New Milton Advertiser 27th Nov 2020

S PORT lifestyle Friday 27th November 2020 inside From Our Files 21 Puzzles 21 Reflections 23 Food and Drink 24 Classifieds 30 Recruitment 31 Services 32-33 Announcements 38 Grassroots sport set to kick o when restrictions lift • Porches • Renovations • Brickwork • Guttering • Repointing • Replacement windows • Roofing FREE ESTIMATES Telephone: 023 8061 0594 info@bunneybuilders.co.uk www.bunneybuilders.co.uk • P orches • Renovations • B i kwork • Guttering • Repointing • Replac ment windows FREE ESTIMATES Telephone: 023 8061 0594 info@bunneybuilders.co.uk www.bunneybuilders.co.uk Keep it Local Motoring pages 25-27 pages 34-36 Support your local stores and help the economy Mark treads new ground branching out on his own Arts&Culture page 22 New Forest string orchestra adapts to changing times BUNNEY BUILDERS

although be restrictions on some activities due to the higher transmission risk of coronavirus indoors. Restrictions will depend on the alert level which applies to each area. In tier one areas, indoor sports can take place within the rule of six. For example, this means people from different households could play three-on-three volleyball, or four people from different households could play doubles tennis or badminton. Group activities such as training sessions and exercise classes can take place in larger numbers, provided participants are in separate groups – up to six people – which do not mix. In tier two areas, indoor sport can take place within households, and people can take part in group activities like exercise classes as long as there is no mixing between households. People can play certain sports which do not involve close proximity or physical contact against one person from another household, such as singles tennis or badminton. In tier three areas, indoor sport will be restricted to within the household only, and there should be no group activity such as exercise classes. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden said: “This is a big step forward for sport. Bringing grassroots sport there will

LOCAL football bosses have welcomed the resumption of grassroots sport when lockdown restrictions lift on Wednesday as “the right decision”. The latest government announcements state the nationwide restrictions will lift at the start of next month with the country going back to the three-tiered system. While elite sports have continued behind closed doors during England’s four-week lockdown, grassroots and amateur sport has been halted since 5th November. The announcement means sport can resume across all tiers, providing social distancing remains in place, although there will be some restrictions on highest-risk activity in tier three areas. Spectators at non-elite sports will be able to attend events in line with Covid- secure guidance for each tier. Sydenhams Wessex Football League chairman, Nick Spencer, said: “This is absolutely the right decision. The players will, I expect, be keen to return to playing, and spectators looking forward to supporting their team. “I am looking forward to getting my football fix, with a mixture of feeling good and wary at the same time. I expect to see the majority of spectators following the guidelines, but also some who will not consider the wellbeing of others. ENGLAND Women’s rugby side staged a late comeback scoring 15 points in the last 10 minutes to beat France 25-23 at Twickenham – and former Ellingham & Ringwood player Poppy Cleall was at the centre of it. The dramatic comeback was kick-started by a try from Cleall and means the Red Roses end the 2020 campaign unbeaten to cement their position as the number one team in the world. France controlled the first half and, excluding Zoe Harrison’s unconverted try, they fully deserved their 10-point half-time lead with the scores at 15-5. England coach Simon Middleton brought on his entire bench on the hour mark, but it failed to shift the momentum as a second Cyrielle Banet try extended the visitors’ lead to 13 points. With 70 minutes gone, England began their late comeback when Poppy Cleall drove over the line for her 14th test match try off the back of a rolling maul. Cleall started

back was my number one priority, so I’m pleased we are reopening sports and gyms in every tier, in recognition of the significant health benefits.” Last week, a £300m package to help spectator sports in England was announced, but no additional funding was explicitly directed at recreational sport. Much of the funding package will comprise loans. Within this support package, £14 million has been allocated to the National League System (steps three-six), which includes the Sydenhams Wessex Premier and First Division. The finer details of how this funding will be allocated, and how the loans will work is still to be announced. The process will be overseen by an independent decision-making board and supported by Sport England. Chief executive of the Sport and Recreation Alliance, Lisa Wainwright, said it was “critical that a proportion of this money goes to the lifeblood of each sport at the community level”. “While this release of funding is a verywelcome development, we should remember that this package does not cover many sports and they remain in a perilous situation with clubs and community centres struggling to survive the latest restrictions.”

“I believe the biggest threat comes from individuals who feel they are invincible, and groups of spectators, who will need to play their part and follow the Covid-19 guidelines. “I have said before that the ‘new normal’ needs to become our new way of life. We have to adapt and remind each other to steer clear of behaviour that was typically accepted as normal.” Prior to the national lockdown, local non-league football games saw a spike in attendance due to higher level games being played behind closed doors. Bashley’s home match against Brockenhurst, one of the last Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division matches to be played, was attended by 276 fans. Bashley FC president and football secretary, Mike Cranidge, said: “The return of football is the right the decision, provided it is handled properly. For those that play and those that watch, the health benefits are enormous and it goes without saying that the future of club football depends on there being gate income. “It is perhaps ironic that for this to happen the maintenance and control of a Covid-safe environment falls mainly on those most at risk. Most volunteers, and I include myself in that, are in the ‘at risk’ category and operate in the frontline in making sure others are safe. Therefore, it

Lymington Town will be hoping to continue their perfect start to the league (Photo: Les Chase)

eight of their league matches while boasting the league’s meanest defence after only conceding one goal. Lymington Town FC manager, Dave Lewis, said: “We cannot wait to get the season started again, although we will be taking nothing for granted. Our first match sees us take on Cowes Sports away from home, which is always a difficult fixture, so we will be treating them with the respect they deserve.” Indoor sport and physical activity will also resume,

has put in an incredible amount of hard work to ensure all the Covid-19 related safety rules are exceeded to protect players, officials and fans alike. “I am delighted to assure everyone we are ready to open the stadium while operating in a compliant and safe manner. “We are hopeful to see as many fans as possible at all of the upcoming fixtures as we look to catch up on the postponed games.” Prior to ban on sport, Lymington Town FC were in incredible form winning all

is most important that safety rules and restrictions are adhered to at all times. “We have already proven this this can work, and the small number of indiscretions were noticed and rectified. It is therefore most important that everyone remembers and is constantly reminded that we are playing and enjoying the ‘beautiful game’ during a pandemic. Get it right and we all win, as the 276 spectators at our last match will concur.” New Milton Town manager, Paul Turner, said: “The club

Cleall leads Red Roses fightback Rugby

Durlston Court continues competitive calendar School sport WHEN competitive inter-

win. The game was nowhere near where we’d have liked it to have been. That’s international rugby. It’s not always how you want it to be. “What it’s about then is how you adapt and find ways. This group found a way today which is amazing. We’ll learn more from that than winning easy or even staying in front all the way through a game.” In the 2021 Rugby World Cup draw, England Women were drawn into Pool C with France, South Africa and Fiji. It will be the first women’s Rugby World Cup to be held in the southern hemisphere. England have competed at eight world cups and have been in the final in all but one, winning two of the seven finals they have contested. At the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland, Cleall and her fellow Red Roses took home runners- up medals after losing the final 41-32 to New Zealand in a game which was watched on television by a peak audience of 2.6-million people.

schools sport was cancelled following the latest government guidelines, Durlston Court Prep School introduced an inter-house contest to keep the pupils’ competitive fires burning. Under normal circumstances, children from Year 3 to Year 8 would take place in sports fixtures against other schools every week. The usual weekly fixture afternoons now see all boys and girls competing in cross- country, netball, football and cricket in these year groups. Director of sport at Durlston, Angie Sparshott-Thompson, explained: “It is important that our children are still given the opportunity todevelop the skills fostered in competitive sports such as tactical awareness, reviewing performance as well as having the chance to demonstrate their leadership skills and sportsmanship. “Whilst we are missing our

(Photo: RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Durlston Court schoolchildren in netball action

Poppy Cleall (centre) kickstarted the England comeback

traditional match days, we are seeing that children are continuing to thrive, making the most of the additional tuition.” Pupils in middle and senior school at Durlston take part in sport every day. The competitive programme runs

in conjunction with coaching in the main sports which this term includes rugby and hockey. The programme includes activities such as table tennis, rowing, badminton, dance, basketball and volleyball. For more information visit www.durlstoncourt.co.uk

the match at number 8, after previously starting for England at flanker and lock. Two minutes later Ellie Kildunne powered over, and Emily Scarratt’s extras made it a one-point game. The Red Roses then laid siege to the French line to force

an 80th-minute penalty. Up stepped Scarratt to kick over to earn a two-point win. The Red Roses are now on a seven-match winning streak against France and have won 11 of the last 12 meetings. Head coach Simon Middleton said: “The team found a way to

Acting sports editor James Henley | 01425 638638 | sport@adt.press

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