Former sports stars have come out of retirement to help raise thousands of pounds for charity.
Sports personalities such as Winter Olympic gold medallist Amy Williams, as well as onetime Bath Rugby players Andy Beattie, David Flatman, Danny Grewcock and Scott Hobson took part in a charity Superstars Challenge at Bath Sports Centre.
The event was in aid of the Bath Rugby Foundation, which supports local children who are disadvantaged or disabled, through sports programmes.
During the two-hour challenge, 11 teams, all captained by a former sports hero, completed an array of gruelling physical challenges including a 5,000 metre cycle, a 500 metre row, a 20 metre tyre pull, the crucifix tyre hold and a beep test.
The teams were made up of people from local businesses and sports teams.
Each of the teams were cheered on by children from different Bath schools, who had also made special banners in support of their teams.
Flatman, who retired from rugby earlier this year to become Bath Rugby's communications director, said the morning had been tough.
He said: "We sort of arrived laughing and smiling like we were going to have a bit of fun but it soon got competitive - Andy Beattie and I had to take a few minutes outside after the rowing.
"It's been great fun and hopefully we've raised a good bit of cash for the foundation."
Bob skeleton star Williams, whose team, the Wilsher Group, went on to win the competition, said it was good to see so many turn out for the event.
She said: "It's such a great event. To get all the different businesses, teams and schools together has been great.
"Everyone has had a great time and helped to raise money for such a good charity.
"It's been tough but well worth it."
Organisers of the challenge hope it will raise thousands of pounds for the foundation and help fund a disability inclusion sports day to be held in the spring.
Jimmy Deane, manager of the foundation, said: "The important thing is this has been a community event involving players, sports people, schools and businesses.
"All the money raised today will go towards an event next year.
"It's been a great morning and we owe a big thanks to all the children and all the adults for making it happen."
There is still time to make a donation towards the Bath Rugby Foundation.
Visit www.bathrugbyfoundation.com to make a donation.
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Amy Williams team wins Bath charity Superstars Challenge
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Bath Rugby complete Italian job with record European win
Match report: BATH RUGBY 67 CALVISANO 11
By Harry Abbott
A record victory in Europe saw Bath Rugby take control of Pool 4 of the Amlin Cup as they ran in a ten-try haul against Italian visitors Calvisano.
The win was built on a dominant second-half display in which Bath racked up 52 points, with the sin-binning of Andrea Lovotti just before the break proving crucial.
The home side scored four tries in the ten minutes he was off the field, with the game having looked evenly poised at 8-8 prior to the prop's departure.
Even when Calvisano were back to their full complement of players, however, it was too late to stop the rot. The visitors simply had no answer to Bath's attacks, as they took a big step towards the knockout stages.
New Scotland international Tom Heathcote gave Bath the lead with a penalty after just three minutes before, somewhat surprisingly, Calvisano grabbed the game's first try.
The visitors claimed a lineout 20 metres out and proceeded to drive over the line, with hooker Luigi Ferraro emerging from the pack having got the crucial touchdown.
Debutantflanker Nick Koster led the home side's reply, with the new signing from Western Province charging 60 metres to cross in the corner after the two sides had traded kicks from deep.
Heathcote missed the conversion and when Paul Griffen landed a penalty soon after, the scores were level. Parity did not last long, however, with Calvisano's demise beginning when Lovotti was yellow carded a minute before the break.
Bath were quick to capitalise on the man advantage and Dom Day charged over from close range after a quickly-taken penalty, with Heathcote adding the extras.
Although Griffen opened the second-half scoring with a penalty, the home side quickly picked up where they left off after the break, with Koster setting Josh Ovens free for a touchdown.
Captain Guy Mercer was next to cross, with the Bath pack driving over the whitewash following a lineout, before a scintillating break from his own half by Kyle Eastmond gifted Horacio Agulla the first of his two tries.
Lovotti's return to the fold failed to loosen the home side's grip on the game and Mark McMillan touched down after sustained pressure. Agulla then completed his brace with a devastating run from deep, which included a delicate chip over GulloPalazzani as he finished the score.
Jaco Erasmus then saw yellow as Calvisano repeatedly infringed on their own tryline, with Bath awarded a penalty try soon after as the visitors still refused to heed the warnings.
With the job done, head coach Gary Gold rang the chances and the replacements wasted little time in making an impression of their own. Kane Palma-Newport and Dave Attwood both bludgeoned their way over late on, with Heathcote finishing the game with his seventh conversion of the afternoon.
The win, coupled with the defeat of French side Agen in Bucharest, sees Bath move six points clear at the top of Pool 4.Another performance of this ilk in Italy next week will make them overwhelming favourites to progress, especially with Gold's side finishing the group stages with back-to-back matches at The Rec.
BATH RUGBY: Cuthbert (Devoto 70), Eastmond, Agulla, Vesty (Williams 72), Woodburn, Heathcote, McMillan, Beech (Perenise 60), Sharman (Dunn 70), Wilson (Palma-Newport 70), Day, Caldwell (Attwood 70), Ovens, Mercer, Koster (Skuse 55). Replacement not used:Claassens.
Tries:Koster, Day, Ovens, Mercer, Agulla 2, McMillan, Penalty, Palma-Newport, Attwood Conversions: Heathcote 7 Penalty: Heathcote
CALVISANO: Berne, Canavosio (Bergamo 70), Vilk, Castello, De Jager (Visentin 60), Griffen (Picone 63), Palazzani, Lovotti (Scarsini 40-50), Ferraro (Gavazzi 68), Constanzo (Violi 65), Erasmus, Hehea (Beccaris 77), Brancoli (Cicchinelli 72), Scanferla, Vunisa.
Try: Ferraro Penalties: Griffen 2
Referee: Cedric Marchat
Attendance: 11,445
By Harry Abbott
A record victory in Europe saw Bath Rugby take control of Pool 4 of the Amlin Cup as they ran in a ten-try haul against Italian visitors Calvisano.
The win was built on a dominant second-half display in which Bath racked up 52 points, with the sin-binning of Andrea Lovotti just before the break proving crucial.
The home side scored four tries in the ten minutes he was off the field, with the game having looked evenly poised at 8-8 prior to the prop's departure.
Even when Calvisano were back to their full complement of players, however, it was too late to stop the rot. The visitors simply had no answer to Bath's attacks, as they took a big step towards the knockout stages.
New Scotland international Tom Heathcote gave Bath the lead with a penalty after just three minutes before, somewhat surprisingly, Calvisano grabbed the game's first try.
The visitors claimed a lineout 20 metres out and proceeded to drive over the line, with hooker Luigi Ferraro emerging from the pack having got the crucial touchdown.
Debutantflanker Nick Koster led the home side's reply, with the new signing from Western Province charging 60 metres to cross in the corner after the two sides had traded kicks from deep.
Heathcote missed the conversion and when Paul Griffen landed a penalty soon after, the scores were level. Parity did not last long, however, with Calvisano's demise beginning when Lovotti was yellow carded a minute before the break.
Bath were quick to capitalise on the man advantage and Dom Day charged over from close range after a quickly-taken penalty, with Heathcote adding the extras.
Although Griffen opened the second-half scoring with a penalty, the home side quickly picked up where they left off after the break, with Koster setting Josh Ovens free for a touchdown.
Captain Guy Mercer was next to cross, with the Bath pack driving over the whitewash following a lineout, before a scintillating break from his own half by Kyle Eastmond gifted Horacio Agulla the first of his two tries.
Lovotti's return to the fold failed to loosen the home side's grip on the game and Mark McMillan touched down after sustained pressure. Agulla then completed his brace with a devastating run from deep, which included a delicate chip over GulloPalazzani as he finished the score.
Jaco Erasmus then saw yellow as Calvisano repeatedly infringed on their own tryline, with Bath awarded a penalty try soon after as the visitors still refused to heed the warnings.
With the job done, head coach Gary Gold rang the chances and the replacements wasted little time in making an impression of their own. Kane Palma-Newport and Dave Attwood both bludgeoned their way over late on, with Heathcote finishing the game with his seventh conversion of the afternoon.
The win, coupled with the defeat of French side Agen in Bucharest, sees Bath move six points clear at the top of Pool 4.Another performance of this ilk in Italy next week will make them overwhelming favourites to progress, especially with Gold's side finishing the group stages with back-to-back matches at The Rec.
BATH RUGBY: Cuthbert (Devoto 70), Eastmond, Agulla, Vesty (Williams 72), Woodburn, Heathcote, McMillan, Beech (Perenise 60), Sharman (Dunn 70), Wilson (Palma-Newport 70), Day, Caldwell (Attwood 70), Ovens, Mercer, Koster (Skuse 55). Replacement not used:Claassens.
Tries:Koster, Day, Ovens, Mercer, Agulla 2, McMillan, Penalty, Palma-Newport, Attwood Conversions: Heathcote 7 Penalty: Heathcote
CALVISANO: Berne, Canavosio (Bergamo 70), Vilk, Castello, De Jager (Visentin 60), Griffen (Picone 63), Palazzani, Lovotti (Scarsini 40-50), Ferraro (Gavazzi 68), Constanzo (Violi 65), Erasmus, Hehea (Beccaris 77), Brancoli (Cicchinelli 72), Scanferla, Vunisa.
Try: Ferraro Penalties: Griffen 2
Referee: Cedric Marchat
Attendance: 11,445
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Defeat at Billericay is harsh on Bath City
MATCH REPORT: Billericay Town 2 (May 40, Swaine 87) Bath City 0
By Andrew Kerslake
Bath City remain just three points outside the Blue Square Bet South play-off places despite crashing to a two-goal defeat in Essex.
The visitors were left with the bitter taste of defeat after a game they did not deserve to lose and, for long periods, looked capable of winning.
Early fears that the game may be called off due to frost were soon dispelled by bright sunshine, although it left a pitch that made Lansdown Playing Fields look like Wembley. On an under-prepared, boggy in places and decidedly bumpy surface, it was little surprise that the home side had all the early possession.
Billericay, it must be said, play an unsophisticated form of football. Physical and relying on speed and strength, it took City some time to come to terms with both the conditions and the hosts' tactics. The main threat came either from long balls played up to frontman Charlie Taylor or, when that failed, the throw of Paul Rodgers, which at times easily reached the City penalty spot
However, after the quarter-hour mark City got much more into their stride and Tom Nicholls went for an ambitious lob with keeper Nathan McDonald only just off his line.
Player/coach Jim Rollo returned to a reshuffled visiting side - with changes forced on the City management team through the absence of the ill Aaron Brown and hamstring injury victim Josh Low – and had to produce a diving tackle to halt Anderson after he cut inside from the right.
City's best move of the half came on 25 minutes when Noah Keats released the recalled Kerry Morgan on the left and he put in a great cross which saw Charlie Griffin's shot well saved. Chris Allen then went close and Adam Connolly saw a piledriver from about 25 yards cannon off the home defence.
However, City did not have it all their own way. Just before the half-hour mark a long-range shot from Sam Lechemere went wide, while Taylor hit the side-netting from Jay May's good pass.
It should have served as a warning to City as five minutes before the interval a simple cross from Alex Cerdeira evaded the defence and allowed May to head home.
City played the better football at the start of the second half, despite the surface, with Morgan revelling in the space on the left, together with good support from midfield. On 53 minutes the ball was neatly passed across the field, from Nichols to Griffin and then on to Morgan, whose cross to Griffin was just touched behind at the near post.
However, despite being on the defensive for much of the time, Billericay still looked dangerous on the break, with Morgan and Danny Ball leaving room for Junior Luke to exploit. Twice he made good runs, although on both occasions his crosses were well taken by an increasingly confident Jason Mellor.
With Griffin clearly tiring on the heavy surface, Sean Canham arrived to replace him and ten minutes later the substitute was involved in probably the turning point of the game. With City increasingly running rampant, Morgan again cut loose down the left flank and put in a perfect cross for the unmarked striker, who could only fire against keeper McDonald.
Allen hit an upright just seconds later but after that City's pressure eased. Billericay began to come back into the game and then killed it dead with a goal three minutes from time.
Canham conceded two free-kicks in quick succession, the second some 30 yards out on the left of the City goal. The ball came across the area and the otherwise impeccable Mellor called for it but failed to get there, leaving Rob Swaine to head home.
Billericay Town: McDonald, Rodgers, Anderson, Collis, Swaine, Wild, Lechemere (Bangura 82), Cerdeira (Hale 70), May, Taylor (Benjamin 70), Luke. Subs not used: Carvell, Thelwell.
Bath City: Mellor, Rollo (Cummings 77), Ball, Jones, Preece, Connolly, Keats, Nichols, Allen, Griffin (S Canham 65), Morgan (M Canham 84). Subs not used: Burnell, Garner.
Referee: Ashvin Degnarain (North London).
Attendance: 388.
By Andrew Kerslake
Bath City remain just three points outside the Blue Square Bet South play-off places despite crashing to a two-goal defeat in Essex.
The visitors were left with the bitter taste of defeat after a game they did not deserve to lose and, for long periods, looked capable of winning.
Early fears that the game may be called off due to frost were soon dispelled by bright sunshine, although it left a pitch that made Lansdown Playing Fields look like Wembley. On an under-prepared, boggy in places and decidedly bumpy surface, it was little surprise that the home side had all the early possession.
Billericay, it must be said, play an unsophisticated form of football. Physical and relying on speed and strength, it took City some time to come to terms with both the conditions and the hosts' tactics. The main threat came either from long balls played up to frontman Charlie Taylor or, when that failed, the throw of Paul Rodgers, which at times easily reached the City penalty spot
However, after the quarter-hour mark City got much more into their stride and Tom Nicholls went for an ambitious lob with keeper Nathan McDonald only just off his line.
Player/coach Jim Rollo returned to a reshuffled visiting side - with changes forced on the City management team through the absence of the ill Aaron Brown and hamstring injury victim Josh Low – and had to produce a diving tackle to halt Anderson after he cut inside from the right.
City's best move of the half came on 25 minutes when Noah Keats released the recalled Kerry Morgan on the left and he put in a great cross which saw Charlie Griffin's shot well saved. Chris Allen then went close and Adam Connolly saw a piledriver from about 25 yards cannon off the home defence.
However, City did not have it all their own way. Just before the half-hour mark a long-range shot from Sam Lechemere went wide, while Taylor hit the side-netting from Jay May's good pass.
It should have served as a warning to City as five minutes before the interval a simple cross from Alex Cerdeira evaded the defence and allowed May to head home.
City played the better football at the start of the second half, despite the surface, with Morgan revelling in the space on the left, together with good support from midfield. On 53 minutes the ball was neatly passed across the field, from Nichols to Griffin and then on to Morgan, whose cross to Griffin was just touched behind at the near post.
However, despite being on the defensive for much of the time, Billericay still looked dangerous on the break, with Morgan and Danny Ball leaving room for Junior Luke to exploit. Twice he made good runs, although on both occasions his crosses were well taken by an increasingly confident Jason Mellor.
With Griffin clearly tiring on the heavy surface, Sean Canham arrived to replace him and ten minutes later the substitute was involved in probably the turning point of the game. With City increasingly running rampant, Morgan again cut loose down the left flank and put in a perfect cross for the unmarked striker, who could only fire against keeper McDonald.
Allen hit an upright just seconds later but after that City's pressure eased. Billericay began to come back into the game and then killed it dead with a goal three minutes from time.
Canham conceded two free-kicks in quick succession, the second some 30 yards out on the left of the City goal. The ball came across the area and the otherwise impeccable Mellor called for it but failed to get there, leaving Rob Swaine to head home.
Billericay Town: McDonald, Rodgers, Anderson, Collis, Swaine, Wild, Lechemere (Bangura 82), Cerdeira (Hale 70), May, Taylor (Benjamin 70), Luke. Subs not used: Carvell, Thelwell.
Bath City: Mellor, Rollo (Cummings 77), Ball, Jones, Preece, Connolly, Keats, Nichols, Allen, Griffin (S Canham 65), Morgan (M Canham 84). Subs not used: Burnell, Garner.
Referee: Ashvin Degnarain (North London).
Attendance: 388.
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Jubilee tree removed from Radstock site despite protests
An oak tree which was planted for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee near Bath has been uprooted this morning despite a legal challenge from residents.
Members of Radstock Action Group were there to protest about it being taken away, describing its loss as a "sad day" for the area's history.
On the RAG website a rallying call for people to join today's protest said: "Do come and join in the farewell, if indeed, that is what it proves to be. An important part of Radstock's history is going and we don't want to ignore this sad day."
Members of the group recently handed a legal letter and petition to the leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, Councillor Paul Crossley.
They asked for the council to include the tree in their plans for a new road layout.
RAG secretary Amanda Leon said: "During a recent collection of signatures against the removal of the oak tree, several people suggested that even if the council is determined to pursue the new road scheme, they should leave the oak in the middle of the new roundabout they propose. We urge the council, yet again, to have a rethink – we need regeneration, not the degeneration that the new through traffic will bring."
Bath and North East Somerset Council said the tree had to be moved and that now was the best time of year to do it so that it can survive.
The council had planned to fell the tree, but a compromise was reached after residents fought to save it.
The tree was planted in 1897. It is being replanted at Writhlington School.
Despite the removal of the tree, planning consent for the road layout proposals has not yet been secured.
Members of Radstock Action Group were there to protest about it being taken away, describing its loss as a "sad day" for the area's history.
On the RAG website a rallying call for people to join today's protest said: "Do come and join in the farewell, if indeed, that is what it proves to be. An important part of Radstock's history is going and we don't want to ignore this sad day."
Members of the group recently handed a legal letter and petition to the leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, Councillor Paul Crossley.
They asked for the council to include the tree in their plans for a new road layout.
RAG secretary Amanda Leon said: "During a recent collection of signatures against the removal of the oak tree, several people suggested that even if the council is determined to pursue the new road scheme, they should leave the oak in the middle of the new roundabout they propose. We urge the council, yet again, to have a rethink – we need regeneration, not the degeneration that the new through traffic will bring."
Bath and North East Somerset Council said the tree had to be moved and that now was the best time of year to do it so that it can survive.
The council had planned to fell the tree, but a compromise was reached after residents fought to save it.
The tree was planted in 1897. It is being replanted at Writhlington School.
Despite the removal of the tree, planning consent for the road layout proposals has not yet been secured.
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Probe into suspicious barn fire near Bath
An early morning barn fire near Bath is being treated as suspicious.
Avon Fire and Rescue were called to the fire at a farm on Gorse Lane, off the A46 north of Bath, at 1.40am this morning.
The fire service said the barn contained 250 tonnes of hay and it took more than five hours to bring the blaze under control.
Four pump appliances attended the incident from stations in Bath, Southmead and Kingswood.
Fire crews remained at the scene until 12.30pm but the service has said it will be keeping a close eye on the site throughout the rest of the day while the remnants of the barn continue to burn.
A spokesman for the service said it was treating the incident as suspicious and that the cause would be investigated.
Gorse Lane was closed during the incident causing some traffic problems in the area.
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No 1 spot for former Bath college student Gabrielle Aplin - but it's runner-up for X Factor hopeful Jahmene
Former City of Bath College student Gabrielle Aplin topped the charts today with her haunting version of The Power of Love.
The 20-year-old's incredible success came on a weekend that saw former Writhlington School pupil Jahmene Douglas become runner-up on TV's X Factor.
Gabrielle's cover of the Frankie Goes to Hollywood classic has given retailer John Lewis its first ever chart-topper.
The singer persuaded the firm to let her audition for its famous Christmas TV adverts, and her distinctive voice won bosses over.
The heartwarming festive campaign centres around a snowman who embarks on an epic journey to find the perfect gift for his snowwoman.
On Facebook, Gabrielle, whose family come from Sutton Benger near Chippenham, said: "We actually did it, I am the official UK number 1! And it's all thanks to you guys for getting behind me and supporting this release. Who would've thought it eh :) cant thank you all enough x"
The single has sold more than 220,000 copies since its release last month.
John Lewis marketing director, Craig Inglis, said: "Music is an integral part of John Lewis' TV advertising, and we've had some great success over the last few years, but our first number one with Gabrielle is truly fantastic. She is a very special artist and we hope that she goes on from strength to strength after this incredible achievement."
Meanwhile, Jahmene, who grew up in Peasedown St John and is also a former City of Bath College student, was gracious in defeat after losing out to victor James Arthur.
The 22-year-old, who performed the Beatles' Let it Be, said: "It was such a blessing to share this stage with such a talent."
Afterwards judge Louis Walsh told Jahmene, who had been working at Asda in Swindon: "You were born to sing not to be in a supermarket."
Take That singer Gary Barlow told Jahmene: "You have an unbelievable voice and talent."
City of Bath College principal Matt Atkinson congratulated the pair on their incredible success.
He said: "We are tremendously proud of both of our rising stars.
"Gabrielle, who left us last summer, has a rare voice and is an insightful songwriter. Everyone at the college and BA1 Records is delighted she is achieving the success she deserves. Gabrielle is talented and hard-working but remains very down to earth and has always been a pleasure to work with.
"Jahmene's voice is a nice surprise. He studied construction with us in 2008 before moving from Peasedown to Swindon. We have been following his progress on X Factor and don't doubt he will become a major recording star despite been pipped to first place. I understand that Simon Cowell is impressed with Jahmene's falsetto vocal and is planning to give him a recording contract regardless.
"Staff and students at the college wish both of our former students every success in their singing careers."
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Audio: Lee Howells on Bath City's 2-0 loss at Billericay Town
Bath City boss Lee Howells was reluctant to criticise his team despite suffering a 2-0 defeat at Billericay on Saturday, when, after a match played on a poor surface, they conceded two late goals in either half.
Howells said: "The pitch was probably the worst I have seen in ten years, but give credit to Billericay, they play a particular way, they play a system, they don't play a great deal of football but they got a result and so it has worked for them.
"It's difficult to play against sides like this, because the ball is all over the place they are trying to lump it forward and at times the game can pass you by.
"When you lose a game of football its always disappointing and we made a couple of errors which gifted them the goals today.
"You can watch any game on TV and there will be some poor defending, even from the best teams in the world and we were punished for ours.
"For the second goal in particular, I am asking Jason (Mellor) to come for things, so I can't criticise him for coming for a cross and missing it, but he's a young player and he's' still learning.
"After Chesham I asked for two performances prior to the break we have coming up and today I got that so I can't criticise the players too much. I thought at times we played exceptionally well given the pitch.
"In the first half we had five or six chances. Their keeper made a couple of good saves. At times we moved the ball well. If we had scored in the first half it could well have been a different result. The only criticism is that we didn't put the ball in the net.
"It's a bit of rebuilding for the next couple of weeks; we have then got the Christmas games coming thick and fast, Havant, the two against Weston and one against Dorchester. So we need to push on and get some results, but next Saturday the lads will have off.
"With regard to particular players, we don't know yet whether Tom (Nichols) will be going back to Exeter. Tom I thought looked sharp again. This was his third game now for us and true he hasn't scored yet but I think he has done ever so well. He didn't have a great deal of football at Exeter before he joined us.
"Sekani (Simpson) will get a game soon. He will play in an under 21 match against Bristol City on Monday week and we can assess his fitness from there. It would be nice to get to Havant and have all the team fit."
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Film director on why Bath is best for movie-making
A film director from the city has explained why Bath is his first choice of location filming.
Ex-Monkton Combe School pupil, Giles Foster, returned to Bath at the weekend for a special screening of his latest film, an adaptation of the Rosamunde Pilcher novel The Other Wife.
The film tells the story of the Kendall family who discover that, despite outward appearances, their lives are far from perfect, and was filmed partly in Bath earlier this year.
Mr Foster, along with stars John Hannah and Rupert Everett, spent several weeks in the city in May.
Locations included a house in the Circus, the Assembly Rooms, which were turned into a London dance school, a house in Lansdown Crescent and Neston Park in Wiltshire.
The 64-year-old said: "I am from Bath. My first film was in Bath when I was just 15, and I've filmed another six or seven here since.
"It's just an easy city to film in and the staff at the film office are great."
Mr Foster also paid tribute to Martin Jennings-Wright from Bath's Little Theatre Cinema and Lark Porter from Komedia for their support of independent films such as The Other Wife.
The screening on Saturday was held at Komedia – which has recently opened a new screen which harks back to its days as the Beau Nash cinema – for local members of the crew and people who owned homes and property that were used during the filming.
Mr Foster said: "This is particularly nostalgic for me because my teenage years were spent watching films there. You could say the Little and Bath are the reason why I became a film director and why I am back home again."
He added: "I just love working here and having a good reason to be in this beautiful city."
He praised the support of house owners, businesses, schools and Bath and North East Somerset Council's film office.
The Other Wife was made for Anglo-German production company Gate Television, which also visited Bath three years ago to film Four Seasons – another novel by Pilcher.
It will be shown in Germany over Christmas and is expected to be shown in the UK some time in the New Year.
Mr Foster added that he planned to return to Bath in May or June next year to film another Pilcher story for German television, but was not allowed to reveal which novel it would be.
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Win a Furby or Cabbage Patch doll this Christmas with the Bath Chronicle
The Bath Chronicle has managed to lay its hands on two of the most sought-after toys this Christmas - a Furby and a Cabbage Patch doll.
For your chance to win one, simply answer the following questions and text in as directed.FURBY QUESTION
When was the Furby first launched as a must have toy? A - 1908. B - 1919. C - 1998.
Text NWS followed by FURBY, your answer (either A, B or C), name, address and postcode to 65100.
For example: NWS FURBY A Mr Smith, 29 Walk Way, Bath, BA1 2DA.
This text service will cost £1.00 plus your standard network SMS rate. The closing date is midday on Wednesday, December 12, 2012.
Click here for Furby competition full details, terms and conditions.CABBAGE PATCH DOLL QUESTION
When was the Cabbage Patch Kid doll first launched as a must have toy? A - 1802. B - 1932. C - 1982.
Text NWS followed by CABBAGE, your answer (either A, B or C), name, address and postcode to 65100.
For example: NWS CABBAGE A Mr Smith, 29 Walk Way, Bath, BA1 2DA.
This text service will cost £1.00 plus your standard network SMS rate. The closing date is midday on Wednesday, December 12, 2012.
Click here for Cabbage Patch doll competition full details, terms and conditions.
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Woman in Bath river plunge dies in hospital
A woman who was pulled from the River Avon in Bath last week has died in hospital.
The 71-year-old was taken to the Royal United Hospital after being found in the water at around 6pm last Wednesday.
North Parade Bridge was closed by police for around half an hour while they dealt with the incident.
A member of the public called 999 to say they had spotted an elderly woman in the water.
Police officers who were first on the scene managed to reach her from a pontoon and pulled her to safety.
They performed CPR and she was taken to the RUH in a critical condition.
She died in hospital this morning and her death has now been referred to the coroner.
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Photos wanted for Community in Focus Photography Competition
There is just over a week left for budding Bath based photographers to win a prize by submitting their snapshots of people, places and celebrations to national photographic competition Community in Focus.
There are two categories in the competition - inspiring images of community life, and photos of projects funded by theBig Lottery Fund making a positive difference to people and communities. You can visit the Big Lottery Fund Grants website for details of local projects.
Check out our examples above and if you feel you can represent Bath with some quality photos, send one over!
The competition runs until Wednesday 19 December 2012 , and entries must be submitted via the Media Trust Cam360 website or via the Cam360 iPhone app. All entries must be supplied with a caption explaining when the photo was taken and how it illustrates what is brilliant about Bath, or a Big Lottery Fund project. For full details please visit the Media Trust website.
Communities in Focus has been launched by the Big Lottery Fund and national charity Media Trust, in partnership with the Thisis and LocalPeople community websites sites run by Visit Northcliffe Digital - including This Is Bath.
To read full article click here .
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Team Bath netballers unveil new mascot for 2013
Team Bath's netballers have a new mascot for their 2013 Superleague campaign – thanks to two young fans.
A star-shaped figure called Banyo Mala and coloured in Team Bath's traditional blue and yellow will be out and about at next season's home Superleague fixtures.
The mascot was designed by 14-year-old Alyssa Oates from Ivybridge Community College in Devon.
The name, Banyo Mala, means Team Bath in Greek. The name comes from 11-year-old Jess Phelps, from Hanham Abbots Junior School in South Gloucestershire.
Alyssa and Jess were the pick of the entries for a design the mascot competition run by Team Bath and the winners were chosen by members of the 2013 Superleague squad. A life-sized version of Banyo Mala will now be created.
They will each receive a family season ticket for Team Bath's home Superleague games and tickets for their classes to watch Team Bath's opening Superleague fixture against Celtic Dragons on Thursday, February 7.
For further fixture details and ticket information please see the Team Bath website at www.teambath.com/sport/netball/superleague/
Fans can also buy tickets via Ticketline, which includes details of a special Phase 1 ticket bundle offer, or by phone on 0844 8884412.
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Let's hear it for Christmas hits past and present
It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas . . . Andy Welch reflects on previous Christmas tunes, and suggests a few merry numbers for today
It seems to get earlier every year, doesn't it?
That moment when you're in a shop, normally a department store or supermarket, happily going about your business, and suddenly you hear Noddy Holder's voice for the first time since last year.
"It's Chriiiiiiiiiiiiist-mas," he bellows, as he has done every 12 months since 1973.
"Oh no," comes the only natural response. "Already? We've only just had Bonfire Night."
Now if you heard Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody for the first time today, chances are you'd love it. It is, after all, a fantastic song that fully encapsulates the excitement of Christmas; the preparation, magic, tradition and anticipation.
But familiarity breeds contempt, and almost 40 years after it was first released the overplayed song is about as welcome at Christmas as a sloppy kiss from your sherry-addled great aunt.
Slade aren't the only guilty party either. Wizzard's I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday is no better. Amazingly released the same year as Slade's effort (what was it about glam rockers and Christmas?), it's been loitering around on Christmas compilations and TV adverts ever since.
Interestingly, despite the ubiquity of the song and the countless cover versions since 1973, it's never charted higher than No 4 in the UK.
Then there's Jona Lewie's exercise in brain-nagging melody, Stop The Cavalry, Sir Paul Fab Macca Wacky Thumbs Aloft's Wonderful Christmastime, and Happy Xmas War Is Over by his former songwriting partner John Lennon – not to mention Elton John honking his way through Step Into Christmas.
Mud have been Lonely This Christmas every year since 1974, Chris De Burgh is still going on about that spaceman who came travelling, while Shakin' Stevens will be wishing Merry Christmas Everyone forever more.
Perhaps the biggest problem with much Christmas music is we're still in thrall to the classics made in the Seventies. Look at any seasonal compilation – normally called something like The 101 Best Christmas Songs Ever! – and how many of the assembled tracks will have been released in the past 20 years? Very few is the answer.
That's not to say contemporary artists don't write Christmas songs, you just have to search much harder for them and there's almost no chance a new number could stand alongside any of the giants mentioned so far.
Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas, released in 1994, is about the most recent offering accepted into the festive canon, and even that harked back to the Motown holiday-themed hits of the late Sixties and early Seventies: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by The Jacksons and so on.
Christmas music seemed to hit a brick wall during the Nineties, and while Cliff Richard has many incorrect accusations levelled at his music, the decline of the festive single can be pretty much traced back to Mistletoe & Wine and Saviour's Day, which were Christmas No 1s in 1988 and 1990 respectively.
With those saccharine nursery rhyme lyrics and accompanying videos, he's lucky Christmas wasn't cancelled outright.
In the aftermath of Cliffmas, as we'll call it, seasonal songs have been thin on the ground. There's the aforementioned Mariah, while East 17 had a Christmas No 1 with Stay Another Day in 1994, a song only deemed festive because it features bell sounds and the four-piece looked cold in the video.
Novelty singles were also big business – Mr Blobby, Bob The Builder etc – until X Factor's stranglehold took over and effectively killed off the genre.
Shayne Ward hit No 1 in 2005 with That's My Goal, and was duly followed to the December top spot by Leona Lewis, Leon Jackson and Alexandra Burke, only for something odd to happen the year after. Joe McElderry was denied his almost certain Christmas No 1 by a husband-and-wife team of campaigners Jon and Tracy Morter.
As admirable as their 2009 mission to get Rage Against The Machine's Killing In The Name Of to Christmas No 1 was, it didn't seem to have much good cheer about it. If people wanted to buy the X Factor winner's single each year, then surely it was up to them how they spent their cash.
That's the great thing about the charts – they document popularity, not necessarily good taste. And perhaps a real protest would have been millions of people opting out of the race altogether.
Maybe Christmas music just became too cheesy for record buyers of the Noughties; too kitsch to be cool. And if there's one thing Christmas – the campest of all festivals – didn't need, it was even more gaudiness.
Carols have never gone out of fashion. While we might be bored of Slade, Wizzard and, as it gets older and more overplayed, The Pogues' Fairytale Of New York, you'll hear few grumbles about Once In Royal's David City, Oh Come All Ye Faithful or, the most fun traditional tune there is, Deck The Halls.
Christian carols have fallen by the wayside slightly as Christmas becomes less of a religious celebration and more of a time for family and friends.
There has been a slight resurgence in Christmas albums in the past couple of years. His Bobness, Mr Dylan, released Christmas In The Heart in 2009, while chief Super Furry Animal, American duo She & Him, and Brit pairs Smith & Burrows and Emmy The Great & Tim Wheeler all released Christmas albums last year, each adding a particularly indie take on the yearly celebration.
This year Cee-Lo Green, Tracey Thorn, Christina Perri and Rod Stewart are just four of the artists releasing new Yuletide albums.
Whether they're offering anything new remains to be seen, but it's got to be better than listening to Slade again, hasn't it?TEN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS SONGS TO TRY
Tracey Thorn – Tinsel And Lights
She & Him – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Summer Camp – Christmas Wrapping
Darlene Love – Marshmallow World
The Temptations – Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Low – Just Like Christmas
The Leisure Society – The Last Of The Melting Snow
The Futureheads – Christmas Was Better In The 80s
Sharon Van Etten and Rufus Wainwright – Baby It's Cold Outside
Emmy The Great & Tim Wheeler – Zombie Christmas
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Larkhall Athletic and Bitton through to last-32 of FA Vase
Larkhall Athletic and Bitton both booked their places in the last 32 of the FA Vase with victories last Saturday.
And the Toolstation Premier Division sides' reward was a pair of home ties in Monday's fourth-round draw, with Larks entertaining East Sussex outfit Peacehaven & Telscombe at Plain Ham on January 19, while Bitton take on the winners of this weekend's meeting between Northern clubs Shildon and Parkgate.
Simon Gilbert scored with the last kick of the game to earn Larks a nail-biting 3-2 home victory over Kidlington.
Man of the match Luke Clarke converted Gilbert's cross to put the hosts into the lead before Chris Snody made a couple of decisive interventions to preserve it before half-time.
Clarke then hit a post before Kidlington's Ryan Curtain equalised from the penalty spot after Gary Thorne was adjudged to have elbowed an opponent inside the area.
Larks began to lose their shape but re-took the lead when Nat Aukland tapped home after the visiting keeper stopped Clarke's initial attempt.
Curtain levelled for a second time almost immediately but, with extra-time looming, Gilbert held his nerve to convert a penalty awarded for deliberate handball.
Bitton's long trip to Cornwall to take on St Blazey proved worthwhile as they claimed a 3-0 win and £1,500 in prize money.
Jason Llama's close-range finish and a Mark Salter penalty put Bitton 2-0 up inside half-an-hour. Salter added a third after St Blazey's Dan Bennett was dismissed.
Bitton are due to visit Oldland Abbotonians in the Gloucestershire FA Challenge Trophy second round on Wedneesday night and return to league action with a trip to Premier Division title-chasers Cadbury Heath on Saturday.
Larkhall, meanwhile, make the trip to fourth-placed Hallen.
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Bath's Herschel Museum of Astronomy pays tribute to Sir Patrick Moore
The organisers of a Bath museum which owes its success to Sir Patrick Moore has paid tribute to the extraordinary astronomer.
The 89-year-old writer, broadcaster and eccentric helped to galvanise action to save what is now the Herschel Museum of Astronomy in New King Street.
The city had a close relationship with Sir Patrick because of his longstanding involvement with the museum, based in the house where Sir William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus in 1781.
He was patron of the museum and also president of the William Herschel Society set up to acknowledge his influence.
Francis Ring, of the society, said it was Sir Patrick's "enthusiastic support" together with the generosity and energy of doctors Leslie and Elizabeth Hilliard that saved the house, which was threatened with demolition.
The Hilliards bought the building in what Sir Patrick subsequently called "truly a magnificent gesture" and the museum was established.
Sir Patrick agreed to become president of the society, which was founded in 1977 and suggested there should be an annual public lecture, many of which he came to Bath to chair.
Mr Ring said: "He always gave particular attention to questions asked by children. We shall miss him."
Curator Debbie James said Sir Patrick had been generous with his time.
"Sir Patrick scripted and narrated the museum's film on the Herschels, Constructing the Heavens. He also introduces the museum's virtual tour. Sir Patrick wrote several booklets about William, John and Caroline Herschel which are on sale in the museum shop. He supported museum events; coming to unveil the statue of the Herschels in the garden in the 1980s and opening the Star Vault astronomy auditorium in 2003. Sir Patrick Moore was one of the greatest educators, bringing astronomy to life for thousands. He was in every way the ideal patron for the museum."
Sir Patrick once played 21 xylophone pieces at the Theatre Royal, including 19 which he had written himself.
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Bath City cancel Forest Green friendly due to frozen pitch
Tonight's planned friendly between Bath City and Forest Green Rovers has been cancelled due to a frozen pitch at Mayday Trust Park.
City first-team coach Lee Howells was looking to use the fixture against the Blue Square Bet Premier high-fliers to give his squad some match practice ahead of a blank Saturday.
But the cold weather has scuppered his plans and, due to their early FA Trophy exit, City will not be in action again until they visit Havant & Waterlooville on December 22.
City first-team coach Lee Howells was looking to use the fixture against the Blue Square Bet Premier high-fliers to give his squad some match practice ahead of a blank Saturday.
But the cold weather has scuppered his plans and, due to their early FA Trophy exit, City will not be in action again until they visit Havant & Waterlooville on December 22.
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Police appeal after assault in Oldfield Park in Bath
Bath police are appealing for help to contact a witness to a domestic assault in Oldfield Park at the weekend.
They believe he may have important information about the incident which happened at around 7.30pm on Sunday evening, in which a 15-year-old girl was involved in a physical argument with an older man in Lyndhurst Road.
Some witnesses - a group of people who came out of a house at the time - have come forward, but police particularly want to talk to one man who spoke to that group about what he had seen.
He did not give any personal details and has not contacted the police.
He is asked to contact PC Ron McIvor 3094 on the non-emergency number 101.
A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and has been bailed pending further inquiries.
They believe he may have important information about the incident which happened at around 7.30pm on Sunday evening, in which a 15-year-old girl was involved in a physical argument with an older man in Lyndhurst Road.
Some witnesses - a group of people who came out of a house at the time - have come forward, but police particularly want to talk to one man who spoke to that group about what he had seen.
He did not give any personal details and has not contacted the police.
He is asked to contact PC Ron McIvor 3094 on the non-emergency number 101.
A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and has been bailed pending further inquiries.
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Census figures reveal the make up Bath and north east Somerset
Census figures revealing the race, religion, martial status and car and home ownership of the population of Bath and north east Somerset have been released today.
Data shows there were 176,016 men, women and children in Bath and north east Somerset on Census Day 2011.
Of those, 65,130 were married or in a civil partnership, 15,680 cohabiting, 38,712 single and never married, 8,728 divorced and 8,778 widowed.
The district was also home to 4,168 single parents, 3,742 of them women, with 1,458 of the lone parents not in employment
The Census data revealed that 60.9 per cent were identified or identified themselves as English, 11.4 per cent British, 1.3 Welsh, 0.7 Scottish and 0.4 Irish.
Figures released show 158,640 were white British, 58 gipsies or travellers, 1,116 British Indian, 170 British Pakistani, 219 British Bangladeshi, 1,912 British Chinese, 1,160 British other Asian, 499 were defined as black British African, another 672 Caribbean, 375 as Arab and 367 as "other".
In Bath and North East Somerset 22 per cent of households have no car or van, 42.3 per cent have one, 27.1 two, 6.1 per cent three and 2.5 per cent four or more with a total of 92,628 vehicles in the district.
The average person living in the South West is 42, white, British, Christian and owns there own home rather than renting a council house.
One in five of us has no qualifications, and one in 10 is providing unpaid care for someone else.
The figures show that, across England and Wales,the popuklation on census day was 56.1 million – an increase of 3.7 million (seven per cent) since 2001.
There were 5.3 million residents in the South West. This was an increase of some 345,000 (seven per cent) since 2001, and represents nine per cent of the population of England and Wales.
The median age of the region was 42, three years higher than the England and Wales average. Within the region this ranged from 33 in Bristol to 51 in West Somerset.
For more go to http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/index.html
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Chippenham League: White Horse gallop to extra-time cup success
It will be White Horse that keeps the Division Two flag flying this year in the presstoprint-sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Cup, after they came out on top of a scintillating encounter with fierce rivals Staverton. The second division heavyweights went head to head at a cold and blustery Leighton Sports Centre and produced the classic cup tie that had been predicted that saw Clive Black's side win 4-2 after extra time.
Dave Appleyard missed a first minute penalty for White Horse before Levi Wood gave Staverton a second half lead. Dale Rowland restored parity and Chris Stiles put White Horse ahead but with second of normal time remaining Staverton's left back Olly Bramell struck a stunning 30 yard effort to take the game to extra time where Pete Ayton regained the lead for White Horse before a second from Rowland sealed the win.
First division Biddestone White Horse booked their place in the last eight after they avoided a potential banana skin in second division Goatacre CC who suffered a 4-2 loss to end their cup hopes. Goatacre paid the price for missing a host of guilt edged chances as goals from Tom Lye (two) his first direct from a corner, Leigh Rogers and Dan King who scored from the penalty sent Goatacre out. Harry Warner scored both of the losers goals.
As predicted it was a David verses Goliath battle at Poulton where first division high flyers Bradford Renegades disposed of second division basement side Wren FC 14-0 and once again it was little surprise that the red hot Sam Jordan had a field day as he filled his boots with another seven goals to take his tally to 53 in just 12 games. Along with Jordan's seven, Lance Davis scored three, Josh Maguire grabbed a brace and singles for Mark Robinson and Dan Jordan made up the 14.
In a repeat of last terms cup final cup holders Bug & Spider played hosts to FC Jager and once again it was Marcus Lovesey's side who came out on top. Bug had to come from behind to claim a 2-1 success in the final and they had to come from behind again to claim their place in the quarter-finals with a 3-2 victory of their guests at Beversbrook who had Frome Town manager Darren Perrin take charge of the team in the absence of Barry Holloway. Dan Griffiths put Jager ahead, Dave Herring leveled and two excellent goals from Mark Dolman put them 3-1 up before Kia Miller scored for Jager to set up a nervy final 10 minutes, Bug held out to book their spot in the next round.
Castle FC who have reached the semi-final stage of the Knock Out cup in two of the last three seasons belied their league position as they turned in a superb second half display to batter FC Boroughs 11-3 in an all-first division battle and with Castle winning 2-1 at the break their was no sign of the carnage that was to happen in an incredible second 45 minutes. Sam Parker scored all three of Boroughs goals but they counted for nothing as Tom Salter, Jack Fisher and Liam Hill scored two each for Castle with singles for Gary Campbell, Nathan Emm, Joe Unsworth, Josh Robinson and Dan Sloan making up the winners 11.
First division, Steeple Ashton Rangers travelled to Sutton Benger to take on second division, Chippenham West End with both teams looking to progress to the last eight and it was Ashton who prevailed after overturning a half time deficit to win 3-2. Ashton has the chance to take the lead early on but Lee Mounty had his penalty saved by Ceiron Lyon. Scott Nash put West End in front thanks to his 25 yard volley. Lee Mounty leveled for Ashton and Nathan Holloway put the villagers ahead before a second from Nash squared things up. With the game heading for extra time a second from Holloway won it for Ashton.
Biddestone Social who won the cup in 2010 and 2011 kept their hopes of lifting the trophy for a third time alive with a 7-1 victory away at second division Somerford FC who held out against the premier division leaders for 19 minutes, before four goals in 20 minutes ended their cup dreams. Danny Jones put Biddestone ahead and two goals each for Tyler Sibbick, Martin Johnson and Kieran Baggs his second coming from the penalty spot took the victors into the quarter-finals. Jamie Holloway replied for Somerford.
Westbury Rangers 40 year wait for Knock Out cup success goes on as their dreams of cup glory were ended with a 2-1 defeat away at AFC Melksham after the original tie was switched to Christie Miller from Meadow Lane at the eleventh hour after Westbury's pitch was declared unplayable. Melksham lead through Josh Robinson's deflected effort, and when Westbury had Mark Young sent off the result looked a formality but Westbury leveled through Matty Mead only for a second for Robinson to give Melksham their win.
Everything is as it was before the start of playing in S.K. Fruits Limited, Chippenham Sunday League, Premier Division as the only scheduled fixture between FC Brunel and Semington Rovers was postponed due to the former being unable to raise a side as work commitments left them short of players.
With Bradford Renegades in Knock Out Cup action, Corsham United moved top of the Division One table after they followed up last weeks 6-2 win over Bromham (Sunday) with a much closer 2-1 success. James Hernandez deflected a Jamie Murphy's goal bound effort in to give Corsham the lead. Jim Sandiford restored parity only for Andy Wilkins to win it for Corsham with tremendous strike.
Prestige Bodyworks picked up their first point in three games, however their 0-0 draw away at North Star A wasn't the result they were looking for and come the final whistle Prestige were at a loss as to how they didn't take maximum points as they had battered their hosts for much of the game but were unable to take any of their numerous chances in front of goal.
Miller Sports moved out of the Division Two relegation zone thanks to their 3-0 win over Sutton Benger. It was the third time the two teams had locked horns this term and the second time that Miller had beaten Benger on home soil as they followed up a 5-3 Parr Trophy win and it saw them avenge a 2-0 loss from earlier in the season. Paul Walker in only his second gave for Miller scored twice with their third coming from Scott Boyd.
A 3-1 victory for Kings Arms (All Cannings) at home to GRFC saw Jim Wilson's host's extend their unbeaten run to five matches while for Tam Laidlaw's GRFC side they have now lost four on the trot. GRFC missed a host of chances before Jacob Rogers gave Kings Arms a 1-0 lead which was against the run of play. Charlie Austin restored parity only for Simon Drewitt to win it for Kings Arms with two second half goals.
Corsham Park Rangers remain top of the pile in Division Three after they completed a quick fire double over Pack Horse Rangers, after beating Paul Kidley's side 6-5 in a thriller last weekend Corsham Park hit six goals for a second successive game as they coasted to a 6-1 win. Matthew Spear scored a brace his first coming from the penalty spot, Joe Forester, Kadir Ayhan, Simon Young and Owen Bryan shared the others with Tom Butterfield replying for Pack Horse.
Christian Malford took the points in their home game against bottom side Cavalier at their Kington Langley pitch with a 7-4 win in a see-saw game with six goals coming in the last fifteen minutes. Carl Ledbury put Cavalier in front only for David Brown, Scott Evans and Robert Lowe to score for Malford before half time. Evans went on to complete his hat trick in the second half, Brown and Ledbury also added to their first half goals to make up Malford's seven. Dan Rance, Andy Holman, and Mark Torr made up Cavalier's quartet.
FC Buscots remain in second spot behind Corsham Park, but the Devizes based side can count themselves a little lucky to have their 100% record still intact as they threw away a two goal lead to trail 3-2 before two late goals turned things back in their favour as they ran out 4-3 winners. Nathan Moffatt and Phil Little scoring for Buscots before goals from Caner Ozkaya, Mark Smollens and Kieron Gleed put Bremhill 3-2 up. Luke Enderby two minutes from time and a second from Little three minutes into injury earned Buscots their amazing win.
Talbot FC maintained their excellent form of late with a 2-0 victory over Pig & Whistle United A which means that Victor Long's Calne based side sit pretty in fourth spot thanks to a fifth successive win. Jamie Van-Crump scored from the penalty spot to put Talbot ahead and Talbot's keeper Stephen Rich brilliantly saved a Sean Meer spot kick to preserve their lead before Alex Wells secured Talbot's win with his first goal for the club. United's keeper Steve Sims produced a string of stunning saves for his teams despite playing with a broken hand.
FC North Wiltshire opened up a two point lead at the top of Division Four after their defeated third placed Old Road FC 6-1. Simon Gray top scored for North Wilts with a three timer, Dan Dring, Dan Deacon and Jason Brooks-Stevens added the others. Matt Croston replied for Old Road.
Melksham Cosmos ended their six match winless run with a hard fought 4-3 victory at home to Oakhill with their winner coming from almost the last kick of the game. Will Birch (two) and Dan Payne scored for Oakhill. Matt Brock, Marc Bowden from the penalty spot and two from Rich Ayling his second being the winner in the final seconds earned Cosmos the spoils.
A 6-3 win for Trowbridge Town Supporters Club away at Pig & Whistle United B saw them complete a double over Adrian Skinner's side and claim a fifth win in their last six outings. A Jake Goldsworthy double and a first goal for the club for Steve Jamieson put Pig & Whistle 3-2 ahead at half time, Dean Coles and Lewis Smith scoring for the supporters'. A second half doubled from Coles saw him complete a hat trick and a goal each for James Crawford and Chris Darling his first since November 2008 won it for the supporters' club.
Results For Sunday 9th December 2012
S.K. Fruits Limited, Chippenham Sunday League: Premier Division, FC Brunel v Semington Rovers pp; Division One, Bromham (Sunday) 1, Corsham United 2; North Star A 0, Prestige Bodyworks 0; Division Two, Kings Arms 3, GRFC 1; Miller Sports 3, Sutton Benger 0; Division Three, Christian Malford 7, Cavalier 3; Corsham Park 6, Pack Horse 1; FC Buscots 4, Bremhill View 3; PSC Galaxy v North Star B pp; Talbot 2, Pig & Whistle A 0; Division Four, Melksham Cosmos 4, Oakhill 3; Old Road 1, FC North Wiltshire 6; Pig & Whistle B 3, Trowbridge Town S C 6; Sportzcoach v Trowbridge Rangers (Sunday) pp; Worton & Cheverell v FC United of Chippenham pp; Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup (sponsored by presstoprint) Round Two, Biddestone White Horse 4, Goatacre 2; Bradford Renegades 14, Wren 0; Bug & Spider 3, FC Jager 2; Castle 11, FC Boroughs 3; Chippenham West End 2, Steeple Ashton Rangers 3; Somerford 1, Biddestone Social 7; Westbury Rangers 1, AFC Melksham 2; White Horse 4, Staverton 2aet.
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Trowbridge League: Boomsbury bounce back to take over at the top
Due to their match away at Seend United being postponed albeit somewhat prematurely on Friday afternoon due the host's pitch at the Lye being deemed unplayable, Melksham Town Reserves who were due to play the villagers slipped from the top of the Trowbridge Windows & Conservatories-sponsored Trowbridge League, Division One table down to second spot after a victory for Boomsbury moved the top of the pile.
Boomsbury bounced back from their shock Junior Cup exit at the hands of Castle Combe last weekend to record a 3-1 win away at Bradford United. Bradford may have been poor in the first half but Boomsbury played their best football for a long time as the opened up a 3-0 lead. Their first goal coming on 15 minutes after a great finish from Dan Dominy. Boomsbury had to wait until the 35th minute before adding their second but Booker Woodford's goal was worth the wait, Woodford headed home after an excellent team move. Shortly after Oli Howe made it 3-0 with another well taken header after a similar move that lead to Woodford's goal.
The second half saw Boomsbury take their foot of the gas and Bradford come more into the game, but when Richie Bliha curled home a 25 yard free kick against his former club in the last minute it was a case of too little to late as Boomsbury had already sewn the game up.
A week on from their unexpected Junior Cup success over Boomsbury, Castle Combe came tumbling back down to earth with a bang and it was the classic case of after the Lord Mayor's show for Paul Sanderson's Combe side suffered a 5-3 defeat at home to Freshford United.
Combe who had suffered a 4-1 reverse to Freshford in October looked to be on course for another famous win when goals from Matt White and Mark Bolton put them two-up. Freshford got themselves back in the game before half time through Mark Birleson and they drew level not long after the restart when Steve Roddy fired home to make it two-each. Combe reclaimed the lead thanks to Matt Hopper, but their joy was short lived as a second from Roddy squared things up for a second time. Jamie Olding put Freshford ahead for the first time in the topsy turvy encounter and when Matt Attree knocked in number five for Hughie Fulton's side their comeback was complete and they held on to claim a 5-3 win and wrap up a league double over their opponents.
Unquestionably the match of the day in Division Two was the one at St Mary's were hosts and current leaders Steeple Ashton entertained second placed The Lamb and come the final whistle the positions of the two teams were reversed as thanks to their 4-1 win, Richard Stevens Lamb found themselves top of the pile thanks to their better goal difference.
Despite having the better of the first half Lamb were unable to make any of their many chances count and went in at the break locked in stalemate with their hosts but after the goalless first half, Lamb got their just rewards when the breakthrough when through Bradley King-Taylor put them in front.
Ashton responded almost immediately with Guy Rowley restoring parity but their good work was undone when Rafal Whitcher saw red after picking up his second booking of the afternoon but he was lucky not to pick up a straight red for his over the top challenge on Craig Sheppard and with Ashton down to 10 men the Lamb made their numerical advantage count and regained the lead when Sam Stevens scored from the penalty spot to make it 2-1. Kieran Fereday added a third for the Lamb before a second from King-Taylor gave Lamb the victory that their excellent all-round team performance deserved.
Calne Eagles who can't buy a win at the moment slumped to a sixth straight defeat after they were beaten 3-1 by Westbury Town. Westbury lead through Jamie Howse before Adam Bewley got Eagles back on level term before half time. Second half goals from Scott Walford and Adam Bishop who scored from 20 yards out on his debut earned Westbury their fourth win in their last six league outings.
It was a case of de-ja-vu for Melksham Town A when they hosted Bratton, having already suffered a 2-0 in the reverse fixture they suffered the same fate and for like the first meeting Shaun Newman was their undoing. Rendell scored both goal in the earlier meeting to earn Bratton victory and his first half double earned the villagers maximum points against Melksham for a second time.
Despite not having a league fixture at the weekend, Westwood News who were in Junior Cup action stretched their lead over their rivals at the top of Division three to nine points. Mark Hurkett's side received an early Christmas present of three points after the League awarded them the points from their game with Polenez from earlier which was abandoned when the Westbury based side walk off after 26 minutes.
The local derby at Leighton Sports Centre, Westbury, bought Bratton Reserves and Polenez Westbury together for the first time this season and after two narrow defeats last term, Polenez took the spoils this time courtesy of a 2-1 success that saw them overturn a half time deficit to claim their second win of the season and just their third in 26 league outings since joining the league last season. Dave Jones' goal for Bratton separated the sides at the interval but Polenez came back strong in the second half to claim their victory with Przemek Pogorzelski scoring both goals.
Fresh from last weeks thrilling 4-2 win over Bratton Reserves, Bradford United Reserves visited bottom of the table The Stiffs looking for back-to-back victories for the first time this season, while their hosts were looking to end a winless run that goes back to late January and for a second successive week the Stiffs were unlucky not to get something for their efforts as they led 2-1 at the break before losing a thriller 4-2.
Nathan Litterick put the Stiffs one up before Aiden Lane dragged Bradford level. Chris Giles put the Stiffs back ahead and despite hitting the post and the bar and having two cleared off in the second half the Stiffs couldn't hold on for a victory as the conceded three second half goals the third coming from the last kick of the game as they were chasing an equaliser. Marc Taylor, Lee Ridout gave and theever youthful Shawn House on his debut completed the scoring for Bradford.
Trowbridge Rangers were bidding to avoid a hat trick of defeats at the hands of fellow league newcomers Levi's when they locked horns at Whaddon Lane, Hilperton for a third time and after defeats of 12-2 and 7-4 against Marco Wood's side, Rangers suffered another loss but their 3-1 margin was a lot closer than most people expected the result too be. Levi Wood (two) and Jason Povey scored for Levi's after Dan Moore had put Rangers ahead.
With Castle Combe and The Lamb already safely through to the quarter-finals of this seasons Wiltshire Junior Cup, Semington Magpies and Westwood News were hoping to join them in the final eight but it wasn't to be as both sides crashed out of the competition.
Magpies suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Salisbury League outfit The Wanderers. Magpies taking the lead through Rich Allum who was sent off early in the second half, a dismissal that was to prove costly as Wanderers who had leveled before half time scored twice more to run out comfortable winners.
Third division leaders Westwood News suffered their first home defeat of the season after they were beaten 4-2 by Wiltshire League One side Ashton Keynes. Ben Ludwell scoring from 40 yards to restore parity and Harry Hamlin from the penalty spot to make it interesting at 4-2 before Keynes added a fourth to seal their victory.
Results For Saturday 8th December 2012
Trowbridge League, sponsored by Trowbridge Windows & Conservatories: Division One, Bradford United 1, Boomsbury 3; Castle Combe 3, Freshford 5; North Bradley v Westbury United Res pp; Seend v Melksham Res pp; Warminster Res v Semington Magpies pp; Warminster Res v Trowbridge Wanderers pp; Division Two, Calne Eagles 1, Westbury Town 3; Melksham Town A 0, Bratton 2; Steeple Ashton 1, The Lamb 4; Worton & Cheverell v Heytesbury pp; Division Three, Bratton Res v Polenez; Lacock v Westwood pp; The Stiffs 2, Bradford United Res 4; Trowbridge Rangers 1, Levi's 3; Trowbridge Town Res v The Fleece pp; Wiltshire Junior Cup, Third Round, Semington Magpies 1, The Wanderers 3; Westwood News 2, Ashton Keynes 4.
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