South London News

BY DIANA MORAIS

Streatham-Croydon Rugby Club is one of the oldest rugby clubs in the world.

They’re an inclusive club, offering free Easter and summer holiday camps to hundreds of local children, and provision of pitches free-of-charge for local schools that have no playing fields and a variety of community projects.

In addition, this year, they made club history and fielded two women’s teams.

Despite their legacy, they are sadly facing a multitude of challenges on all fronts, which has culminated in a serious financial situation.

Streatham’s hopes of a grand slam in NIHL hockey came to an end on Saturday afternoon after they fell 4-2 to the Solent Devils in the South 1 play offs at Alexandra Palace, writes Christopher Beal.

Form favoured Streatham heading into the game having taken the win in every encounter between the two sides this season.

Early on Streatham’s usually rock-solid defence was caught out by a turnover in their zone which allowed a waiting Cain Russell to fire into the roof of the net over Danny Milton with two minutes gone.

A disabled mum and her sick husband have been slapped with £2,340 in incorrect fines by a council for driving in a controversial low-traffic zone.

June Lord, 45, and Darren Grimes, 52, have received 18 penalty charge notices (PCNs) from Lambeth council for driving down roads near their home in Streatham – despite having a blue badge allowing them to do so.

Since autumn 2022 motorists have been banned from turning down certain streets in the area as part of a scheme which aims to make walking and cycling safer.

Homicide police are investigating an incident in Streatham which led to the death of a man.

Police were called shortly before 2.30pm on Friday following a report of an altercation at a residential address in Fernwood Avenue.

Officers attended the address where a man, aged in his 50s, was found unresponsive. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

A 38-year-old man was arrested at the scene. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Streatham face Solent Devils in the NIHL 1 South play-off semi-finals at Alexandra Palace tomorrow (1.30pm), writes Christopher Beal.

The South Londoners booked their spot with a 14-0 thrashing of Milton Keynes Thunder on Sunday.

Streatham were 7-0 ahead at the end of the first period with Luke Brittle (two), Ben Ealey-Newman, Jared Lane, Ziggy Beesley,Ryan Watt and Josh Martin netting goals.

The hosts were 12-0 in front after the next period with Brandon Miles, Lane, Ryan Watt and Ealey-Newman on target.

Parents have said they are “devastated” after being left to find emergency childcare following the sudden closure of a Streatham-based nursery two weeks ago.

The Streatham Youth and Community Trust (SYCT), the charity which runs Sprig Ludens Outdoor Nursery in Abercairn Road, Streatham Vale, told parents the nursery would close with immediate effect on March 20.

Streatham face a home NIHL South play-off quarter-final against MK Thunder on Sunday (6.45pm), writes Christopher Beal.

The South Londoners wrapped up their league campaign on Sunday evening with a 4-0 win on home ice over the Solent Devils.

Streatham opened the scoring three minutes into the first period as Luke Brittle batted the puck out of the air after Ryan Watt and Ziggy Beesley had seen chances saved by Solent goalie Aaron Taylor.

The rest of the period was a goal-tending duel between Taylor and Streatham netminder Danny Milton as both traded saves.

A Streatham nursery has announced it will close due to lack of funding needed to maintain a “good quality” of provision for children.

Sprig Ludens Outdoor Nursery in Abercairn Road, Streatham Vale, has provided affordable childcare focused on outdoor learning since 2018.

The Streatham Youth and Community Trust (SYCT), the charity which runs Sprig Ludens, said the decision was the result of the Government’s “failure” to provide funding to cover the real costs involved in free child care.

Streatham bantamweight Chris Bourke was stopped in the sixth round as he failed to land the British and Commonwealth belts on Friday night.

The 29-year-old was a big favourite to claim the two titles – which were both vacant.

But Lane – now 18-10-2 – poured on the pressure in the sixth round to force the referee’s intervention.

Bourke’s record drops to 13-2 and it is the second time he has come up short challenging for the domestic crown after being outpointed in 2022 by Marc Leach.

Plans to put a 14-storey tower in an area with a more suburban than inner-city feel, have taken a step forward despite more than 1,000 people objecting to the proposals.

Planners from Lambeth council have recommended councillors approve the 237-home scheme on a site currently occupied by a Homebase store in Woodgate Drive, Streatham.

But residents have branded the proposed development ‘monstrous’ and written to Lambeth councillors asking them to reject the proposals when they go before a planning committee this week.