SATURDAY was a magic day at the Lighthouse! No sooner had we celebrated the fine win at Crawley than an appropriately named horse came second in the Grand National. It had been well backed, each way!!

However, it was the FGR football result that pleased us most. Results are more important than performances now and three points are vital. Well done all concerned!

The first-class cricket season has crept up on many of us. In fact many matches were played before the clocks went forward. The three-day university games are deemed to fall in to that category.

What of Gloucestershire? Bad news first. We have lost two leading bowlers to Warwickshire. Norwell and Miles will be missed. Secondly the County will, at the AGM declare a loss of over £400,000.

The good news is that international cricket coming to Bristol will hopefully offset this. Cheltenham is staging an extra game at the end of may because of World Cup games at Bristol. It is against Lancashire and will be played on the College square, starting on the day after the Division Two playoffs at Wembley.It could be a very busy weekend!

Our Aussie contingent are arriving. Former Test batsman Chris Rogers returns to work with our batters, fast bowler Dan Worral arrives for the first Championship game on Thursday and Michael Klinger will be our T20 man. No forecasts, just a hope that there will be some magic somewhere. Perhaps James Bracey who has Stroud family connections will provide it.