Looking forward to a revitalised
By Bridget Brady
CLYDE Cricket Club players may be able to dive for their catches next season, as works to repair their damaged ground are now underway.
Three new water tanks and an irrigation system have been installed at Clyde Recreation Reserve’s Lineham Oval, in a bid to bring the desiccated ground back to life.
The oval, home to about 120 Clyde Cricket Club players, will also be resurfaced with a warm-season, or drought-tolerant, grass species. The total cost of the works will be $128,000.
Earlier this year, the News reported that the oval was rock hard and lacking in grass, and club coaches, to minimise injuries, advised junior players not to slide for the ball.
There have been no matches on the ground this season.
Club president Ross Elston said he looked forward to seeing the completed works and said the oval would be ready to play on next cricket season.
“It was like playing on concrete and the decision not to play was a public liability one,” Mr Elston said.
“It (the ground) has been abused, so we will leave it be this year. It’s like an injury – it needs time to heal.”
Mr Elston said the players looked forward to returning to their home ground.
Life member of the club and secretary of the Clyde Recreation Reserve Peter Deveney said he expected the ground to be of high quality when works were finished.
“As long as the right things are done now, I think it will be a magnificent ground when it’s all up and running,” Mr Deveney said.
“The oval was a disgrace, so this can only be good.”
Mr Deveney said the cricket pitch would not be changed.
