The clocks go forward this weekend which means only one thing as far as rugby fans in and around Cheltenham are concerned… the start of the end-of-season Cheltenham and District Combination cup competitions.

The action is due to get under way a week tonight, with the first round of the Senior Cup and the draw has certainly thrown up an intriguing tie with Gloucester One North high-fliers Smiths making the short journey to Old Patesians, who will be entering their 1^st XV this season.

Pats play three divisions above Smiths in South West One West but Smiths, who are celebrating their 70^th anniversary and have a number of former Old Pats players in their squad, will be going there to give it a right good go.

“We’re interested to see where we are,” said head coach Ben Parker, who was a major player with the Pats for many years up until 2015. “In days gone by Smiths would not have been able to compete with Old Pats. They are still many levels above us but for us it’s a great chance to play the top-ranked club in the area and measure ourselves against them.”

The winners will travel to Cheltenham North, who have received a bye into the last four, while the other first-round tie sees Cheltenham Tigers host Cheltenham Saracens, with the winners hosting Stow-on-the-Wold at the semi-final stage.

It is the first time for a number of years that Stow, who are past winners of the Senior Cup in the days when the final was played on a Wednesday evening at the Prince of Wales Stadium, have entered the competition.

They’ve also entered a 2^nd XV in the Junior Cup and club secretary Wayne Loxton said: “We’ve got two very competitive teams. We’re definitely looking to win both cups.”

Eight teams, including Bredon, have entered the Junior Cup, and eight teams, including Gloucestershire Constabulary, have entered the Minor Cup.

Finals day will take place at Cheltenham North on Saturday 30^th April with the Minor Cup final starting at 1pm, the Junior Cup final kicking off at 3pm and the Senior Cup final getting under way at 5pm.

Senior Cup first round (Tues 29^th March, 6pm): Old Patesians v Smiths (match A); Cheltenham Tigers v Cheltenham Saracens (match B).
Semi-finals (Tues 12^th April, 6pm): Cheltenham North v winner match A; winner of match B v Stow-on-the-Wold.

Junior Cup first round (Weds 30^th March, 6pm): Stow-on-the-Wold 2nds v Norton 1sts (match A); Bredon 1sts v Old Patesians 2nds (match B); Cheltenham Civil Service 1sts v Cheltenham North 2nds (match C); Tewkesbury 1sts v Cheltenham Tigers 2nds (match D).
Semi-finals (Weds 13^th  April, 6pm): winner of match C v winner of match D; winner of match B v winner of match A.

Minor Cup first round (Thurs 31^st March, 6pm): Gloucestershire Constabulary v Cheltenham Tigers 3rds (match A); Norton 2nds v Cheltenham Civil Service 2nds (match B): Tewkesbury 2nds v Smiths 2nds (match C); Cheltenham Saracens 2nds v Old Patesians 3rds (match D).
Semi-finals (Thurs 14^th April, 6pm): winner of match B v winner of match C; winner of match D v winner of match A.