mmg.com.au

Tatura Cricket Club has taken action to try to cure drainage problems which have been affecting its A-grade team’s pitch at Howley Oval.

Funding provided by Greater Shepparton City Council and Cricket Victoria has enabled the club to carry out work to raise the square by 75 mm and re-turf all the pitches.

Bob Wildes who looks after the pitches said the club has been hoping to get this work carried out for some time.

‘‘The pitch ended up being a bit lower than the rest of the oval so water drained down into the wicket area and made things very difficult at times,’’ Mr Wildes said.

The club organised for the work to be carried out but had to wait for suitable merri creek soil, the best type of soil for cricket pitches, to be transported from Melbourne.

Once the soil was put down and levelled one of the club’s sponsors, Peter Kennedy Landscaping, assisted in getting the pitch re-turfed.

The pitch will be out of action for the rest of the cricket season and Mr Wildes said he is hoping for a dry winter so the new square does not get too cut up by other groups using the oval during the junior football and soccer seasons.