THE noble bunch of sportsmen attached to South Cerney golf club who make up the senior section are gentlemen for whom my admiration is increasing.

I spotted four of them on Saturday at Forest Green. Before kick off they were seen sharing a very agreeable glass of wine, meticulously poured out by their leader, the admirable Peter Jupp.

I need not have rushed. A power cut, involving all Nailsworth, meant we had to wait 90 minutes until kick off.

The match finally got under way at 3.45pm. Some critics thought the Forest Green team had suffered a similar cut as they put in a lacklustre performance against a determined Dover team.

I disagreed as, having seen them play four times this year, I know what Dover’s strengths are. They hustle and harass, tackling well and at the same time attacking spiritedly and dangerously.

FGR base their game on possession and passing. There was not much chance for either on Saturday with our Kentish opposition bullying us by making it difficult for the team to settle.

We fell into the trap of descending to their level. It was not until the 91st minute that our equaliser came.

It was scored by Kieffer Moore. Kieffer reminds me of Courtney from The Apprentice. He has undoubted ability but you feel you wish to shake him into action. What is happening too often is Rovers dropping points. Six points are needed from Boxing Day and new year fixtures.

What else is needed is some common sense. The England and Wales Cricket Board known as the ECB should change its name to Empire of Cricket Balderdash.

My national newspaper contained an article this week on plans for the Super T20.

I could not understand a word of it. As they will not be starting this competition for three years the inevitable has happened, a working party has been established.

This party of seven will thrash out the details. The worst must be feared. Of the seven, the majority, (four), are ECB marketing men. I despair.

Readers of this column will be astonished at the next sentence. I agree totally with Geoffrey Boycott.

Both of us are angry that the Balderdash Board have selected the recent captain of South Africa Under 19s to play for England. Keaton Jennings made the professional decision to come to England to play for Durham.

I thought the qualification period was seven years but no, the rules have been stretched to allow another born and bred South African into the England team. We all know where that road could lead.

There is some good news from the cricket world however. Dumbleton are to enter a team in the CDCA women’s league.

This thriving and growing league is a real success, as is the Lighthouse evening competition sponsored by Penny and myself. This is also a growing competition, played to a T20 format in the evening it is proving very popular.

Players obviously are prepared to give up an evening to play the short form of the game but not a Saturday afternoon to play the much longer league format, 45 overs for innings. Is there not a lesson for administrators there?

I stray from sports to lament the retiring of Len Goodman as head judge from Strictly Come Dancing. Len has always had a neat turn of phrase, referring to himself as a cup of tea in a world of skinny lattes.

I know exactly what he means being a pint of beer drinker in a world of white wine spritzers. Have a good retirement Len.