Cribbage players in the Tewkesbury and District League have been playing their cards right for more than 40 years.

There are nearly 120 players registered in the eight-team league with matches played on Monday evenings.

“We play at a variety of venues,” said league secretary David Thomson, who plays for the Cross Keys Inn.

So what makes a good cribbage player?

“A player who wins,” joked David. “There is some skill but there’s also a lot of luck because it depends on your cards, it’s a social evening.”

Matches normally last for about 90 minutes, with David adding: “A team consists of eight players which is broken down to three tables of doubles and two tables of singles. All tables play five games.”

In the league’s heyday there were 32 teams taking part but David said: “We still cover a large area from the Woodpeckers Sports and Social Club at Ashleworth to Bredon Football Club, and the Gardeners Arms at Alderton to the Village Inn at Twyning.

“The league has players from their 20s to their 80s playing.”

Teams play 21 league matches in a season, six knockout matches (captains, doubles, singles and team) plus one match for the Hylda Roberts Bowl which is contested by the previous season’s champions.

The season runs from September to April – the current campaign finishes on Monday 28th April – and their presentation evening takes place at Bredon Football Club on Monday 19th May.

That should be a good event and David, who is in his early 70s and lives in Tewkesbury, said the league were always on the lookout for new players.

Anyone interested in taking part should email cribbscores@yahoo.com