FIRST of all, congratulations to Lechlade Cricket Club on winning the prestigious County Cup. With First and Second XIs finishing runners-up in their respective leagues and the Third XI giving both youngsters and veterans a chance to play competitive cricket, Lechlade show both ambition and achievement.

Chairman Paul Rowley has challenged them to win the National Village Cup next season – watch this space.

Adlestrop deserve praise as well for yet again they have won the first division of the Cotswold (CDCA) League.

This entitles them to promotion to the county league but again they are declining the offer. Positioned as they are in the north of the county travel is a problem.

Runners-up Langford, just over the border in Oxfordshire, have a different attitude and would welcome the opportunity Adlestrop have declined.

Relatively new members of the CDCA, Langford have been nothing but an asset and are producing some fine young players.

The make-up of the county league for next season is a matter of uncertainty and in some cases sadness. In no way is the league itself to blame, having to accept those who are relegated from the West of England Premier League and their second XIs.

This results in promotion, and especially relegation, being decided in the committee room, rather than the playing field.

My beloved Sheepscombe have suffered badly. After a disastrous start they pulled themselves round and finished sixth in a league of ten. Thinking themselves safe from relegation they celebrated – only to find five go down, not the expected two.

The County Recreational Board must take action to sort things out?

County cricketer Will Gidman had an outstanding game against Leicestershire, scoring a century and taking 10-49. Needless to say, such a performance won the game.

Matt Taylor, the youngest of the Taylor brothers of Great Tew, made his first class debut and bowled some very tidy overs, proudly watched by his father and grandfather.

There are still two county games left and our team look like finishing with their highest championship position for some time. Last year we were ninth – we should be fourth this year.

I hope Forest Green do as well. At Braintree, an early lead gave hope of three points. I sat back and waited for further goals to flow. It was not just me who was complacent, the team were as well and bustling Braintree came back into the game.

The problem was made worse by the Rovers’ tactics – they thought that the only way was Essex and played like their opponents, forsaking their more sophisticated style. The result was an untidy draw.

A full weekend was concluded by a reunion of the Cirencester Grammar class of 1951. All the surviving members of that year were invited to a scrumptious tea party. I am still in a state of shock. All us males looked 87, while none of our female former colleagues looked more than 56.

The most remembered teacher was Geoff Romans who taught English. He made us learn Henry V’s speech before Agincourt, insisting there would be an ‘O’ Level question on it. He was wrong, as we all ruefully remember. All was not in vain, however, Henry’s words are helping me with the conclusion to this column.

The name Roy Archer is not unknown in Cirencester. Not only does Roy write erudite letters to this newspaper (see Wilts & Glos Standard, September 5), he is well known in amateur dramatic circles.

Reading the sports pages of this newspaper last week I realised he is a senior but successful member of Cirencester Bowls Club. I am told that the words of Henry’s speech fit Roy (the bowls player) perfectly. I quote: "In life there’s nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility."

This is the Roy Archer I know. The speech continues, however, "when the blast of war rings in your ear then imitate the action of a tiger, disguise fair nature with hard favoured rage."

Apparently this is Roy the bowls player – competitive to the last.

Determined now to finally join the bowls club I look forward to joining Roy on the green, and experiencing this different side of him. He is a good man who brings much to Cirencester life. If I have misquoted Shakespeare I am sure this newspaper will receive another erudite letter.