How road-map will affect the major sports in weeks ahead
PROFESSIONAL AND GRASSROOTS SPORT WELCOMES EASING OF RESTRICTIONS
SPORT can begin to plan for the return of fans in the coming months under the ‘road map’ for easing lockdown restrictions, announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week.
Here we take a look at how the news will affect the major sports in England...
FOOTBALL
The target of May 17 for allowing at least some fans back into stadiums comes a week before the final day of the Premier League of May 23 – great news for the 10 clubs due to be at home, although others must hope to host test events the previous weekend. The FA Cup final is slated for May 15 and the Championship, League One and League Two seasons wrap up on May 9, but fans could be back for the play-off finals at the end of the month.
The Carabao Cup final was moved from February to April in the hope of welcoming fans but still comes too soon. The target of June 21 to lift all restrictions comes midway through the rearranged Euro 2020 finals, and the day before England are due to face the Czech Republic at Wembley. The national stadium is due to host the final of the tournament on July 11.
CRICKET
England begin a two-Test series against New Zealand on June 2 and will now hope to have a number of fans at both Lord’s and Edgbaston. The stands could then be full when they begin a white-ball series against Sri Lanka, with a T20 international in Cardiff on June 23.
The target of March 29 for grassroots sport is also good news for the game at local level. An ECB statement read: “The ECB welcomes the Government’s decision to permit grassroots cricket to return across England in time for the start of the 2021 season. We will continue to work closely with the Welsh Government on the return of recreational cricket in Wales.”
RUGBY UNION
Clubs could welcome fans for the final rounds of the Premiership season, which concludes on June 12, although it is much too late for the PRO14 campaign.
The British & Irish Lions are due to host Japan at Murrayfield on June 26 – a warm-up for their tour of South Africa, although the status of that trip remains in doubt. Meanwhile, the
RFU
has welcomed the return of the game at grassroots level from the end of the March.
RUGBY LEAGUE
Rugby League’s summer season should mean fans are on hand for much of the campaign, with seasons starting at various levels between March and May.
Stadiums should be full for the highlights of the Challenge Cup final at Wembley in July and the Super League Grand Finals at Old Trafford in October.
TENNIS
The target of June 21 for all restrictions to be lifted could hardly be better timed for Wimbledon, due to begin a week later on June 28.
This staple of the British sporting summer was cancelled entirely last year but could now be one of the symbols of a return to normality in the months ahead. The LTA also welcomed the return of the sport at grassroots level but continued to argue for an earlier date. “Clearly tennis is a naturally socially-distanced and safe activity and so we would have liked restrictions to be lifted without delay and made the case for this,” a statement read.
GOLF
The easing of restrictions will come too soon for the British Masters in mid-May, but fans can look forward to attending the Open Championship at Royal St George in July. The main news for most, of course, is when they might hit the course themselves, but Monday’s announcement was not what England Golf was hoping for. “England Golf is extremely disappointed that the scientific evidence presented to government detailing how the sport can be played in a Covidsecure manner has not resulted in a return to play date earlier than 29 March,” a statement read.
GRIMSBY Town lifted themselves off the bottom of the League Two table as Paul Hurst t claimed his first win back as manager with a 2-1 victory over Crawley.
Joe Adams claimed the all-important goal l late on after Jack Powell had cancelled out t Filipe Morais’ opener as the Mariners gave themselves renewed hope in their battle against relegation.
Having been out of action for two weeks, Paul Hurst elected to make two changes from m the side that suffered a narrow defeat at Newport.
Harry Clifton and James Hanson made way as Danny Rose and Filipe Morais returned to the side, with Clifton not making the squad after his recent injury, while Mattie Pollock sat the game out having picked up a knock. Town almost immediately found themselves in trouble as the visitors went over the top, with Luke Waterfall struggling to keep up as Ashley Nadesan charged through on goal, but Jake Eastwood did superbly to keep himself big and palm up the attempted chip before pouncing on the loose ball. Crawley began brightly as they continued to threaten, with Jordan Tunnicliffe heading over after a well-worked corner, while the dangerous Nadesan fired wide from distance moments later.
It was the Mariners though who took their chance when it came.
Morais caught his old side out as he took the snap shot from distance, and seemingly had Glenn Morris unsighted as the effort skidded along the ground and out of the goalkeeper’s reach to give Town the lead.
It was an advantage they couldn’t hold on to though as Crawley continued to pose a threat, and eventually got their reward when Josh Wright was brought down 20 yards from goal. Powell stepped up and lifted the ball over the wall, and despite Eastwood getting a hand to it, he couldn’t prevent it from nestling in the back of the net.
The visitors could have easily claimed the lead before the break, but were denied by the woodwork as Nadesan sent his volley against the crossbar from Sam Matthews’ deflected cross.
Town saw more of the ball at the start of the second half, although it was the visitors who first threatened on the break as Matthews elected to shoot from a tight angle rather than look for a team-mate, with Eastwood producing a relatively comfortable save.
The Mariners weren’t getting much joy going forward, with Jay Matete denied as he tried his luck from distance, only to see a Crawley shirt sliding in to get his body in the way.
It was a the visitors who had the best chance to get their noses in front – and even then, they should have perhaps been given another opportunity to score.
Nadesan once again broke clear and, in a desperate attempt to stop him in his tracks, Waterfall slid in, but the Crawley forward stayed on his feet before seeing his attempt blocked by Elliott Hewitt.
By hook or by crook, it proved to be a vital moment as Town took the lead again with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Hewitt’s long throw was flicked on towards the far post, where Adams was on hand to flick the ball over his shoulder and into the back of the net to set up a huge finale as Hurst closed in on his first win back.
The visitors had another huge shout for a penalty turned down late on as Waterfall clumsily bundled over Powell.
Despite Joe Bunney seeing red late on after picking up his second booking, Town held on for the all-important win.