WITH Boris Johnson's depressing news the country is going into its second coronavirus lockdown this year, sport across the Isle of Wight has again become a casualty.

The month-long lockdown, effective from this coming Thursday in a bid to reverse the spread of Covid-19, is another devastating blow to amateur sports.

Football, the country's most popular sport, will be hardest hit, although The FA is still awaiting further information before they can confirm how this may affect the non-elite game.

Isle of Wight County Press:

The long-awaited Hampshire Intermediate Cup final between Shanklin and Brading Town — one of the Isle of Wight's biggest footballing occasions in a generation — is due to be played at Cowes this coming Saturday, after it had been shelved in March because of the first lockdown.

And let's not forget, Brading Town Reserves are to also play their Hampshire Vase final against Testlands, at Westwood Park, in a superb double header that day.

However, the Hampshire FA, awaiting an FA announcement, is highly likely to officially call off both games, based on the perceived meaning of the government's statement on Saturday.

Isle of Wight County Press:

The Isle of Wight Saturday League, in consultation with the Isle of Wight Divisional Football Association (IWDFA), are to hold a meeting today (Monday) to discuss the ramifications of the latest lockdown and any Hampshire FA statement.

It could mean Island football is put on hold until December and any chance of cup competitions being scrapped to cope with a huge fixture backlog.

Five Island League matches were called off on Saturday because of Covid-19.

Geoff Ruck, chairman of the IWDFA, has already written to Neil Cassar, chief executive officer at the Hampshire FA, urging the cup finals be called off and replayed in the spring when the Covid danger level may be reduced, crowds may be allowed back and pitches are more playable.

"It would be difficult to condone playing the games in front of a crowd of 300 at a time when not even two people are allowed to play golf now," said Geoff.

"It would be irresponsible. The overriding priority is to save lives. Let's put the cup finals back to April or May.

"I cannot see how the Hampshire FA can come to any other decision."

Golf and tennis clubs will close and rugby has been hit hard, with the RFU scrapping all non-elite tier league rugby this season without a tackle, scrum or kick made, which means Sandown and Shanklin RFC, Ventnor and the Isle of Wight will not be playing competitive Hampshire fixtures until next September at the earliest.  

There is also uncertainty over what will happen with under-18 sports outside a school setting, although there is a belief the chances of kids playing outdoor sports during the lockdown was also highly unlikely.

Tomorrow evening's Sydenhams Wessex League matches — Hamble Club v Cowes Sports in the Premier and Newport v Totton and Eling (at Beatrice Avenue, East Cowes, 7.30pm) — are still scheduled to go ahead.