club was started in 2011 by residents and has since grown to around 20 members.
However, since there are no cricket pitches on the estate, the team has had to move three times in three years.
Alan Shackell, founder of the Cooper's Edge Cricket Club, says this may stop the club from growing.
He said: "As more people move into the Cooper's Edge estate I can see up to 30 people becoming interested in joining in the next few years but it will be difficult to accommodate them without a permanent home.
"We've been able to get people involved who were not previously interested in cricket and give them a place to socialise, which is important for people moving to a new estate who may not know anyone."
In their first season the club played at King George V playing field before being moved on to Witcombe Cricket Club a year later and they now play in Upton St Leonards.
Cooper's Edge Cricket Club is hoping to find a permanent home in Ermin Street, where developer Bellway Homes is to build up to 200 new homes and sports pitches next to the Invista plant.
Club member Aaron Walters, who joined in April last year, said: "When I first moved here for work I kept to myself, but the club took me out of my own little world.
"To get our own home would be fantastic for the club, because then we could grow, get more people involved and do more charity work."
The club, which currently plays on Wednesday evenings in the fifth division ofGloucester Evening Cricket League, eventually wants to accommodate a senior and a junior team and be able to play on Saturdays.
Results for the club have been mixed so far. They were almost promoted to the fourth division in their first season but finished only fourth out of five teams in 2013.
Barbara Martin, chair of Hucclecote Parish Council, said: "We're delighted that a cricket team has been able to continue in Cooper's Edge and the more sports teams that can be arranged can only be for the benefit of the community.
"For them to find a permanent home in the Ermin Street development would be ideal."
Tim Lund, sales manager at Bellway, said: "Part of the development at Ermin Street will include a cricket pitch, a football pitch and a pavilion.
"Local cricket teams have been invited to apply to take their home at the pitch, and we're looking forward to welcoming a new team when the pitch is opened."
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Sticky wicket for cricket club that has no real home
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Teenager jailed for trying to blackmail £6,000 out of Tuffley care agency bosses
TEENAGER, Andras Nemeth, tried to blackmail £6,000 out of his care agency bosses by sending them a threatening letter.
The Hungarian had his hours cut by Brian Atkinson and his wife Carolyne Collins-Atkinson from Tuffley who ran Carmel Domiciliary Care Ltd before he wrote them a 'badly written' note - demanding they leave cash for him at a drop off point.
Gloucester Crown Court heard he had split up with their daughter, had to move out of their home and was worried about finances when he wrote the letter on January 29, this year.
It stated: "This message is important! We are TVSO (the biggest security organisation). We are make sure everything is under control and we have power to see everything listen everything as we have CCTV (sic)."
It added threats to their safety and said addresses and information about the company were known. He demanded that £6,000 was placed in envelopes and delivered to drop off points in Askwith Road, Gloucester before 8pm that evening.
Prosecutor Janine Wood told the court Mr Atkinson immediately believed the typed note was from Nemeth because of the poor English and that he lived near the drop off.
She said a search of the 19-year-old's home revealed a USB stick with the letter on.
She told the court: "In interview he said he had split up with his girlfriend and that led him to attempt to take his own life.
"He saw one last opportunity to scare them and to get some money.
"His threats were to scare them and he had no intention of harming anyone."
Mrs Collins-Atkinson said she was terrified by the incident and not just for herself, but the rest of her staff.
Defending Stephen Ritter said: "He had got desperate. He was working for them and living with them so he concocted this scam.
"It was naïve and unsophisticated.
"He is likely to leave this country as soon as he possibly can.
"It was an overgrown boy's stupidity and his reaction to the break up with their daughter.
"He is very remorseful and he understands it was a stupid thing to do."
Nemeth pleaded guilty to making demanding money with menaces.
Recorder Rufus Taylor described it as "seriously unsophisticated blackmail".
Jailing him for eight months he told Nemeth, previously of Stanway Road in Gloucester: "Blackmail is one of the ugliest and vicious crimes in the calendar of offences."
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No place for 'tough sounding gimmicks' on knife crime sentencing, Nick Clegg says on Gloucestershire Visit
CRACKING down on knife-wielding criminals by sending them straight to jail is not the most effective way to tackle the issue, Nick Clegg said.
It was reported today that the Deputy Prime Minister and senior Lib Dems are opposed to plans by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling to toughen legislation so that offenders caught with knives more than once are jailed automatically.
The news comes in the same week that police revealed they are looking to expand the use of knife arches in Gloucestershire to crackdown on the problem.
But speaking on a visit to his visit to Air Balloon pub today, the Lib Dem leader said he was keen to "avoid mistakes" where "tough sounding gimmicks" didn't actually work.
He said: "I think the debate we are having is a totally normal Whitehall debate about trying to avoid the mistakes of the past where tough sounding sentencing gimmicks were announced but they didn't actually bring knife crime down.
"I don't want to see youngsters go to prison for a few weeks and come out as hardened criminals committing even worse knife crime.
"I do want to see judges have the freedom to impose tough sentences to suit the individual circumstances of the crime. I want to do what works to keep people safe."
The Citizen reported that two pupils in the city had been excluded recently after being caught with a knife in school. The revelations came after teacher Ann Maguire was fatally stabbed at her school in Leeds this week.
But Mr Clegg said he was keen to avoid a "revolving door" of crime where people go to prison for a few weeks and then come out and commit another offence.
"I have always advocated that you have got to make sure that you change offenders' behaviour and you have got to allow for their rehabilitation so that people who get in trouble today don't become the serial criminals of the future," he said.
Separately, he said the A417 Missing Link campaign will be taken "very seriously" by the Government after seeing first-hand the problems caused by the notorious stretch of road.
The Deputy PM paid a visit to the Air Balloon pub in Birdlip just days after the Highways Agency announced the problem stretch has made it on to a list of roads in the South West earmarked for improvement.
He insisted the £255million bid to build the proposed A417 Loop will get a fair hearing. He said: "I don't come brandishing a magic wand. The sums involved are very significant and money is tight as we all know. But I can certainly see for myself what a major issue this is and I think it deserves to be looked at very seriously, as it will be."
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Ross IIs triumph over Drybrook IIIs in extra time to clinch Minor Cup
ROSS IIs 16
DRYBROOK IIIs 11
ROSS IIs triumphed in extra time over a devastated Drybrook IIIs in the Forest-of-Dean Combination Minor Cup final.
A try in the fifth minute of the first period of sudden death for fly-half Rhys Chandler sealed the victory for Ross, while Drybrook were left to rue missed opportunities.
After almost 40 minutes of deadlock, including two missed penalties for Drybrook, centre Jack Davis crashed over just before the break to give Drybrook a 5-0 advantage.
But this was narrowed when Ross full-back Chris Gage booted a penalty from halfway to make the score 5-3 at the break.
The sides traded penalties at the start of the second half, with Drybrook taking a narrow 8-6 lead before another penalty in the 70th minute gave them an 11-6 advantage.
Ross reacted, with Chandler skipping over in the corner in the 75th minute to level the scores.
The 17-year-old was unleashed once again to score the winning try in sudden death, and secure the cup for Ross IIs.
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Seven-year-old Logan's fight for survival after Forest of Dean crash sparks nationwide campaign
ONE little boy's fight for survival has moved people from across the country to back a campaign to ensure his grandparents can be at his hospital bedside.
Logan Harding, seven, is in an induced coma at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children after he was knocked off his bike yards from his home at Broadwell in the Forest of Dean.
Since then, family friend Libby Foxwell, 38, of Stephen's Place in the village, has done what she can to make life easier for Logan's grandparents, who are still coming to terms with the recent death of their daughter Louise, Logan's mum.
Libby said she has been "overwhelmed" with the response to her 'Luck for Little Logan' Facebook page, which is raising money to help meet Brian and Leslie Harding's daily travel costs across the River Severn and back to see the seven-year-old – who is in a critical condition.
"I felt I had to do something," said Libby, whose daughter Bridie, nine, is friends with Logan and his 10-year-old brother Finley. Logan also has an older brother Connor, 13.
"They are really strong people," she added. "Obviously, they have had their down days but they have just lost their daughter and now this has happened."
Libby said Logan's mum was in her mid-30s when she lost her battle with breast cancer in September.
She is now raising as much money as she can to contribute to hospital parking, fuel and toll costs for the return trip across the old Severn Bridge.
While she acknowledges the couple would manage without her efforts, she said: "It costs £6.40 to get a car over the bridge every day, and that is before paying for anything else."
She is gathering hampers of sweets, vouchers and other gifts which are being raffled off by businesses across the county. Donations are also being made from people in London, Wales and Warwickshire.
A fundraising disco will also be held at Broadwell Club on Sunday May 11.
Libby added: "I've had people ringing me asking to donate, salons and other businesses asking for hampers, campsites asking if there is anything they can do and people who want to give things for the raffle – the response has been phenomenal.
"Logan's grandfather is a self-employed carpenter and if he doesn't work he doesn't get paid, and they go to see him every day. They have been overwhelmed. People who don't even know them have been touched – I can't believe the number of people who have been to my house to drop things off already."
A black Ford Focus allegedly driven by a local woman collided with Logan while he rode his bike in North Road, Broadwell, at around 6.45pm on April 23.
He suffered head injuries.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is urged to call 101, quoting incident 387 of April 23. Anybody who is keen to support Libby can get in touch through the
More details at Luck for Little Logan group on Facebook or call Libby on 07899 975 517.
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Firefighter strikes: Do you back walkouts in Gloucestershire?
FIREFIGHTERS are striking across the county this weekend in a row over pensions and they have the support of many people in Gloucester.
The Fire Brigades Union has arranged strike action over three days, starting yesterday, with further walkouts planned from 2pm today until 2am tomorrow Sunday morning, and then again that day from 10am to 3pm.
It is the latest in a long running dispute between the FBU and Government over plans to raise firefighters' retirement age from 55 to 60 and increase pension contributions.
Around 130 full-time staff and a small number of retained firefighters in the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service are FBU members and could support the strikes.
Gloucestershire County Council has made arrangements for potential large scale incidents, including sharing the resources of neighbouring services.
And people on the streets of Gloucester have voiced their support for the strikes. Lucy Curtis, 35, from Gloucester, said: "Firefighters do a really important job and if they have been wronged by the powers that be they should have the right to strike like everybody else.
"If their pensions and job security are being taken away, no-one will want to be firefighters any more."
Aaron Hated, 30 from Gloucester, agreed, adding: "It's not unjust at all that they are striking because if firefighters retire early because they've been injured they would have to rely on their pension for the rest of their lives."
Graham Nesbitt, 59, from Barnwood, likened the strikes to action taken by teachers earlier this year. He said: "If they have entered into an agreement with their employer there should at least be some renegotiations."
Gloucestershire County Council is encouraging residents to avoid making unnecessary 999 calls and to check their fire alarms, and for businesses to keep fire doors closed and enforce smoking policies.
Chief fire officer Stewart Edgar said: "We have contingency plans in place in the county, which have been proven to be effective in previous strikes.
"We would never be complacent however, I would urge residents and business owners to remain vigilant and make sure they do everything they can to stay safe in their homes or workplace."
Scott Worrall, 32, from Gloucester, said if firefighters feel their pensions are not enough they should have the right to strike like everybody else.
He said: "People become firefighters more for love than money and, like everybody else, they should get what they're entitled to."
Andrew Williamson, 33, from Gloucester, added: "Firefighters do a vital service for the public, and they signed up to the job in the expectation that they would get a certain amount for their pension.
"If that happened to other working people they would be striking too."
Jade Collins, 22, from Gloucester, is against the planned strikes. She said: "It's selfish that they're striking over money. If they had any other job I would support the strike but the county needs the fire service."
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Doctor Who star Matt Smith signs up for new Terminator film
Matt Smith is signing up to star alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the latest Terminator film.
The former Doctor Who actor, who quit the long-running science-fiction show last year, joins a cast that also includes Game Of Thrones star Emilia Clarke.
Paramount Pictures said he will play "a new character with a strong connection to John Connor" - the character played by Jason Clarke - in the film which is called Terminator: Genesis.
Schwarzenegger played the robot assassin of the title role in the original 1984 film which was directed by James Cameron and led to a flurry of follow-ups that cashed in on its cult status.
Millions of viewers tuned in to Doctor Who on Christmas Day to watch Smith hand over the controls of the Tardis to the latest incarnation of the Time Lord in Peter Capaldi.
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TV is main form of company for thousands of older people as Age UK launches loneliness plea
The TV or a pet is the main form of company for thousands of older people in the UK, a comprehensive new survey has found.
Charity Age UK has found that over one million people aged 65-plus in Britain describe themselves as always or often feeling lonely, up on last year, and two in five (41%) say their TV or pet is now their main form of company.
The charity is calling for donations to help fight loneliness through its vital national and local services.
Nearly a third (30%) of older people said they would like to go out more often.
Age UK's research also reveals that one in eight people (12%) aged 65-plus are feeling cut off from society.
Loneliness can be seriously damaging and recent studies have shown it has double the impact of obesity and that feeling extreme loneliness can increase an older person's chances of premature death by 14 per cent.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: "At Age UK we know how devastating loneliness can be for older people and these figures are another reminder of the scale of this issue.
"Loneliness not only makes life miserable for older people it is also really bad for their health making them more vulnerable to illness and disease.
"It is time to take loneliness seriously and that's why we're asking everyone to take action by donating today to help us carry on supporting older people to make the most out of later life.
"Voluntary sector services like Age UK's have never been more important because funding cuts are forcing many of the local services that help older people stay connected, such as lunch clubs, to scale down or close."
Age UK is helping to tackle loneliness by supporting a range of services such as befriending which might include home visits and telephone calls for people who are feeling lonely or isolated.
To help Age UK end loneliness people can donate by calling 0800 169 8787 or texting HELLO to 70004 to donate £3. Alternatively people can go to www.ageuk.org.uk/get-involved/loneliness
Older people and their families can get in touch with Age UK to see how the Charity could help someone who may be feeling lonely by calling Age UK Advice for free on 0800 169 65 65.
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Hundreds take part in Road to 2015 sponsored walk in Gloucester ahead of Rugby World Cup
SPORTING stars, communities and schools united this morning to celebrate the Rugby World Cup coming to the city.
Hundreds of families took part in a sponsored three-mile walk called The Road to 2015 around some of the city's most famous landmarks, to officially launch the lead-up to the 2015 tournament.
Former Gloucester captain Adam Balding, the city's coordinator for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, took part in the walk with his daughter.
"Cultural engagement is a huge part of the World Cup and the legacy it leaves," he said.
"This walk is a big drive towards the event and it is fantastic to see so many children involved."
Among the crowds were pupils and staff from Heron Primary School in Abbeydale.
Jason Brentley, head of PE, said: "We have a long association with Gloucester Rugby, including the coaches and players coming in to work with the children.
"We wanted to do something to support the club's community department and for the children to enjoy a healthy walk at the same time."
The event was organised by Gloucester Rugby and the route was a loop which started and finished at Kingsholm.
Gloucester Rugby players Tavis Knoyle and Darren Dawidiuk led a warm up on the pitch before the walk.
Tavis said: "It is good to give something back to the club.
"The fans give us so much support so we wanted to support them today."
Incentives to raise money were on offer for participants, including tickets to the London Irish fixture.
Sixty per cent of the money raised by each organisation will go towards a cause of their choice – from grassroots sports to much-needed equipment or facilities.
The rest will be donated to Gloucester Rugby for the delivery of community programmes.
Eldersfield Lawn Primary School, Hardwicke Primary School, Churchdown Village Junior School and National Star College were just a few of the schools taking part from across the county.
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Exhaust thieves leave disabled customers stranded after raid on Hardwicke business
THEFTS of exhausts from vehicles in Hardwicke have left two disabled people stranded - and police say such incidents are still rife in Gloucestershire.
Catalytic converters from the exhaust systems were stolen from two Mercedes Sprinter vans from Mobility Disabled, on Bath Road, on April 22, costing the wheelchair adapted vehicle business around £5,000.
Thieves were able to climb over a high fence during the night and sneak into the compound and take the exhausts.
This has left two disabled customers stranded without their specially adapted vehicles while Mobility Disabled try and source the replacement parts.
Geoff Billett, owner of the business, said: "It's just despicable that they would steal from vehicles for disabled people. One of our customers is a transport manager in Cheltenham, and he's irate because he can't get into work."
The vehicles have been specially adapted to lift disabled people into the drivers seat and allow them to drive using hand controls.
Geoff said: "Our customers are stranded now. They can't just go next door and ask their neighbours if they can borrow their specially adapted Sprinter.
"Parts for Mercedes Sprinters have to be specially ordered too, so we're still trying to replace the exhausts."
Last week's incident is one of a series of thefts involving vehicle parts in Gloucestershire. In May 2013, Mercedes Sprinter vans were targeted in Stonehouse on four separate occasions for their catalytic converters, costing vehicle and business owners thousands of pounds.
Catalytic converters, which reduce poisonous gases from the vehicle's exhaust system, are often targeted because they contain precious metals such as platinum and palladium.
A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said: "Although we continue to work hard to tackle this, the theft of catalytic converters continues to be an issue across the whole county.
"If you believe that you may have been a target of this crime or you think that you might have seen anyone acting suspiciously around vehicles in your area, then we urge the public to call police immediately on 101."
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Gloucester Rugby v London Irish: Cherry and Whites edge past Exiles in Kingsholm try fest
Gloucester Rugby 38 London Irish 30
SHANE Monahan and Marland Yarde exchanged hat-tricks as Gloucester fought back in a try fest at Kingsholm.
Scores from Sione Kalamafoni, Charlie Sharples and Monahan should have put the Cherry and Whites in a commanding position.
But London Irish were equally incisive with ball in hand and Ian Humphreys booted the visitors into the lead for the first time on 68 minutes following a touchdown from Gerard Ellis and Yarde's treble.
Burns responded from the tee to give Gloucester a slender one-point lead as the nerve-wrecking encounter continued to twist and turn.
But the result was put beyond doubt when Monahan completed his hat-trick in the closing stages before Burns slotted the conversion, to surpass 1,000 career points for Gloucester.
Nigel Davies men need to win to have any chance of finishing seventh and while they kept their side of the bargain, Newcastle Falcons were unable to cause an upset against London Wasps.
Davies made two changes to the side that was stung by Wasps at Twickenham with Yann Thomas and Sila Puafisi coming into the second-row.
Elsewhere Will James packed down at lock in his final match at Kingsholm before retiring in the summer.
He led the team out after the RAF Falcons parachute display team delivered the match-day ball and Gloucester got off to a flying start.
Twelvetrees was prominent and it was his bust that laid the foundations for the opening score.
The England centre broke the Irish defensive line and offloaded to Jimmy Cowan, who was scragged but the ball was quickly recycled and Elliott Stooke fired a long pass, more befitting of a back, to Kalamafoni who sauntered home.
Twelvetrees added the extras but he did not last much longer after picking up a leg injury in the tackle.
But that did not deter the Cherry and Whites and they grabbed another try while Twelvetrees was receiving treatment.
Jonny May ran a loose Ian Humphreys kick back and Freddie Burns dinked the ball long over the head of Tom Homer.
The full-back was making his 100 appearance for the Exiles but Sharples was unforgiving and won the foot race to dive over.
Burns was unable to add the extras and Twelvetrees was helped off but Gloucester continued to attack at will.
Irish were showing very little following some early soirées into Gloucester territory but Yarde demonstrated his international potential with a sensational individual effort.
The two-cap flyer received the ball on his own ten-metre line but beat three defenders before waltzing inside the covering Sharples.
Humphreys missed the conversion and normal service resumed as Gloucester attacked from all angles.
SKalamafoni, nominated for the Premiership forward of the year award, was in rampaging form and it was his midfield charge put Irish on the ropes.
Cowan was kept at bay after a snipe around the fringes but the ball was recycled and Monahan bulldozed over.
Burns, who required seven points to reach the 1,000 milestone for Gloucester, was once again off target with the boot.
London Irish enjoyed a bright spell in the second quarter and kicked to the corner on three occasions as indiscipline crept into Gloucester's game.
They paid the price when Steve Lee, refereeing his first Premiership encounter, sent Cowan to the sin-bin for backchat.
The Cherry and Whites' defence initially held strong, that was until Yarde got on his hands on the ball and created something from nothing once again. He slipped Mike Tindall and went around the up rushing Shane Monahan, who had created a dog-leg in defence, before beating two more to score.
And Humphreys made no mistake in front of the posts to bring the scores to 17-12 as half-time approached.
Gloucester came flying out of the blocks once again following the restart. Despite being a man down, Tindall broke clear on the overlap, he found Monahan, who still had plenty to do, on the outside and he powered over with Yarde on his shoulders.
But Irish came back fighting in the loose and error-strewn encounter, they surged down field with Yarde threatening to bag a hat-trick before Ellis was bundled over.
Burns kept the scoreboard ticking but that did little to settle any nerves as Yarde completed his hat-trick.
Irish went on the attack following a loose Burns cross-field kick and despite a succession of questionable handling errors Humphreys darted through and offloaded to the red-hot wing.
Humphreys was off-target from the touchline but made amends by booting his side into the lead with a simple penalty on 68 minutes.
Burns responded before Dan Robson sent Monahan over to complete his hat-trick following a chaotic period of play. Myles Dorrian replied with a late penalty as irish fought desperately but Burns rubbed salt into the Exiles' wounds with shot of his own at the death.
Gloucester: Rob Cook; Charlie Sharples (Billy Meakes 21), Mike Tindall, Billy Twelvetrees (Capt.) (Shane Monahan), Jonny May; Freddie Burns, Jimmy Cowan (Dan Robson 63); Yann Thomas (Dan Murphy 55), Huia Edmonds (Dan George 74), Sila Puafisi (Shaun Knight 63); Elliott Stooke, Will James (Tom Savage 51); Sione Kalamafoni, Matt Kvesic (Tom Young 64), Ben Morgan.
Tries: S Kalamafoni, C Sharples, S Monahan (3); Cons – B Twelvetrees, F Burns; Pens – Burns (3)
London Irish: Tom Homer (Alex Lewington 62); Marland Yarde, Fergus Mulchrone, Eamonn Sheridan, Andrew Fenby; Ian Humphreys, Tomás O'Leary (Capt.) (Darren Allinson 53); Matt Parr, Jimmy Stevens (Mike Mayhew 55), Leo Halavatau (Jamie Hagan 47); Ian Gough (Bryn Evans 48), Nic Rouse; Kieran Low, Jebb Sinclair, Chris Hala'ufia (Gerard Ellis 40).
Tries: M Yarde (3) G Ellis; Con – I Humpreys (2); Pens – I Humphreys, M Dorian
Referee: Steve Lee
Attendance: 14,915
Follow all the action below:
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Future of Cinderford RFC director of rugby Andy Deacon in doubt
CINDERFORD are overhauling their coaching structure - a move which could see director of rugby Andy Deacon axed from his current role.
The "director of rugby" role is being removed and will be replaced by a "professional rugby manager" position.
New coaching positions will include head coach, assistant coach, a fitness and analytics coach and a Cinderford United team manager.
All positions will include revised responsibilities and duties and all positions will be advertised, suggesting the club is looking to shake up its current coaching line-up and bring in fresh faces.
A Cinderford RFC press release stated: "To meet the ever increasing challenge of National One Rugby, Cinderford RFC is restructuring the professional arm of the club, which will see a change in a number of positions and responsibilities."
Cinderford secured National One safety by the skin of their teeth this season, currently lying 13th in the table with their final game of the season against Wharfedale to play this afternoon at Dockham Road.
For more information about the coaching roles, please contact Mike Panoho: mikepanaho@cinderfordrfc.co.uk
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Cinderford go out on a high with crushing victory over Wharfedale
CINDERFORD 55
WHARFEDALE 26
UNSHACKLED from the pressure of National One relegation, Cinderford ran riot in their final game of the season against Wharfedale at Dockham Road.
Despite the threat of a coaching overhaul hanging over director Andy Deacon's head, Cinderford steamrollered over the north Yorkshire outfit with nine tries to ensure they finished the season with a bonus-point win and in 11th place in the league.
A blistering performance both in the set-piece and in the back line saw Cinderford score four tries in just 30 minutes in the first half.
From an abrasive scrum which left WHarfedale reeling, fly-half Mark Davies passed out to Nev Codlin who inched his way into the 22. Codlin unleashed Jack Adams, who let Mike Wilcox in to dart past last-ditch tackles and squirrel over.
Davies converted and Cinderford were up after a fantastic start.
The lead was extended as the back line pierced through a lethargic Wharfedale once again. Centre Robbie Winchle's dummy sent the visitors the wrong way, before Adams once again offloaded to Wilcox.
The full-back could have sneaked over but unleashed Sam Baker for a try. Davies converted from in front of the posts and Cinderford's tails were up.
They capitalised from a bulldozing run from flanker George Mills in the 11th minute, who offloaded to Adams just before the line for the centre's 11th try this season, but Davies conversion sliced wide.
19 points down, Wharfedale had to react. But their attacking charges were squandered by poor handling or ill-discipline and they failed to get off the mark.
Cinderford secured the try-scoring bonus point in the 24th minute and they were looking likely to run riot.
Superb work in the line-out from Mills secured possession and another barraging run from in-form Adams and offload from Wilcox, let Codlin over in the corner.
Wharfedale had shaken off the end-of-term feeling that had blighted the first quarter, while Cinderford lost some of the early composure which had seen them finish so clinically.
After a scything run from Wharfedale centre Thomas Davidson, loose head prop Matthew Beesley crossed the whitewash, converted by Thomas Barrett.
Cinderford resolutely defended Wharfedale's charges for the remainder of the first half, and the score remained 26-7 at the break.
The second half began at the same frenetic pace as the first did.
Nev Codlin was over in the corner after a burst down the wing in the 44th minute, and Davies converted.
But Davies sliced a clearance kick straight to Wharfedale full-back Robert Davidson and the Foresters allowed scrum-half Phillip Woodhead to streak down the blindside for a converted try.
But two tries in quick succession put Cinderford streets ahead. Adams secured his second with a squirming run to the line before Baker's run a minute later allowed Wilcox to score for a 45-14 lead.
Cinderford then took the foot off the gas, and allowed their rivals to score twice.
A penalty try was awarded in the 61st minute after Cinderford pulled down the driving maul inching toward the line, and after captain and number eight Adam Balding was binned, their next driving effort crashed over with Christopher Street grounding the ball.
Scrappy handling from both sides squandered further chances to score tries. But Codlin's run into the 22 with Winchle outside of him was never in doubt - the centre crashed over, but Davies' conversion just swung wide for a 50-26 lead.
Winchle secured his second and the team's ninth try with just two minutes remaining, skipping past at least three tackles to crash over.
The win ensured Cinderford finished the season with an almighty bang and two league positions higher.
CINDERFORD: M Wilcox (S Hawley, 55), N Codlin, J Adams, R Winchle, S Baker, M Davies, W Davis (J Smart, 55), T Bozzard, T Heard, L Randall, E King, R Birkin, G Mills ((C McNeil, 51), A Balding
REPLACEMENTS: L Fortey
WHARFEDALE: R Davidson, W Davidson, J Donkin (J Bullough, 51), T Davidson (R Rekis, 55), J Bruce, T Barrett, P Woodhead, M Beesley, L Cole, A Howard, R Brown, R Rhodes (C Steel, 40), J Ramshaw (I Larkin, 64), A Myers (T Whyte, 69), A Powell
ATTENDANCE: 189
REFEREE: Fergus Kirby
STAR MAN: Robbie Winchle
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Café Rene turns up the heat with a Man v Food chilli-eating competition
THINGS got pretty heated at Café Rene's music festival this afternoon.
The Gloucester pub and music venue's Man vs Heat Big Chilli Eating Competition was a highlight of the RENE:GADE festival.
Ten daring participants took up the challenge to make their way through a bowl of chilli con carne in 15 minutes before a knock-out contest involving some of the hottest chillies in the world.
They worked their way through the scoville scale from jalapenos, scotch bonnets, habaneros and finally the naga jolokia, which has a heat level of more than one-and-a-half million scoville units.
The Man Vs Food-style competition was so dangerous they had a first aider on site and entrants had to sign a disclaimer.
But everyone came out relatively unscathed by the experience, including Citizen reporter Hayley Mortimer, the only female contestant, who couldn't even finish her bowl of chilli con carne.
Co-organiser Neil Cantillion said: "We have scoured the world for some of the hottest chillies and some have been grown especially for the competition.
"They are extremely hot. It is dangerous."
The event continues into this evening with music, guerrilla street art and a barbecue in the garden.
Live ska, blues, reggae and hip hop awaits music lovers, while street artists including Trix, Flava, AKA and Dice SixtySeven will hold an exhibition at The Cellar Bar.
The free event is raising money for the Severn Area Rescue Association, which was recently targeted by thieves.
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Gloucester Rugby: Twelvetrees injury gives England a summer headache
BILLY Twelvetrees has given England an injury worry after limping out of Gloucester's bonus-point victory over London Irish.
The centre hurt his ankle early in the first-half of the Kingsholm try-fest and will be sent for scans in the next 48 hours.
It is not yet known how serious the injury is but Twelvetrees was on crutches following the match.
He is set to miss Gloucester's final game of the season against Worcester Warriors and is now a major concern ahead of England's summer tour of New Zealand.
Nigel Davies said: "It's an ankle problem but with all of these things it's very difficult to give a formal assessment.
"We will monitor the situation over the next 48-hours and in that period we will have a scan to determine the amount of damage.
"It's not great for him but until we have a clearer picture we can't say how serious it is.
"We all know how committed Billy is as a player and for him to come off , especially in this game with a lot of emotion going on, says a lot but we will have to wait and see."
Charlie Sharples also hobbled off in the first-half, after sustaining a dead-leg, and while Davies insists it is nothing concerning, the wing is also a doubt for next weekends match at Sixways.
Davies said: "He picked up a dead leg early in the game and it just proved too much for him to continue. That's not too serious but a haematoma can keep you out for a couple of weeks."
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Newent Rugby Club given spectacular Twickenham send off ahead of Senior Vase final
HUNDREDS of people lined the streets of Newent to give the town's rugby club a spectacular send off to Twickenham yesterday.
There were high spirits as more than 250 showed their support to Newent Rugby Club which travelled to the iconic home of the sport for the second year running.
The club returned to Twickenham after reaching the final of the Senior Vase against Yarnbury, which kicks off at 1pm today.
Newent supporter Clare Page said: "There were well over 250 people there to see the lads off, including Onion Ed after the onion fayre committee donated the funds for the club's minibus.
"It was a sunny day with high spirits as the town wished the boys all the luck in the world to get out and win the game and bring the vase home."
Local man Trevor Downing dressed in green, tied balloons to his mobility scooter and wore a hat emblazoned with the message 'ain't no stopping us' while he and Newent Runners escorted the team bus out of the town.
Town Mayor Roger Beard also showed his support to the team which was joined by hundreds of fans on their journey to London.
Julia Gooch, of Gooch Sports, said: "When they came back from the Junior Vase last year the buzz in the town was phenomenal.
"Now, people are on a high again. Who would have expected this to happen for a second time?"
Dozens of businesses in the town have created window displays to support the team and dozens of children wore T-shirts backing the Green Army.
Longlevens Rugby Club also travelled to Twickenham and will play the Rugby Lions in the Junior Vase Final today. A contingent of fans, including Gloucester City Council leader Paul James, also made the journey.
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Gloucester Rugby: Tindall set to announce retirement
Gloucester and England stalwart Mike Tindall is poised to announce his retirement from rugby union.
The 35-year-old, 75-times capped centre tweeted, after the Cherry and Whites' 38-30 victory over London Irish yesterday: "Looks like the last game at Kingsholm has been played. Gutted it has to end. Good win to finish though. Love to the #glawsfamily."
When asked about the tweet outside the changing rooms, Tindall, who is married to the Princess Royal's daughter Zara Phillips, said: "I don't want to say anything now - I will do it at some point next week.
"There will be plenty of time next week (to speak with the media)."
Tindall, who signed a one-year contract with Gloucester last year as a player-backs coach, said he would make himself available for selection for the final match of the season away at rivals Worcester but wanted to say goodbye to the club's fans at the last match of the campaign at Kingsholm.
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More than £130,000 in late library book fines waived by Gloucestershire County Council
MORE than £130,000 in fines for overdue library books have been waived by Gloucestershire County Council, it has been revealed.
The authority has however raked in more than £750,000 from readers across the county who have not returned their library books on time.
Figures covering the last four years have been released by the council following a request under the Freedom of Information Act, which said it reinvested the cash into the service.
Councillor Dorcas Binns, cabinet member for communities, said: "There are a variety of reasons behind staff waiving fines, including illness or technical issues that may occur, and all money that is generated from fines is reinvested into the service for new books and equipment."
"I'm really proud of our library service and I'd encourage people who have not used it for a while to drop by."
In 2010 £84,051 was paid in fines on overdue books, then in 2011 the figure was £273,946, £254,269 in 2012, and £174,565 last year.
That makes a total of £786,831 over those four years. In the same period, £132,430 was waived; £27,600 in 2010, £48,248 in 2011, £32,107 in 2012, and £24,475 in 2013.
Councillor Binns said: "It's good news that there are less late fines, because we've been working hard to make it easier to renew or return books and avoid fines. We've made it possible for books to be renewed online quickly and easily and introduced a library 'app' which sends return date reminders.
"Plus, the growing popularity of eBooks mean fines have reduced as the book simply stops being available, rather than needing to be returned."
The council said it sets a maximum fine per overdue book of £8.20. Borrowers can have a maximum of 20 books on loan at £8.20 per item, so in theory, a potential £164 maximum fine could be accrued assuming all 20 books are loaned at the same time and not returned.
However, the council said library customers' borrowing rights are suspended once their unpaid fines reach £10 and reinstated once fines owed fall below this level. It could not say what the longest running outstanding library book fine in Gloucestershire was, how many books are currently overdue or what the biggest fine was.
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Work starts on community changing facility for Brockworth Albion Football Club
WORK has kicked off on a new £170,000 changing room facility for Brockworth Albion Football Club.
The quest to build a suitable community changing facility at the Mill Lane playing field has taken many years of effort by club volunteers in order to source funding and overcome a number of challenges.
Now, building work has begun on the facility which will provide a much-needed space for the club's 150 players.
The club was given a financial boost of £66,000 from Tewkesbury Borough Council and has received support throughout the process from Brockworth Parish Council.
Nick Delves, chairman of Brockworth Albion Junior Football Club, said: "The support we have received from Tewkesbury Borough Council and the parish council has been fantastic and we cannot thank them enough.
"It is clear that they recognise the need for this community facility, which will help to provide affordable and sustainable sports provision for the future."
Building work started on April 22 and is due to be completed by the end of October.
It is hoped that the changing rooms will help the club to develop female football teams.
Councillor Mike Dean, chairman of the capital grants working group at TBC, said: "We are delighted to have been able to help support this local football club to provide a facility that will clearly benefit the local community, involving people of all ages and helping to get even more people taking part in sport.
"Our capital grants scheme supports projects that contribute towards the achievement of our council plan, and this one fits the bill perfectly."
Brockworth Albion also raised money for the changing rooms through fundraising events and through donations from local businesses.
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Longlevens crowned County League champions...again
LONGLEVENS were presented with the Gloucestershire County League cup after their 8-1 home win over Southmead CS Athletic on Saturday.
League chairman Bob Stewart handed over the silverware to James French's team.
Prior to kick-off Brad Martin received the Golden Boot award for finishing top of the County League scoring charts.
Longlevens' scorers on Saturday were Shaun O'Connor (3), Brad Martin, Dave Merrick, Nick Humphreys, Ed Smyllie and Craig Martin.
The champions visit Rockleaze Rangers on Monday night for their final league game before taking on the same opponents in the Les James League Cup final at Kingswood on Sunday, May 11 (noon kick-off).
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