A late penalty by Harry Preece clinched the North Gloucestershire Combination Elite Cup for Old Centralians yesterday.

They beat Matson 24-21 at Hucclecote, the first time they have won the senior cup competition since 2019.

It was Preece’s fourth penalty of the game – he also slotted a conversion – and he said: “It was in front of the posts inside the 22, I couldn’t have asked for anything easier.”

Gavin Deane and Ross Hannaford were Old Centralians’ try scorers and Preece continued: “It was a great day, we’re all really chuffed. It was a nice way to end the season.”

Matson beat Old Centralians 26-24 in the final two years ago and co-captain Preece, who is a past winner of the competition, was delighted to get his hands on the trophy again.

“It felt like it was a long time coming,” he said. “We’ve been working towards this. The final a couple of years ago got away from us, we were gutted.

“Yesterday was really good for the boys who hadn’t won the trophy before.”  

And it was a really good day off the pitch too.

“Hucclecote did a fantastic job,” said Old Centralians committee member Mark Powell. “They looked after both sides really well.”

Gordon League 3rds are also celebrating after their 35-5 win over Hucclecote 2nds in the Glanville Cup at Matson on Friday evening.

“It was a very good performance,” said club secretary Alan McMahon. “They came at us with all guns blazing at the start but we weathered the storm and took control.”

The Martin Slatter Junior Cup final between Hucclecote and Old Cryptians, which was due to have taken place at Widden Old Boys on Saturday, will now go ahead on Saturday 16^th May.

The game had to be postponed because of Hucclecote’s involvement in the RFU Community Cup Counties 3 & Below Championship.

Meanwhile, Smiths and Old Patesians were celebrating at the Cheltenham Combination’s cup finals day at Stow-on-the-Wold on Saturday.

Smiths 2nds beat Cheltenham Tigers 2nds 29-16 in the final of the Junior Cup while Old Patesians 3rds won the Minor Shield with a 38-20 win over Cheltenham Saracens 2nds. It was the third year in a row that the Pats won the trophy.

Stow-on-the-Wold's hopes of playing in Regional 1 Midlands next season were ended when they were beaten 54-38 by Broadstreet in a play-off game at Oddington Road on Saturday.