Promotion push New coaches for Cleve

THE cricket season is now more than half-way through, with Carsons and Mangotsfield’s first team fourth in the 6th Division of the Bristol and District Cricket League at the time of writing.

Over the last month the team enjoyed victories over Knowle and Patchway but lost to Keynsham.

The second team are second in their division, by 7 points from Nailsea. They have won all three games in the last month, with the fourth being abandoned due to the weather.

The stand-out performance was from batsman Steve Sykes, scoring 162 not out against Cleeve.

The 3rd team are having a mixed season and currently sit 7th in their division. The team’s main purpose is to give the young players stronger opposition, and developmental opportunities. It regularly fields six or seven youth team players.

The 4th Xl are also sitting mid-table in the 30-over league, completing only two games in a month, losing to league leaders Stoke Gifford but beating Blagdon. They are also providing opportunities to younger junior players as they take their first steps in adult cricket.

The Sunday Xl have won two of the three games completed in the last month, with the fourth also washed out. They are fourth in Conference 2 of the North Somerset Cricket League.

The academy section is also having a strong season.

The club has again been running an All Stars programme to attract new players to the club. The feedback has been very positive. It has also provided the opportunity for some of the older youth team players to take their first steps in youth coaching.

CLEVE Rugby Club will start the season with a new director of rugby, head coach and backs coach.

Director of rugby Lenrie Sheriffe is the prime mover, organising coaches and players ready for next season.

The First XV are training, with new head coach Paul Vinnicombe and new backs coach Lewis McKissic, every Thursday night at 6.30pm, along with the second team and Colts (U18).

Training is full, but new players are always welcome.

The season starts in September, with a home game against Longlevens on the 2nd, but the team is getting ready by playing warmup games in August, starting on the 5th, when the first team hosts Imperial at 2.30pm.

A Colts match is programmed to run parallel to the first team game, and the clubhouse has a cider festival on, with ice cream for kids.

The game on the pitch is followed by a live TV game in the clubhouse, England versus Wales.

This the start of live TV coverage at the club. With the Rugby World Cup starting in September, Cleve are hoping people will come to the club to watch either the rugby on the field or World Cup Rugby in the bar.

The club house is also under new management, with a new selection of beers and food available.

There is a second home warm-up game versus Combe Down on August 19, again with live international rugby on TV in the clubhouse, as Ireland take on England at 5.30pm.

A working party has been held to make sure the club looks spick and span for the new season. There was a really good turnout of players, past and present, who rolled up their sleeves, did gardening and much-needed maintenance.

Steve Bateman

Ian Coles

All the teams are mixed, which is a positive position to be in. The club also offers girls the opportunity to play as part of the North Bristol Girls Hub, in girls-only fixtures.