Hastings United’s scheduled visit from Wealdstone on Saturday has been postponed.

Wealdstone’s terrific win over higher grade Dartford in the FA Trophy third round proper last night (Tuesday) means they will travel to Cambridge United in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

The FA Trophy takes precedence over the Ryman League Premier Division so the match between Hastings and Wealdstone will be played at a later date, presumably in midweek.

Assuming it does become an evening game, Hastings now have four midweek matches to play before the end of the season and three of them will be at The Pilot Field.

Hastings have managed to arrange a friendly at home to Sussex County League Division One neighbours Sidley United on Saturday. Kick-off is 3pm.

WHEN local MP Greg Barker joined Bexhill Health Walkers for a New Year stroll and posted comments on Twitter, little did he know that it would lead to a meeting with former Manchester United and England star Gary Neville, writes Lynda Turner.

Leaving no doubt about the power of social networking Greg’s comments on Twitter about his seafront walk with the Health Walkers on January 6 were seen by Gary who then tweeted the Bexhill and Battle MP.

David Beckham’s best man Gary has more than a quarter of a million followers on Twitter.

Following the initial tweet, to Greg, Gary visited the MP at his ministerial office in the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Greg said: “I was delighted to meet Gary.

“Although he has now hung up his professional football boots he is now a real champion for sustainability and green issues, especially in sport and is building his own, sustainable home.

“We had a really useful and positive discussion about the power of sport to engage young people in a whole range of important issues and how we hope a more positive message around green issues could help us re-engage the public on the important climate change and green challenges of our time.”

Gary Neville is considering revising his plans to build an eco-friendly ‘Teletubby’ house on greenbelt land in Lancashire, complete with wind a 100ft wind turbine, after a number of residents objected.

PICTURED: MP Greg Barker and former England and Manchester United star Gary Neville talk about sport for young people and green issues at the MP’s ministerial offices in London.

Bexhill United will entertain neighbours Hastings United in a football friendly tonight (Wednesday).

Sussex County Football League Division Two side Bexhill will be out to bridge a gap of three divisions against Ryman League Premier Division outfit Hastings.

The match could see Danny Ellis, pictured, return to The Polegrove. The skilful midfielder began the season at Bexhill before rejoining former club Hastings in the latter part of last year.

Bexhill and Hastings met in a friendly at The Pilot Field in late November with Hastings running out comfortable 4-0 winners.

Bexhill manager Darrol Parris said: “We played them a few months ago and that was to do them a favour. Sean (Ray, Hastings player-manager) said he would return the favour at any time and he’s agreed to send a first team to play us.

“I want to keep a good relationship there and we haven’t got a game the following Saturday so we need to keep ticking over.” Kick-off is 7.45pm, and admission is £2 for adults and free for under-16s.

A TEENAGER who stole legal documents and Disney stationery worth almost £300 was off his head on valium, a court heard.

Lee Johnson, 18, of London Road, Bexhill, was chased by police and arrested after stealing the items from WH Smith in Hastings on February 3.

He pleaded guilty to theft when he appeared at Hastings Magistrates Court last week.

It put him in breach of a conditional discharge imposed by a court on December 29 for two other offences of theft.

Mark Kateley, prosecuting, said: “He was in the town centre and had a bag which he dropped on the floor when police saw him. There was a chase and he was arrested after a bit of struggle.

“He admitted taking the items, which included packages on how to make a will and tenancy agreements, valued at £292.62, and told police that he had taken some valium that day which had affected him.

“He was given a conditional discharge in December after stealing a hoodie and two jackets worth £100 from TJ Hughes in Eastbourne and cufflinks worth £84 from another shop in Eastbourne.”

A probation officer told the court: “He is a vulnerable person who has been influenced by drug users in the community.”

Ronan Crummy, defending, said: “He was so spaced out he didn’t know what he was doing. You only have to look at the items he stole to see that. They would have had no street value. He does not even know why he stole them.”

Magistrates fined Johnson £75 and allowed the conditional discharge to continue running.

Chairman of the bench Gordon Waters told him: “Your life seems to be in a complete mess.

“Disney goods and legal packs is a strange concoction.

“Any more nicking and you will be back in court and likely to be sent to prison.”

Rye United outgunned old adversaries Three Bridges last night (Tuesday) to reach the Sussex RUR Charity Cup final.

An 85th minute lob from Sean Kelly - his first goal since returning to the club last summer - gave Rye a 3-2 victory at the Sussex County Ground in Lancing.

Rye got off to a dream start in a clash of the Sussex County Football League title hopefuls when Wes Tate opened the scoring with his 19th goal of the season after just 65 seconds.

Their lead was short-lived, though, because Lee Carney levelled from the penalty spot on four minutes and Bridges took a 2-1 lead 24 minutes later.

Liam Upton got Rye back on level terms on 38 minutes and Kelly’s timely strike put them 90 minutes away from a first Sussex RUR Charity Cup triumph since 1968.

Rye will meet either Hassocks or Selsey - who meet in other last four tie next Tuesday - in a final to be played on Tuesday April 24.

See Friday’s Rye Observer for a full report.

South Saxons got back to winning ways with a 6-0 victory at home to Southwick on Saturday.

Four goals in the first half and two more in the second period of a one-sided South Hockey League Sussex Area - Division One fixture keeps Saxons four points behind leaders Horsham II.

Saxons captain Paddy Cornish said: “It was a lot better and it could easily have been double figures. We just attacked it as if there was nothing to play for, enjoyed the game and got on with it.”

Man of the match Toby Reed and George Eldridge scored two apiece, and there was one each for Jamie Busbridge and Jim Towers at Horntye Park Sports Complex.

Saxons (3-4-3): Deaves; Reed, Watters, Bunday; Cload, Eldridge, Coombs; Cornish, Busbridge, Orr. Sub: Towers.

A full report will appear in Friday’s Hastings Observer.

Standings (played 16 matches unless stated): 1 Horsham II 42pts, 2 SOUTH SAXONS 38, 3 Lewes III 31, 4 Penguin 30, 5 Hailsham 27, 6 Brighton & Hove III 26, 7 Eastbourne II 22, 8 Crowborough (15) 19, 9 Middleton & Bognor (15) 15, 10 Southwick 13, 11 Crawley II (17) 13, 12 East Grinstead IV (15) 0.

Frances Candy reached the quarter-finals of two events in a global veterans’ tennis tournament.

The St Leonards-based talent made it through to the last eight of the over-55 women’s singles and mixed doubles at the 32nd ITF Seniors World Individual Championships.

Seeded 10, Candy had a bye in the first round of the singles on the hard courts of San Diego before seeing off American player B’ann Gabelt 6-3, 6-1 in the second round last Tuesday morning.

She then chalked up a very good 6-2, 6-3 victory over Christiane Deryckere, the seventh seed from Belgium, in the third round 24 hours later to set up a quarter-final clash against fourth seed Carolyn Nichols.

American player Nichols hadn’t dropped a game in the previous two rounds, but Candy made her work hard for her place in the last four before being edged out 3-6, 6-3, 2-6 last Thursday morning.

Teaming up with compatriot Jeremy Trafford in the mixed doubles, Candy again received a bye in the first round. The fourth seeds then beat the American pair of Jackie Heston and Tom Rettenmaier 6-3, 6-4 in the second round.

The British combination were due to face another American twosome in the quarter-finals last Thursday afternoon, but withdrew from the match, giving Carolyn Lane and Rob Millsap a walkover through to the semi-finals.

See Friday’s Hastings and Rye Observers for the full article.

ONE of Bexhill’s longest established businesses, Hampton’s, the menswear shop in St Leonard’s Road, has put up signs to announce a closing down sale.

But the shop, which came into being in 1904, is not a victim of the recession and continues to trade healthily. Rather, the reason for the signs is more simply explained.

Karen High, who has run the business with her husband Andrew over recent decades, said: “We are selling off stock because we have decided to retire.”

Mrs High said the decision for them to step down had not been taken lightly, and they were grateful to the many customers who had supported them over the years.

She added: “People have been particularly kind since we let it be known we would be going, and there’s not a night now when I don’t go home in tears at the many compliments and expressions of goodwill we have been receiving.”

No date has yet been set for the couple’s final day in business, and the shop will continue to trade for the time being - albeit with many bargains on offer.

HERE we are again in the world of ANIME, this time it`s all about gods and mega beings, ASURA`S WRATH (sounds like something you get after a chilli cook off) is a new game from CAPCOM and CYBER CONNECT 2 .

Like I have said before this is a game that is for the ANIME enthusiast, if you’re looking for something conventional then this is not the place for you, instead this title is more of a movie with some gameplay thrown in for good measure.

The story revolves around a character known as ASURA, a rootin` tootin` kick bottom DEMI-GOD ,betrayed by his fellow gods (usual story, these god`s can`t be trusted) and is thrown out of heaven, losing his wife and child into the bargain, and is resurrected centuries later, by the force of his anger, seeing what a mess the world is in ASURA becomes more agitated (this guy certainly has some issues) and embarks on a series of outrageous mega battles with other deities, resulting in some spectacular fight scenes.

This all takes place over a period of 12,000 years and you can imagine after being “stitched up” by his mates, having his wife murdered, and daughter kidnapped, ASURA is not in any mood to relax and move on.

In fact he runs about ranting and raving like a madman beating the living daylights out of any thing that gets in his way.

ASURA WRATH like many of the ANIME type games is story driven, which of course means many drawn out cut scenes, which are beautifully rendered and thought out, intercut with what I would describe as “Boss battles” ,certainly not conventional but very ANIME.

The game itself is 18 episodes long, each one consisting of opening credits and some really nice illustrations which make ASURAS WRATH more of an experience rather than a game, and there is plenty of variety in the game play even though it is mainly 10 minutes of “cut scene” and 5 minutes of “Boss battle”.

If you are looking for a conventional RPG then this isn`t for you and I am sure many gamers will feel a bit cheated by the lack of actual gameplay. In fact the whole thing is only 6 hours long, most of which is “cut scenes“.

This fusion of Science fiction and Asian mythology has been done before and the really over the top battle scenes certainly are very spectacular, it’s just a pity that the game doesn`t have more game play.

Granted the story is interesting, but is this a game or a DVD? For the price I do think there should be more interactivity, and I can imagine that many gamers will be hitting the “skip” button often after a few hours of play.

There will be DLC sometime in the near future but will it be more “cut scenes” or gameplay?

The actual gameplay itself is good and I enjoyed it with plenty of variety and a selection of different moves.

There are a number of QTE`s (quick time events) in which you are prompted to press certain buttons at certain times, but these really have no bearing on the outcome, just on you ratings at the end.

ASURA`S WRATH is a great game, if you are into the whole ANIME, Japanese crazy over blown action genre, otherwise be warned that if you are willing to fork out forty bucks or so, and expect an normal RPG then you will be disappointed.

It is refreshing to see companies that are willing to try something new, and push the boundaries, that is a healthy thing in the industry, this is a great concept but the lack of game play for the price will put many people off, it certainly is a great experience to behold but it should have been released on download with each level as a DLC to keep the cost down.

Summary

ASURAS WRATH is a game like no other, rich in story and beautifully animated, it would work as just a movie in itself, but to non ANIME lovers it would just be a bit long winded and lacking in game play.

If you are thinking of giving it a go just be aware that you will be sitting around watching more than playing, and it is not a very long experience for the money.

I give ASURA`S WRATH 8 out of 10 because it is another ground breaking and original idea but the lack of game play is off putting.

Asura`s Wrath

Developer: Cyber Connect 2

Publisher: Capcom

Xbox 360©

Playstation 3©

Genre: Action

Age Rating: 18

Release Date: 9th march 2012

Review by Dayvid Ryan

]]> 1.3544141 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:57:29 +0000 http://www.bexhillobserver.net/ruling_on_solar_panel_tariffs_upheld_but_too_late_for_housing_group_1_3530162

THE Court of Appeal has upheld a High Court ruling that government plans to cut subsidies for domestic solar panels overstepped the mark.

However this has proved too late for a Sussex housing association which wanted to introduce solar panels at 178 homes in Bexhill.

AmicusHorizon said its ambitious scheme across the south east could save tenants £190 a year, but had to abandon the project as the proposed new rates no longer made the scheme cost-effective.

A spokesperson for AmicusHorizon said: “We noted the High Court ruling to uphold the solar panel subsidies. However, even if the ruling is also upheld by the Supreme Court we don’t have time to take advantage of the original feed in tariff before the cut off on March 3.

“This is very disappointing. We had to cancel our solar panel project, as under the new rates it’s no longer affordable for us. The original feed in tariff would’ve provided an income stream to generate a range of community projects, helping our residents in combating fuel poverty.”

Sidley councillor Maurice Watson (Lab) said the judgement was a ‘slap in the face’ for the Energy and Climate Change Minister, Bexhill MP Greg Barker, who is seeking the cuts to the tariff.

Cllr Watson added: “It’s just such a shame the decision came too late for Amicus Horizon and that tenants have been left out in the cold.

“We should be working towards a green local economy that could provide jobs and growth right on our doorstep. Helping more people to plug into clean British energy will help protect cash-strapped households from soaring fuel bills. The Tory-led Government has talked up a green future but actions speak louder than words.

MP Greg Barker said: “We disagree with the Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the High Court Ruling on feed in tariffs and we are seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.

“I want to see the available funding spread as far and wide as possible making feed in tariffs a scheme for the many not a scheme for the few, supporting sustainable jobs in solar and in a whole range of small scale renewables.”

LAST week’s Nostalgia Spot line-up sparked a response from the chairman of Bexhill Cricket Club.

It was a photo of a team which Michael Dawes, of Willingdon Avenue, hoped readers might be able to identify.

Now Martin Phillimore tells us the trophy being proudly displayed was the Ward Cup for the winners of a 20 overs competition.

The photograph was taken at Bexhill Grammar School after Bexhill 2nd XI beat Little Common in a re-arranged match on a Sunday morning after rain spoiled play at the Central Ground in Hastings.

The missing names are Peter Winchester (middle back), Martin Cowley (back left) and Richard Matthews (back right).

Marin comments: “I am sure it was 1980 as Nicky Pratt (now Smith) looks about 14.

“Ernie Harris is a leading light in the local bowling community. Only myself and Richard Matthews still play cricket, although Nicky Smith is still a playing member hoping to make another comeback shortly.

“Clive White (seated centre) now excels at golf, being a member of Cooden Beach Golf Club A team; he gave up cricket soon after the photo as he only had one shot!

“Of the 12 people pictured Jeremy Lovegrove, Jeff Chinn, Dave Cowley, Ernie Harris, Mick Dawes, Martin Cowley, Ian Roughley’s family, Martin Phillimore, Richard Matthews, and Nicky Smith are all still involved with Bexhill Cricket Club 32 years later, a fact that the club is very proud of.”

Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers are eyeing up Brighton’s Gustavo Poyet as a potential replacement for recently sacked Mick McCarthy.

The Black Country outfit had interviewed Alan Curbishley, Neil Warnock and Steve Bruce but were left having to widen their search after all three turned their backs on the job.

Reading’s Brian McDermott is also believed to also be on the Molineux club’s shortlist and is considered a more likely option than Poyet because of his greater experience in the second flight.

Poyet has previously said he would remain loyal to the Albion unless faced with an offer he considered too good to turn down.

However, with a relative inexperience in management and a CV which currently boasts a single promotion from League One, the popular boss is unlikely to be in the running for more high profile vacancies in the near future.

Online bookies SkyBet currently have Poyet as joint second favourite at 5/2 with McDermott at 9/4.

Rye United and Three Bridges will go head-to-head in an eagerly-anticipated cup semi-final tonight (Tuesday).

The Sussex County Football League title rivals will lock horns in the last four of the Sussex RUR Charity Cup at the Sussex County Ground in Lancing.

It’s certainly fair to say there is no love lost between the two teams and Rye manager Scott Price says there will definitely be tension, as there was in the FA Vase clash at The Salts on November 19 when Bridges beat nine-man Rye 2-1.

Price said: “The biggest thing for me is the discipline side. We all know it’s going to be quite tasty and it will be a game for cool heads. If we can keep 11 players on the pitch, we’re more than capable of winning the game.”

The teams have already met six times since the start of last season and Rye lead 4-2 at present with the two meetings at The Salts so far this term producing one win apiece.

Even after tonight there will be two more battles between the sides before the current campaign is over as they are due to meet in a John O’Hara League Cup semi-final and on the final day of the league season.

A Rye outfit which has scored 112 goals in all competitions this season will still be without the banned Shaun Loft and Duncan McArthur, but Phil Rhodes is back from Kenya and Paul Watson should be available.

The winners will face Hassocks or Selsey, who meet in the other semi next Tuesday. Return to this website tomorrow morning to find out how Rye get on.