IT was a night of two halves for Wellington’s sporting scene when a grant funding application to the town council for the cricket club was approved, while the rugby club went home empty handed.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s policy and finance committee met on April 20 where they quickly gave their nod of approval to the grant application put forward by Wellington Cricket Club for £850.

However, members of the committee decided on the same night to turn down Wellington Rugby Club’s application for £2,500 because it “did not represent a project they wished to support”.

Councillors agreed to award Wellington Cricket Club with a grant for £850 towards youth cricket training.

The money will be used by the club for summer training where it hopes to inspire and nurture the next England stars such as Ben Stokes and Joe Root in the men’s game or Nat Sciver-Brunt in the women’s game.

The council has supported the club on many occasions in the past for winter youth training, so some councillors were surprised when they read the application was for funding to support a summer scheme.

Councillors then turned down a grant application from Wellington Rugby Club which is planning to put on a summer event entitled “reducing loneliness through community connection.”

Members of Wellington Town Council’s policy and finance committee decided it was not a project they wished to support and quickly turned down the club’s request for £2,500.

Cllr John Thorne said: “I was somewhat bemused by this application.”

He said it was “all laudable aims” but questioned whether it was the role of rugby clubs to get involved in such issues.

“The application almost reads to me as if they are trying to tick some boxes in order to get some money out of the council,” he said.