Twyford Comets Win Back Trophy

Football is a national pastime, and something millions of people enjoy every day.

And Twyford and Ruscombe Cricket Club certainly enjoyed it in 2025, actually beating their rivals from Twyford Comets in the annual match between the two clubs.

2026’s outing started full of hope.

Even the endless rain stopped for long enough to give the cricketers a chance to retain their crown.

Led by the indomitable Lee Leggett, the TRCC side featured a strong mix of experience and young legs and lungs able to cope with the demands of the game.

On paper, promising.

On the pitch however, things proved challenging.

Despite the impressive efforts of Andrew Jones in goal, the wise heads of the Comets’ players, largely coaches, but with several, young, fit types who seemed unfairly good at football, quickly took the lead.

TRCC managed to equalise, with one over 40, Neil Lancum, feeding another, Stuart Barrable, for a simple tap in.

Hope pulsated through the team, but sadly hope doesn’t get you very far in the face of grizzled footballers.

More goals went in and, despite the endless running of the likes of Ben Ackerman and George Mitchell, it was 4-1 to the Comets at half time.

More goals came in the second half, one of them to TRCC, with Harry Leggett curling a beautiful left-footer into the top corner from the edge of the box.

But at this point, as Ackerman Jr likes to say, “game’s gone” and the final score ended up as Comets 8 TRCC 2.

As Danny Baker would say, a “right hammering”.

Nonetheless, TRCC put in a great effort against a strong opposition.

The return fixture happens at the cricket ground in July, and TRCC will be looking to win back the trophy after last year’s defeat.

Organiser Hugh Fort said: “It was a tough day for the team today, but it’s not really about the result.

“The two clubs are working together on a project to rebuild our shared pavilion at Stanlake Meadow. "Once that is built, it will be a massive step towards continuing to build on the growth and success we’ve had over the last 10 years.”

The pavilion plans are progressing and it is hoped a planning application could be submitted to Wokingham Borough Council later this year.