Gloucestershire tackle Surrey with only pride to play for in their final county championship pool game at Lydney tomorrow (3pm).

Their hopes of a place in the final at Twickenham on Sunday 28th May were ended by Saturday’s 46-19 defeat against Hertfordshire, but they were given a glimmer of hope when they learned that Hertfordshire had been deducted four points for fielding an ineligible player in the 19-12 win over Kent.

That slim hope has now been extinguished as Hertfordshire appealed the decision and the points deduction was reduced to two last night.

It means that Gloucestershire cannot now finish top of the pool because Cornwall host Hertfordshire in the final round of matches tomorrow and both teams have won two out of two.

Nevertheless, Shane Aldridge, Gloucestershire’s new head of representative rugby, wants to see the team end the season on a high.

"It would be nice if we could finish in second spot," he said. "That wouldn't be bad when you consider we've brought in 17 new players this season.

"If we can keep them altogether then that's encouraging for the future."

Gloucestershire squad: Paul Vinicombe, Eamonn Rees, Harrison Yorke, James Dean, Lewis Beer, George Angel, Alex Gibson, Mike Addis, Ross Webb, Dan Broady, Tyler Jerrum, Jack Robson, Harry Hone, James Elliott, Dean Brooker, Joe Wrafter, Danny Pointon, Tom Webb, James Gehan, Sam Goatley, Reuben Goatley, Brett Gardiner, James Moffatt.