Latest Sports News by Harry Mottram
Boules: Team Bath. Known as one of Bath’s most enjoyable events for friends, families and businesses the Bath Boules tournament is on Thursday 4, Friday 5, Saturday 6 or Sunday 7 July. Team inclusion in the 2024 event to play a minimum of seven games (followed by the finals rounds) You need a minimum of three players for each game (but different players can play each time so everyone can get involved!) All proceeds from the event go to local Bath charities. See https://www.bathboules.com/tickets
Cricket: Bath CC: The first eleven lost away their first match of the season against Corsham by 87 runs last month. The club’s 1st XI next play at home on Saturday, 15th June against Bridgwater.
Cricket: Bear Flat CC: On a tricky wicket with uneven bounce, Mark Gunning showed that patience is a virtue with a vital 70 that set up a narrow victory over Chippenham 2s. Frustrating the bowlers with a resolute defence, well-judged singles, and some glorious cover drives, Gunning combined well with the rejuvenated Ross Newman to put on 91 for the 3rd wicket partnership.
Cricket: Hampset CC: The Sunday XI lost to Tamil Nadu Bristol on Sunday 26th May by 133 runs although the 1st XI bear Bishopston by 33 runs the day before at home.
Cricket: Somerset County Cricket Club: Somerset’s early season of drawn matches has ended with a three wicket win over Essex in Taunton in the County Championship. They now play a series of Vitality Blast games in the Twenty20 format with the first a home game in Taunton against Essex on May 31st.
Netball: Team Bath Netball: The Blue and Golds lost to Manchester Thunder by 50-82 in front of another 1,200-strong crowd at the Team Bath Arena. The Blue & Gold fought throughout, though, and a much-improved second-half display – inspired by a raft of pre-planned changes to the on-court combination – saw them deservedly bring up a half-century of goals against strong opposition.
They next play Strathclyde Sirens at the Team Bath Arena on My 31st – the only team they have beaten this season – before travelling to Worcester on June 7 and Cardiff on June 15 where they will conclude the season.
Meanwhile speculation continues as to whether the team will be part of the revamped Super League next year after the organisers have made it plain participating teams must reach certain criteria including the demands for clubs to have arenas where 5,000 spectators can watch the games.
Claire Nelson of the Netball Super League said: “The Netball Super League 2.0 (NSL 2.0) presents an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine and engineer what professional netball can and should look like here in the UK and the plans will see transformational change over the next decade. In Season 2025, we will relaunch the League as an unapologetically and powerfully female focused sports, entertainment and lifestyle proposition for new and future fans of the sport.”
Rugby: Bath Rugby Union Club: Bath Rugby will see the retirement of GJ van Velze and Chris Cloete at the end of the season while Johannes Jonker, Juan Schoeman, Keiran Verden, and Max Wright will be leaving along with Rory Cameron, Gabe Goss, Byron Lloyd-Gilmour, Murdoch Lock, Dan Marias, Nahum Merigan, Archie Stanley, JJ Tonks, and George Worboys.
The Blue, Black and Whites play Sale Sharks on Saturday 1st June at the Rec at a sell-out game with the winners going on to Twickenham to contest the final and the premiership title on Saturday June 8th at 3pm. The game will pit Scotland fly-half Finn Russell against his England counterpart George Ford, a month after the two went head-to-head in the Calcutta Cup. Russell came out on top that day, and he will combine with Scotland teammate Cameron Redpath at inside centre, with England’s Ollie Lawrence linking up with them in the No.13 jersey.
Bath Rugby: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer, 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Alfie Barbeary
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Miles Reid, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Jaco Coetzee
Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Arron Reed, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 James Harper, 4 Cobus Wiese, 5 Josh Beaumont, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 7 Sam Dugdale, 8 JL du Preez
Replacements: 16 Tommy Taylor, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19 Ben Bamber, 20 Hyron Andrews, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Sam James, 23 Tom O’Flaherty
For those needing their rugby fix next season starts on September 20th.
Sport clubs listed in Alphabetical Order with how to contact them
American Football: Bath Killer Bees: The Bath Killer Bees are current members of the British Universities American Football League (BUAFL)’s South Western Atlantic Conference (SWAC). See their website for details. https://www.thesubath.com/americanfootball/
Athletics: Team Bath Athletics Club is based at the University of Bath Sports Training Village and is open to all abilities and ages from 7 upwards. Sports include track and field, road and trail running, endurance and cross country. Club nights are Tuesdays and Thursdays 6pm -8pm.To join and for details visit https://teambathac.org/
Badminton: Bath Badminton Club. Sports Centre, North Parade Road, Bath. The club meet on Thursday evenings all year round except certain holiday periods and August. www.bathbadminton.co.uk
Badminton: Oldfield Park Badminton Club, Hayesfield Sports Hall Upper Oldfield Lane. www.badmintoninbath.co.uk/
Badminton: Bath Women’s Badminton Club. Sports Centre, North Parade Road, Bath. www.bathwomensbadmintonclub.net/
Boules: City of Bath Pétanque Club. The club plays Pétanque and is open to all, with juniors and non-players welcome. If you haven’t played before, give it a go. The club is based at Larkhall Sports Club, but they also play in Queen Square Wednesday mornings, weather permitting. https://bathboules.co.uk/
Bowling: Bath Bowling Club. Based at Pulteney Road the club is open for membership to anyone who wishes to take up the sport, whether you wish to play socially, competitively or both. The outdoor season is normally from April to September and your first year’s membership is free of charge. Pop along and come in and see us, have a drink and watch a game. Visit https://www.bathbowlingclub.com/
Cricket: Bath Cricket Club: The club is based at North Parade and was founded in 1859 and has a long and interesting history charted on their website at https://www.bathcricket.com/
There are four main teams – with two elevens of the Bath Wanderers Women sides and an U19’s XI as well. Plus, there are teams for girls from U10s to U15s, and youth cricket for the same ages – to join or for more info visit the website. The men’s first team play in the West of England Premier Cricket League (WEPL), the ECB National Club Championship, the ECB T20 competition and the Somerset Cup.
Cricket: Bath Wanderers Women Cricket Club. The team take part in the West of England Premier Cricket League (WEPL). See https://www.bathcricket.com/
Cricket: Bear Flat Cricket Club. Established in 1982, the Bears are in Division 1 of the Wiltshire County Cricket League (WCCL) on Saturdays, with a home ground at The Glasshouse Academy, Bradford Road, Combe Down, Bath; there’s also games in Division 7 Blue of the Somerset Monmouth League on Saturdays, home ground the Ken Willcox Ground, Peasedown St John, Bath; and friendlies against clubs based in Somerset/Wiltshire on Sundays; and T20 games against clubs based in Somerset/Wiltshire midweek; plus they participation in the Somerset Knock Out cup.
For more details of the various teams plus the youth and children teams visit https://bearflatcc.org.uk/
Cricket: Hampset Cricket Club: based at Bloomfield Rise, Odd Down, Bath, the club was founded in 1940 and features a large number of elevens including the Scholars, development XI, midweek Saturday and Sunday elevens, junior teams from under 9s to u13s and indoor squads. The 1st XI play in the Bristol & District Cricket Association – First Division 2023. Details at https://hampsetcc.play-cricket.com/home
Cricket: Somerset County Cricket Club
The club are based at the county ground in Taunton although in the past have played some matches at Bath and Weston-super-Mare. They are in the top flight of the cricket structure and have two first class elevens plus a women’s team and female players can be selected for the regional team Western Storm. For details visit https://somersetcountycc.co.uk/
Croquet: Bath Croquet Club
To join or for more info contact Hester Henebury on email hester2210@btinternet.com or visit https://www.bathcroquet.com/
Cycling: Bath Cycling Club welcomes new members of all ages and abilities – visit https://www.bathcc.net/
Cycling: Bike Bath has moved to Westonbirt School in the Cotswolds. The annual cycling event will take place on 1st September 2024. Details: https://www.bikebath.co.uk/
Equestrian: Bath Racecourse
See the website for dates: https://www.bath-racecourse.co.uk/
Equestrian: Badminton International Eventing
See the website for dates: https://www.badminton-horse.co.uk/
Football: Bath City FC. Bath play in the National League South, the sixth tier of the football pyramid. The home ground is Twerton Park and the manager is Jerry Gill. Known as the Romans and play in black and white vertical stripes. See https://www.bathcityfc.com/
Football: Bath City Women
The Bath City Women Development Team play in the Somerset County Women’s League in Division 2 North. See https://www.bathcityfc.com/
Football: Larkhall Athletic FC. Founded in 1914 the Larks play in the Southern League Division One South (SLD1S) and are based at the Securitas Stadium, Plain Ham. With a development team, a youth team and a women’s team the Larks are one of the leading outfits in the city. They are part of Larkhall Sports Club. Visit https://larkhallathletic.com/
Football: Odd Down FC. They are currently members of the Western League Division One (WLD1) and play at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground. See https://www.odddownbathafc.co.uk/
Hockey: City of Bath Hockey Club
City of Bath were formed from a merger between Bath & Phillipians Hockey Club’s and they play at Lansdown. For details visit https://www.cobhc.org.uk/
Hockey: Team Bath Buccaneers Hockey Club
Team Bath Buccaneers is one of the largest and most successful Hockey Clubs in the West of England with over 800 members. Open to new members. Based at University of Bath. For details visit https://www.teambathbuccaneers.co.uk/clubNews
Hockey: Team Bath Hockey Club
The University of Bath Hockey Club has six men’s and six ladies’ teams who play in the British University & Colleges (BUCS) leagues on Wednesdays. Based at University of Bath. Details at https://www.teambath.com/sport/hockey/
Modern Pentathlon: Team GB had an incredible performance at the home World Championships held at the University of Bath, with a seven-strong squad qualifying across the women’s and men’s finals.
The Modern Pentathlon World Championships took place in August with the Mixed Relay Finals. If you missed the action, you can catch up on BBC iPlayer and photos are available on the UIPM Flickr account.
Netball: Team Bath Netball.
Team Bath Netball play in the Vitality Netball Super League. Details at https://netball.teambath.com/. Season and match-day tickets are on sale now, visit netball.teambath.com/tickets for further details.
Rugby: Bath Rugby Union Club Men
The Blue, Black and Whites play at the Rec in Bath and play in the Champions cup and the Gallagher Premiership league – the top flight. See https://www.bathrugby.com/
Rugby: Bath Rugby Ladies Club Women
For details see https://www.bathrugbyladies.com/
Rugby: Bath Saracens RFC
Bath Saracens are an amateur rugby club competing in the Dorset & Wilts 3 Central. Formed on 13th March 1947, Bath Saracens are still going strong 75 years on. See https://bathsaracens.co.uk/events/category/games/
• Sat 6 Apr. Home V Warminster.
Rugby: Combe Down RFC
in 1896 the club currently play home fixtures at Holly’s Corner, Bramble Way. Details on their Face Book site. Details at https://combedownrfc.rfu.club/
Rugby: Bath Gladiators Rugby League Club
Bath Gladiators will participate in the newly established Franchise Rugby League starting this season. Visit: https://bathgladiators.com/
Swimming: Dolphins: Based at Bath Leisure Centre and established in 1899, Bath Dolphin Swimming Club (BDSC) is one of the oldest swimming clubs in the South West Region. They provide competitive swimming opportunities for young swimmers through to a masters swimming group. As a holder of the Swim England quality accreditation, Swim Mark, they offer a year round competitive swim team with high quality coaching and technique instruction for all ages and abilities.
Swimming: Team Bath: Based at the University the swimming programme offers opportunities for all users, from learn-to-swim sessions and daily swim-fit sessions for the public to our performance set-up which is home to a British Swimming Performance Centre. See https://www.teambath.com/sport/swimming/
Tennis: Bloomfield Tennis Club was founded in 1927 and is located at 98 Wellsway, Bath. The club welcomes new members. To join visit https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BloomfieldTennisClub
Tennis: Bath Tennis Club is at Park Lane, Weston, and bills itself at a friendly club. The club has a number of membership categories ranging from pay as you go to full membership. For details visit www.bathtc.co.uk
Tennis: Team Bath Tennis. For more see https://www.teambath.com/sport/tennis/