Sport

Cherries in 11-goal thriller

Sturminster Newton 6, Portland Utd Res 5 by Chris Frear

If late kick-offs are meant to provide the best entertainment of the day, then for the neutral Barnetts Field was the place to be on the opening day of the season as Sturminster and Portland slugged it out in the late afternoon sunshine.

The Cherries eventually triumphed in an 11-goal thriller.

Portland started the game the better side and were rewarded when their striker Lewis Clarke found room in the Newton box to score the opener.

This woke up Sturminster and either side of the drinks break they asserted themselves on the game, goals from Nick Thomson, Buddy O’Shea and Elliot Bevis turning the game around and giving the Cherries the advantage.

However, instead of drifting to half-time the game ignited even further in the last five minutes of the half. Portland broke through to reduce the deficit through Lewis Clarke but Sturminster immediately responded through a shot from Ryan Schoulten to restore their two-goal lead, only for the visitors to wriggle through the home team’s defences again to score courtesy of Josh Camp.

Luckily for both management teams the second half did not match the goal tally of the first half, but both team’s defensive frailties were still evident with the game itself as dramatic as the opening half.

Portland again came out pressing Sturminster and equalised through Josh Camp before Sturminster responded immediately with Nick Thomson’s header from a corner restoring the host’s advantage.

But back came the visitors who again equalised, this time from Lance Wilson with a long-range effort to restore parity.

The final chapter in this game came as Arron LaneLaney wriggled free in the box only to be fouled by the defender. A penalty was awarded and George Coleman stepped up to slot the ball home.

Both sides still had chances but the Cherries held on for victory and three points in an exciting opener to the season.

21 fish for Read Trophy

Sturminster & Hinton Angling Association’s match on Sunday, 7 August, was for the Read Trophy, 21 anglers fishing at Little Ham and Sowley, Hamgate Farm.

The weather continues fine and sunny with the river being low, clear and with little flow. Despite these conditions a few fish decided to feed but the top weights all contained bonus fish.

John Taylor was pegged at the top end of Sowley and won with 11lbs 11 ozs which included a two-and-a-half pound chub caught on sweetcorn. He also had three skimmers and back-up perch caught on red maggot and worm.

Andy Miller continues his excellent run of results, coming second with 8lbs 6ozs, three decent skimmers and roach caught on caster and pinkie. Nicky Collins was third from the last peg in Little Ham weighing in 8lbs 5ozs, which included a bonus bream.

The top section (Little Ham) was split between Charlie Way and Neil Sims who both had 3lbs 8ozs, the middle section (top of Sowley) saw Simon Dennis taking 4lbs 10ozs and Mic Hurst won the downstream section with 5lbs 3ozs.

The method for most was to fish the groundbait line until bites ceased and then loose feed, fishing shallow.

Club champs

Yeovil District Swimming Club (YDSC) completed their annual club championships at Oxley Sports Centre in Sherborne. For anyone interested in joining the club YDSC are holding a free taster session on 24-25 September at Goldenstones (Yeovil) and Oxley Sports Centre (Sherborne). For more information about the club visit www.ydsc.co.uk Anyone looking to book a free taster session should email membership.ydsc@gmail.com Arron and Footloose a winning team

by Bob Bracher

The 2021-22 point-to-point season will live long in the memory of Arron Butterfield, 18, from Frome. He began his point-to-point riding career as a 16-year-old at Dunsmore in November 2019 but it was not until last season his talents started to show through his partnership with eight-year-old gelding Footloose and his first ever winner at Larkhill.

Footloose made his debut at Larkhill for Arron in November 2021 when finishing runner-up to the The Big Sting in a Maiden Race. Footloose, wearing his usual hood to keep him calm, was led up by Gwyn Marsh, who Arron and his father Alex credit for the gelding’s transformation. He was only beaten a length by The Big Sting ridden by Will Biddick and this form was quickly franked at Avon Vale in December when he romped home by 12 lengths for his first victory.

Another two visits to Larkhill followed in January resulting in an easy win in a Restricted race followed by being runner-up in the Novice Riders race at the Royal Artillery meeting. These four outings at Larkhill during the season gave Arron the course awards for leading owner-rider and most successful novice horse at the start of the season.

After finishing third to Rocheston and Molineaux at Cothelstone, Footloose ran three more times unbeaten with success at Kilworthy, followed by a comfortable victory at Cherrybrook, before ending the season winning the Cornish National at Trebudannon.

These successes were recognised at the Wessex Awards evening in July when Arron collected the John Dufosee Trophy for leading owner-rider and the Wincanton Racecourse Novice Horse Championship for most successful Novice Horse. Plans are already being made for the new season set to start in November with races at Badbury Rings and Larkhill pencilled in for the partnership.

Arron rides out each morning for trainer Joe Tizzard at Milborne Port and then goes to the neighbouring Toomer Farm home of Peter and Sheena Doggrell where he stables and trains his three point-to- pointers. His father, Alex, Arron’s strongest supporter, is a vital part of the partnership who feeds and mucks the horses out in the morning, ready for Arron’s arrival around midday.

Sandford Castle, the winner of a three-mile, two-furlong chase for Johnny Farrelly at Taunton, began his career with Arron when finishing third in a Novice Riders race at Stafford Cross and followed that up with another third in a Veteran horse point-to-point at Flete Park before pulling up at Cothelstone in May.

Janespriceless, a six-year-old grey Jelani mare, owned and bred by Jane Nicholls, is the first ‘outside’ horse Arron will be training and it is hoped she will run in Mares’ Maiden races at the start of the new season.

Rockies off to mixed start

by Avril Lancaster

It was a disappointing start to the season for Shaftesbury FC 1888 at Coppice Street as visitors Alresford Town repeated last season’s 2-1 victory with a disciplined counter-attacking performance.

They took the lead with a 25-yard volley from Nick Yeomans which flew past Konrad Symaniak into the top of the net and went 2-0 ahead through Sheldon Wright.

Wayne Smith looks to have made a class signing in Symaniak from Baffins Milton Rovers.

The Rockies threw the kitchen sink at it with ten minutes left. Jack Lovell fired past Callum Smart to reduce the arrears then hit the post; Reuben Smith forced Smart to save and the creative Luke Delaney was inches from salvaging a point.

After a league loss an FA Cup tie often is the best way to bounce back but the match against Camberley Town from the Combined Counties League Premier South in the Extra Preliminary round was abandoned at 0-0. Jack Lovell had the best chance for Shaftesbury and Symaniak brilliantly stopped another effort.

In the re-run Shaftesbury’s, Gary Bowles’ looping header from Louis Moore’s corner beat Harry Cawson in the 11th minute, and Luke Delaney was on hand to lash in the second after 33 minutes.

The visitors looked defeated but after tactical changes by manager Luke Turkington they attacked and pulled back goals through Gianluca Zanre Botti and Luis Hamblin to earn a replay in Surrey on Wednesday, 17 August.

Horndean away, not one for the faint-hearted, came up next. The team under Steve Gilbert and Ryan Andress were missing key players Asa Philips, Bowles, Brad Hill and Cameron Beard.

Shaftesbury put in an excellent performance only for Rudi Blankson to break clear in the last seconds of stoppage time to force Symaniak into a save before the ball fell invitingly for him to stroke in the winning goal.

Game time at Horndean’s Fiveheads Park against Shaftesbury. PHOTO: Avril Lancaster

Wimborne batters make hay

by Emlyn Kuhn Sherborne 1st XI v Wimborne 1st XI Saturday, 13 August Shane Pulling, Captain

This was a forgettable trip to Wimborne for Sherborne 1st XI. After losing the toss and being asked to bowl on a very hot day Sherborne quickly went down to ten men with Mike Kennedy injuring his knee.

A couple of quick wickets for Shane Pulling could not halt the Wimborne line-up and they proceeded to put on a huge total of 332-5.

In reply, Mark Roca scored a sublime 99 not out but no other batsmen could contribute enough to chase down the mammoth total. Sherborne finished on 163 all out and were outplayed in every department. Next week Sherborne face Dorchester at home.

Sherborne 2nd XI v Cattistock 2nd XI, Saturday, 13 August

Andy Guppy, Captain On one of the hottest days of the year, Cattistock and Symeme arrived at the terrace. After winning the toss, Sherborne batted first with openers Andy Guppy (128 not out) and Will Sharman (10) quickly put on 60 before Sharman fell LBW.

Freddie Harden (43) joined Guppy at the crease and they quickly put on a partnership of 92. Harden was next to fall LBW, which brought Danial Baker (56) to the crease. Baker blazed his way to 56 in just 36 balls. Guppy finished on 128 not out with Sherborne setting the opposition 277 runs to win.

Sherborne’s opening bowler Mark Hancock (5-10-3) never let the Cattistock batsman settle, taking three quick wickets and bowling tightly with his partner Freddie Harden (4-22-0). A change of bowling brought Mark Lawrence on and he quickly tightened the screw taking three wickets (8-32-3) with Max Parfitt bowling well for his 5-22-1.

A run out from David Barnstable, alongside Finn Guppy’s tight bowling, making his comeback after injury, kept the Cattistock batters quiet, and they could only reach 122 all out.

Flyers are flying high

by Jonathan Creffield

Blandford Flyers Swimming Club battled for another win in the fourth and final round of the Jurassic League at Bridport Leisure Centre.

This third victory gave the Flyers an unassailable fourpoint lead in the table to secure the overall Jurassic League 2022 win for the first time in their history.

Frome led this round from the start but were always very closely followed by Blandford, Bridport and Weymouth.

The Flyers’ persistence and resolve paid off in the last five races in which they took the lead and finished five points in front on the night.

For young swimmers looking to join this friendly club visit www.blandfordflyers.co.uk Players wanted

Wincanton Youth FC are looking for boys and girls aged five and six of all abilities to play football.

The club re-start for the new season on Thursday, 18 August, at Wincanton Racecourse (BA9 8JB) – youngsters should take a bottle of water and shinpads.

For more information phone Wayne Pamphilion on 07816 192011 or Sean Chapman on 07586 349372. Masters results

Wincanton Golf Club, August Masters, 6-7 August.

August Masters Champion: David Cartwright – Best combined nett score, 130. Chandler Trophy winner: John Atkins – Best combined gross score, 142. Best Nett Score, Day 1: Ray Hirst 68. Best Nett Score, Day 2: Jim Phillips 6.

Seniors Monthly Stableford, 9 August: 1 Pete Starkey 43, 2 Jon Reed 41, 3 Neil Auckland 39 ocb, 4 Chris Mieville 39.

Parkrun date

Henstridge Airfield Parkrun takes place every Saturday at 9am – except 27 August due to an airfield event – and runners and volunteers are welcome. For more details contact henstridgeairfield@parkrun. com