Sport

blackmorevale.net

New Blackmore Vale, October 1, 2021 99 Sport Rugby boss touches down in Dorset

The head of England Rugby paid a visit to North Dorset RFC last week. Bill Sweeney talked to players, coaches, and board members about life in a rural grassroots club and how the start of the season was going. The club’s director of development, Alec Newing, said: “It has been a positive start to the season, with decent numbers out on the pitches. Overall, we are doing well and constantly thinking about engaging our members and the wider community. “In recent months we have been building a stronger relationship with Bath Rugby, who are making great strides in supporting the community game in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.” Newing added that North Dorset RFC had gained new friends in the community by running events when safe, including mixed touch rugby on Friday nights, the ‘World’s Biggest Beer Garden’ in the summer and the ND 7s rugby and music festival. Sweeney said: “Every aspect of my visit was both enjoyable and productive. Congratulations on building such a special environment at the club, you can feel it upon arrival, and you should be very proud.”

Back row, from left: Laura Gillingham, Hannah Winton, Lucie Spooner, Jill Sullivan, Charlotte Morrison, Nicola Grover. Front, from left: Holly Morgan, Jemma Sullivan, Honor Gallia, Sue Stevens. Not pictured: Isabelle Ford and Laura McClinton

Shillingstone Ladies retain their crown

Three tries for Puddletown’s hooker Joe Swain on debut

Shillingstone Ladies retained their title of Dorset’s Super 8s cricket league champions with a game to spare this summer. The Ladies won all five games, overcoming early season rain and many rescheduled fixtures to ensure a full season including two challenge competitions and friendlies against Devizes, Hursley Park and Charlton Down. Jill Sullivan said: “We would like to thank all of those involved with coaching, umpiring, scoring, pitch preparation, spectating, the invaluable tea ladies and of course all of our amazing players and captain Jemma Sullivan.” If you would like to join the team, contact Jill on 01258 821069 or Leslie Elsworth (07850 749736). Indoor training is being planned.

They’re keen on kurling at Stalbridge Hall

Stalbridge Petanque and Croquet Club has purchased a new kurling set to play indoors at Stalbridge Hall. The club was formed three years ago by Bob Lovell, who approached the hall with a view to creating a terrain on adjacent vacant land. The courts were opened a year ago and are open every day for the community to play for free. The new Kurling kit gives an indoor option on Thursday afternoon club days. The club meets in the hall between 2-5pm: new members are welcome –membership costs £10 a year plus £2 on the day to cover refreshments. Contact Bob on 01963 362353.

Dorset & Wilts Div 1 South

Oakmeadians RFC 19 Puddletown RFC 22

Within five minutes of the new rugby season, Puddletown were on the scoreboard, a well worked try with winger Ollie Raines dotting down in the corner, followed by a second try from debutant hooker Joe Swain. The home side fought to stay in the game and were helped by two yellow cards to Puddletown. Oaks took full advantage of the extra player and scored two tries (one converted) to go into the break 12-10 up. Oaks extended the lead when their winger raced in to score under the posts: 19-10. But the hefty Puddletown pack started to gain some ascendancy in the set piece and in the loose. From a penalty, the ball was given to Swain who charged over for his second try: 19-15. And from a line-out, it was Swain again who collected and barrelled over to score. Yeatman added the extras to make it 19-22.

Sport Stur lose unbeaten record as 10-man Bees grab late winner

Dorset Premier League

Sturminster Newton 2 Bridport Reserves 3

Stur manager Nick Squires marked his first anniversary in charge of the team with a deflating first league defeat of the season, Bridport scored the winner at the death despite being down to 10 men. The visitors had gone ahead before Brad Hansford equalised for Stur from the spot on 30 minutes. Both keepers made important saves before Stur took the lead, Neil Sweatman heading in. But The Cherries couldn’t hang on, Kamara equalising for Bridport and then the visitors stealing the points. A week earlier, Stur were within a point of the league leaders when they beat close rivals Dorchester Sports 2-1 at home. George Coleman opened the scoring for Stur having missed a penalty before Nick Thompson made it 2-0. In a tense finish, the visitors pulled one back and Stur’s Buddy O’Shea was sent off but The Cherries hung on. In a midweek game, Stur narrowly lost 1-0 to unbeaten Merley Cobham Sports in the Dorset Premier League Cup. Merley are the cup holders.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Aaron Rodriguez scores a free kick for Gillingham against Wells City – the first player to score for The Gills under the club’s new floodlights Toolstation Western League Div One

Gillingham Wincanton 2 2

A strong comeback by Wincanton earned a point after the Wasps had fallen 2-0 behind after just 30 minutes of this derby game. Wincanton came into the match on the back of a resounding 5-1 victory over AEK Boco, who had lost only once all season. But they switched off from a free kick and Gills’ leading scorer James Boyland easily put the cross away. The second followed soon after, Jack Dicker also taking advantage of slack defensive work. Gillingham had lost only one of their last eight games, a disappointing 4-2 loss at lowly Almondsbury, and Wincanton needed to up their game after half-time. And they did, Toby Cole finishing a cross from Connor Williams within two minutes of the restart. Then it was Williams’ turn to score, drifting in unmarked from the right to sidefoot the equaliser. Gillingham were rattled and suffered further with Aaron Rodriguez being sent off for a bad foul. The home team were forced to defend as Wincanton dominated but couldn’t find a winner. A last-minute goal was ruled out for offside.

n Wincanton FC now has its own YouTube channels, with full coverage of games. Search for Wincanton FC.

A sting in the tail as Wasps fight back in derby thriller

FOOTBALL FIXTURES THIS WEEK Oct 2 Wessex Premier League Shaftesbury v Alresford Town Western League Div 1 AEK Boco v Gillingham Town Sherborne v Almondsbury Warminster v Wincanton Town Dorset Senior Trophy Balti Sports v Blandford United

Oct 3 Blackmore Vale League South Cheriton Comets v Hazelbury Hornets Dorset Challenge Cup Sturminster Rovers v Longfleet Tides Inn v Blandford United Wyke Smugs v Team Gryphon

Oct 5 Western League Div 1 Gillingham v Warminster Town Longwell Green v Wincanton Wessex League Cup Shaftesbury v Andover Town

Oct 9 Western League Div 1 Bishop Sutton v Sherborne Gillingham v Odd Down Lebeq v Wincanton Wessex Premier League Blackfield and Lv Shaftesbury Dorset Premier League Blandford v Bridport FC Res Merley Cobham Sports v Sturminster Newton Utd

Oct 12 Wessex Premier League Shaftesbury v Christchurch Western League Div 1 Wincanton v Gillingham

Shaftesbury on second cup run after 5-goal spree

FA Vase qualifying 2nd round

Arundel Shaftesbury 0 5

A game of two halves – no goals in the first half, then five for Shaftesbury to reach the FA Vase First Round. Town were 2-0 up when Jack Hickman was sent off for Arundel on 63 minutes, and Shaftesbury then ran in three more in the last 10 minutes. The Rockies will now travel to Longlevens, who play one division higher in the Hellenic Premier League. The victory follows Shaftesbury’s narrow 1-0 defeat to National League South team Bath City in an FA Cup qualifier two weeks ago. A bumper crowd of 610 packed into Cockrams for the match, which Bath eventually won with a goal in the 82nd minute. But it was a tremendous defensive performance from The Rockies, with keeper Alex Cull making several fine saves. Against Arundel, Shaftesbury were able to play with more freedom. Asa Phillips scored twice, with contributions from Ash Pope, Aiden Sheppard and Mickey Finch. Between the two cup games, Shaftesbury lost their first league game of the season, going down 3-0 at league leaders Brockenhurst. They have catch-up games to play and tomorrow take on Alresford Town, a game they would expect to win and ignite a climb up the table.

MURPHY’S LAW: Sherborne striker Alex Murphy bursts through the Bemerton defence to make it 3-4 but The Zebras couldn’t go on and win Picture: Ian Middlebrook Nine-man Zebras lose plot

FA Vase qualifying round

Sherborne 3 Bemerton Heath 6

Sherborne went into this cup tie on the back of two excellent league wins which had seen them rise to third in the Western League Division One. But they were up against a team which leads Wessex League Division One, and Bemerton’s strength was there to see as they galloped into a 3-0 lead within 20 minutes. The Zebras pulled one back, Ashley Guppy’s shot taking a deflection but Bemerton scored again to make it 1-4 at half-time. Sherborne stormed forward after the break and were rewarded with goals from Ollie Hebbard – cooly slotting past the keeper after a 60 yard run – and Alex Murphy to close the deficit to one goal. But the comeback was halted in its tracks five minutes from time when Sam Farthing was sent off for two yellows, then Aaron White was sinbinned for dissent. With Sherborne down to nine men, Bemerton scored twice more in the dying minutes. Before the cup game, Sherborne had beaten

Wincanton 4-2 with goals from Hebbard, Murphy, George Mapletofts and John Williams. A bumper crowd of 242 watched the match. Sherborne then travelled to Cheddar and, after a goalless first half, struck three times through Dec Cornish (2) and Hebbard – before Cornish missed a penalty. Cheddar scored a late consolation in a 3-1 defeat. Sherborne manager Wayne Jerome said: “To say I’m pleased with taking the six points available to us in these two games is an understatement.” Hazelbury hat-trick as margin narrows

Blackmore Vale Football League September 26

Dylan Olford put Hazelbury Hornets on the scoresheet with a hat-trick in a 3-6 defeat at home to Sturminster Rovers last weekend. It was encouraging for Hazelbury, who lost their first two games by an aggregate 35-1. Neil Sweatman scored four for Rovers. South Cheriton Comets are the early table leaders, having beaten TGR 3-0 to win all three games to date. Donhead Barbarians have won their two games, by 211 and 11-0 margins and could be considered favourites for the title this season. Zach Smith scored four in the 11-0 victory over Team Gryphon. Blandford United have also won their two opening games. They beat Bradford Abbas 3-1 last Sunday.