GLOUCESTER has a World Cup winner in its midst.
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Hockey player Bruce Snape guided his over 60s side to victory in the Grand Masters World Cup in the Netherlands earlier this month.
The Aussie team beat the host nation 2-1 in the final in a high quality match to finish the tournament undefeated.
Geoff Lewis finished off a great team move for the Aussie side with the Dutch equalising midway through the second half.
The Aussies continued to attack and 10 minutes before full time managed to regain the lead after a brilliant piece of play involving Rudy Keswick and Peter Shepherd.
In the frenetic final few minutes the Dutch had an opportunity to draw the match but the Aussie team held on for a memorable victory.
The win was consolation for the team which had lost the final of the previous World Cup to the same opposition four years previously.
Snape was named man of the match in the Aussie team’s 3-2 semi final win over England in a game that saw the side reclaim the Hockey Ashes.
Snape’s fierce determination overpowered the opposition in the centre of the pitch and provided the spring-board for the Aussie attack throughout the match.
The Aussies led 1-nil at halftime and surged to a 2-nil lead shortly after the break but England kept coming and scored a goal to make it 2-1 with 15 minutes to play.
The two-goal buffer was restored with 10 minutes remaining but England almost immediately hit back and the final few minutes proved nervy ones for the Aussies.
The Hockey Ashes are the remains of an English player’s hockey stick.
The player was a long term member of England’s LX Hockey Club and the stick was cremated about 10 years ago.
Australia and England have fought out Ashes matches on seven occasions with the count now standing at five wins to England and two to Australia.
The next Ashes battle will take place in 2016.