AS IT bids to develop junior rugby in the region, Basingstoke rugby club has received a massive boost - a grant of £3,800 has been awarded to the Down Grange outfit.

The cash injection was announced on Wednesday and is another positive step for a club seeking to guarantee its long-term future by recruiting and retaining the best young players through its recently-launched youth academy.

The money has been donated to the Down Grange club by Awards for All, the grant-maker that distributes small sums of National Lotto cash in the South East.

The body, which has administered money totalling £600,000 to various organisations throughout Hampshire in the latest awards, invite applications of up to £5,000 to be made by deserving groups.

Following their successful request, Basingstoke rugby club will use the financial injection to hold a series of development days for young players aged 16 to 20.

It will also be used to develop links with local schools, BCOT and Queen Mary's College, as well as provide top coaching under the supervision of club community development officer Jon Cant.

Speaking about the cash award, Cant said: "The money will be a great help in the formation of our youth academy. We intend to use this grant to purchase new equipment - kits and balls initially - while anything left over will be used to help meet costs in running the academy."

Malcolm Higgins, senior awards officer, said: "It is good to see that the applications we receive reflect the needs and wishes of local people. It means that the proceeds of the Lotto are going back into the heart of our local communities."

After 'Stoke returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion last weekend, with their 50-15 home triumph over Redruth, the FX-backed side have another free Saturday because scheduled opponents Barking are still in the Powergen Cup.

Player-coach Ian Calder was delighted with last week's performance. He said: "It took us s while to get going but, once we did, some of our play was awesome."