Sticky wicket

By Callan Date
CRICKET players taking to the field at Clyde Recreation Reserve don’t dive for the ball – they value their skin too much.
So rock hard and lacking in grass is Lineham Oval that emulating Aussie cricketer Andrew Symonds in the outfield is just not on, says Clyde Cricket Club secretary Peter Deveney.
Mr Deveney said club coaches had advised junior players to not slide for the ball in a bid to minimise injuries. Senior players, slightly the more wiser, don’t need to be told.
The ongoing drought is at the core of the problem but club officials want Casey Council to do more to help improve the surface.
“It is in a disgusting way at the moment. It’s like a lump of concrete and it gets very dangerous,” Mr Deveney said.
“It is grossly overused by the rugby club during winter.”
He said the ground was not up to the all year round usage it was receiving.
“It hasn’t been rolled for a couple of years. The last major thing done on the ground itself was when we put a sprinkler in ourselves.
“Our water relies on the market garden next door but that stopped a couple of years ago.”
Casey Council has earmarked the oval for improvements, Casey manager of parks and reserves Trevor Griffin said.
But players may have to wait another 12 months.
“Council received funding under Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Drought Relief program for Clyde Recreation Reserve to install an irrigation system to be connected to the Eastern Irrigation Scheme (EIS) and carry out a conversion to warm season grass,” Mr Griffin said.
He said the project had not yet proceeded as the main line would not be extended near the ground until EIS can guarantee a supply of water.
“Following installation of the EIS line, we hope to install the irrigation system and plant warm season grasses over spring and summer this year.”
Casey Chiefs Junior Rugby League Club may also have to adjust their training schedule to help ease the pain on the oval.
Casey manager of arts and leisure Robyn Bowen said rugby clubs would still be granted access to the oval.
“It is likely that training activities will need to be modified if ground conditions are not suitable for full contact training,” Ms Bowen said.
“Council officers have liaised with both clubs and the Victorian Rugby League to facilitate matches to be played on the rugby fields at Casey Fields.”