Page 76 • The HERALD • 16th February 2023 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v SPORT IN THE HERALD FAWLEY FLAMES RFC – GIRLS RUGBY ON THE WATERSIDE by Vic Belson The Rugby Football Union (RFU) Regulations do not permit mixed gender rugby a er the age of 12 (school year 7). In 2020 this was about to become a dilemma for the Fawley Under 12s coaches and parents of 3 particular girls who had been playing rugby alongside the boys for more than 4 years. ey would be forced to choose between nding another club or giving up playing altogether - or perhaps we could try to build a team around them? A little under 2 years later and it is astonishing (not to those who believed) that 27 girls trained on 22nd January with a further 5 on the books that couldn’t make it that day! e Fawley Flames are now a fully functioning rugby team o ering girls rugby to all ages across the Waterside Area and beyond. In fact, the idea to o er ‘girls only’ rugby within the club is a unique model and whilst the younger girls (U6-U11) can still train and play with the boys, so many wanted to join the Flames that a new sub section was created - e Sparklers! ey are an absolute joy to watch - copying the same drills alongside the older girls and always getting a ‘run-out’ in a conditioned game of touch at the end of every session. It’s di cult to judge who is getting the most fun - the Sparklers or the older players who take the little ones under their wings to protect and help develop them. ere is one simple game plan - to have fun! We achieve that every week. at said, the skill level and improvement in game understanding is hugely impressive. ere was a very special moment one practice game when four of the U14’s combined to create and score a try that, apart from the obvious physical consideration would have been tting at any level of rugby. It was simply mesmerising and unstoppable! We have an aspiration to become fully competitive at U16 and U14 level next season. We have measured ourselves in several Hampshire Waterfall Tournaments and we are able to sit comfortably in amongst the more established teams within the county. We will also seek meaningful opportunities for the Sparklers to progress. We are clearly the fastest growing section within Fawley RFC and perhaps the fastest growing sport on the Waterside. e success of the Flames owes a great deal to the dedication of the management, coaches, rst aiders and parents who believed in the project from the start. We would also like to thank our incredibly generous sponsors: Stephens and Stuarts Engineering Ltd - thank you Steve. Finally, the biggest thank you - to the players - e Fawley Flames - same game plan every week - have fun! Would you like to join this very special group of people? ey will make you feel very welcome. All you have to do is stick to the game plan. Visit the club website or contact Petina Morris: 07788 174962 or: p.morris7@ sky.com For general rugby enquiries please visit the club website or contact: enquiries@ fawleyrfc.co.uk Fawley Flames 10th January the weekly golf was cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions. Not to be defeated by the weather, the DOGS enjoyed themselves playing carpet bowls inside the clubhouse instead, organised by Terry Oliver. 17th January whilst only a few golfers took to the 9 hole course to ‘enjoy’ themselves in the very cold icy temperatures playing a Stableford Competition, others preferred the nice warm indoor carpet bowls, using the professional bowl size this week. Golf winners: 1st D Wilson, 2nd R Gooding and 3rd S Hawkes. Bowls winning pair: D Lowman & C Peall with 8 wins. 24th January the DOGS were back on the green, green grass of home and played an Irish Rumble 3 Man Team Stableford Competition on a nice sunny morning to their delight. Winning team: DThorpe, G O’Connor & B Marwood (65 C/B) 2nd C Peall, J Crumpler & R Hallett (65 C/B) 3rd: R James, G Tourle & Pam James (61 C/B) 2’s winner: G O’Connor Nearest the pins: E Nkomo (7th/9) G O’Connor (4a/18) Pros approach: K Maton (1st/9). Congratulations to Gary O’Connor, nearest member of the DOGS, winning team member, nearest the pin winner and the solo 2’s winner. Dibden Open Golf Society (DOGS) Results DOGS Bowling L-R Brian Dash, Brian Cox, Phil Huxley, Dave Webster, Ron Gooding and Terry Oliver Terry Oliver, Dave Ferguson, Brian Marwood, Keith Maton, Brian Dash, Les Jones, Dave Lowman and Behind the Camera Colin Peall 24th January wine winners: E Nkomo, G O’Connor & K Maton 24th January winners: D Thorpe, G O’Connor & B Marwood JOIN THE FUN AT TOTTONIANS RUGBY CLUB Tottonians Rugby Club who are based in Water Lane Totton, are inviting anyone from Year R (5 years old) to Year 11 to join them, no matter if you’ve played before, your skill set or talent! Rugby is an inclusive game, for all abilities and ages – go along and join the fun! e Juniors/Minis train on Sundays at 10am, with coaching provided by England Rugby Union Quali ed Coaches, at all levels. ere is access to gym facilities, physio support and strength and conditioning advice. e club has its own clubhouse and a great social atmosphere. For more information, please email: tottoniansjuniors@gmail.com Battersea’s Muddy Dog Challenge Returns to The New Forest e Muddy Dog Challenge is back in the New Forest for more mud, sweat and cheers helping to raise money for the dogs and cats at Battersea. Battersea’s Muddy Dog Challenge is an obstacle course you can tackle with your dog by your side. e aim of the challenge is simply to have fun while raising money for Battersea. Participants can choose from a distance of 2.5km and 5km – both courses are equally fun (and muddy). Pet lovers will be faced with a variety of wacky obstacles to jump under, over or through, including wading through the mud in the Canine Crawl, weaving through the Mutt Mazes, and not to forget the opportunity to unleash your inner child crawling through the Ball Pit Tunnels. People of all ages and abilities are welcome to take part – they can run or walk the course with or without a dog, bring the whole family along, join up with your friends and their canine companions as part of a team, or take on the challenge solo. e best part? Participants can train as much or as little as they’d like, it’s all about having fun! Each participant is encouraged to raise a target of £100 for Battersea so the charity can continue to be there for dogs and cats everywhere. For ideas and inspiration, the Battersea website has plenty of fundraising tips. Once registered, participants will receive a Muddy Dog Challenge t-shirt and dog bandana to take part in on the day, as well as a well-earned medal and rosette for making it across the nish line. e Muddy Dog Challenge New Forest is taking place on Saturday 22nd April at Breamore House, Hampshire, SP6 2DF. Entry cost: £37 - £47* (£5 per child) * £10 o adult prices with early bird o er. Registration for places closes on 2nd April 2023. If taking part isn’t your thing, Battersea is always looking for volunteers for the event and would welcome any support you can o er. For more details and to register for the Muddy Dog Challenge as a participant or volunteer, please visit: muddydog.battersea.org.uk Muddy Dog Challenge
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