stuart cummings

SOUTH Essex players came up trumps at the Winter Individuals tournament run at Redbridge. Westcliff Hardcourt's Virunee Viravong defeated Adele Sammons from Upminster club Cranston Park to win the ladies' singles open 5-7 6-1 6-3. Virunee's club-mate Richard Barham teamed up with Dave Barham from Rayleigh to secure a 6-4 7-6 men's doubles open win over Craig George (Garons) and Jack Woolcott ( Wickford ).  

MICK Potter has sent a dossier to the RFL disputing a series of decisions he says went against Saints during their agonising defeat at Hull KR. The Saints coach was incensed by the performance of the match official Ian Smith, suggesting high tackles and slowing down tactics at the play-the-ball went unpunished in a game his side lost 28-24. He was also aggrieved by three penalties awarded to the Humbersiders in the closing ten minutes, which contributed to the unbearable pressure before Saints' line w  

SOUTH Essex clubs triumphed in two of the three Essex Winter Cup finals. Westcliff Hardcourts took the Harry Brickwood Ladies' Veterans' Cup and Westcliff Lawn claimed the Ian Pitt Men's Veterans' Cup. Hard's success saw them as number two seeds for the competition and they defeated Frinton 3-0 in the final at Deanes Indoor Tennis Centre in Daws Heath Road, Thundersley. Karen Poole and Fiona Stone gave Hard the perfect start with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Frinton's Ann Crossbey and Veronica Petten.  

The Rugby League is considering whether to charge the Leeds centre Keith Senior with bringing the game into disrepute after the World Club Challenge defeat by Melbourne. The Test veteran, who conceded a crucial penalty for a verbal broadside at referee Richard Silverwood continued the attack afterwards by accusing him of arrogance. "I'm sick of him," Senior said.  

The French club have had two players sent off, a third sent to the sin-bin and another cited and banned for foul play, which has left them bottom of the fair play league as well as the Engage Super League table. Acting captain Olivier Elima was the latest Dragons player to be sent off and he will miss Friday's clash with leaders Wigan at the DW Stadium after being handed a one-match for a high tackle on St Helens winger Jonny Lomax in last Saturday's 42-12 home defeat. The suspension has angered Walte

We don't want to be known as a side that wins one and then loses one   -Steve McNamara

 

It will be played after Featherstone's other NRC matches against Sheffield, Leigh and Rochdale and after their opening Co-operative Championship clash against Batley Bulldogs on February 28. Rovers coach Daryl Powell said: "The re-arranged date is the Thursday before we play in the Challenge Cup. "The only other date that was available to us was next week and I didn't want to play the Hunslet game in between playing Sheffield and Leigh which are going to be really challenging fixtures for us." Last

The re-arranged date is the Thursday before we play in the Challenge Cup.   -Daryl Powell

 

THE Rugby Football League has made two changes to the interpretations of the Rules of the Game for the 2010 season, both of which are designed to increase the safety of players. The changes, agreed after full consultation with clubs and the Engage Super League coaches, will be implemented from this weekend and during all matches in 2010. e ball carrier's leg is lifted by the defending team. In previous seasons referees have only called 'held' when both legs of the ball carrier were lifted off the gr  

JAMES Child has been appointed by the Rugby Football League (RFL) to its senior refereeing squad. James, 26, joins Thierry Alibert, Phil Bentham, Steve Ganson, Richard Silverwood, Ian Smith and Ben Thaler in the squad of referees who will officiate at most Engage Super League games. Dewsbury-based James will spend two days each week training with his six colleagues and combine the role with his position as a trainee chartered surveyor with Leeds City Council.  

THE Chard branch of the Royal British Legion has announced it has raised more than £8,500 from this year's Poppy Appeal. Branch chairman John Gudge has thanked everyone connected to a day of wartime memories – including a re-enactment of the "plotters" during the Battle of Britain – at the Guildhall on Remembrance Day which brought a "big gathering of Chard folk" for the silent tribute at 11am. "We were honoured by the presence of serving soldiers from REME and local cadets which, I'm told, was organi  

HOLIDAY happiness has returned to Chard with the opening of another new store for the town centre in time for the festive season. Mayor of Chard, Cllr Jill Shortland, officially declared travel Angels open on Monday morning as Town Crier Stuart Cummings gave a hearty welcome to the business. Cllr Shortland said: "Welcome to Chard, I'm really pleased to see the shop re-opening and it's absolutely fantastic to have another empty shop being used.