mmg.com.au

Vandals have struck Kyabram Recreation Reserve for the second time in a week, with a second cricket pitch now left to bear the scars of a push bike.

No sooner had ground staff repaired the damage done to the first wicket on Sunday night, than a second pitch at the reserve was given the same treatment overnight on Tuesday.

Kyabram Cricket Club president Andrew Porch reported the incident to police yesterday morning and described the actions as ‘‘nuisance value’’.

‘‘I don’t think they are targeting the club as such, just wrecking whatever they find,’’ Porch said.

‘‘Basically all it is, is someone riding over (the pitch) and because it’s wet (the tyres are) biting in a fair bit.

‘‘It’s probably a little bit worse than last time, there are more tracks across the wicket, where as the other one was really just one track up the middle.’’

According to Porch, one of the club’s members saw children on bikes near the reserve about 6am yesterday, and Kyabram police Sergeant Peter Law said people in the community would play an important role in preventing further attacks.

‘‘We’re not too happy with what has occurred because these are good members of the community being affected,’’ Sgt Law said.

‘‘We will continue to look into the matter, but we need the help of the community to move forward.’’

Given the tyre marks were concentrated on the wicket area on both occasions, it is likely the vandalism was deliberate, but Sgt Law said police would leave open all avenues of investigation.

Such incidents put added pressure on cricket clubs to provide suitable playing conditions every weekend.

Day two of the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield match between Kyabram and Numurkah is due to be played at Kyabram Recreation Reserve on Saturday and Porch remained confident the pitch would be ready in time.

‘‘It takes a lot more work to flatten out the pitch, so it’s nuisance value really,’’ Porch said.

‘‘It means volunteers have to spend a lot more time down at the club.

‘‘The other wicket is already flattened out, it has been rolled and it will be playable.

‘‘We’ll just have to keep our eyes and ears open to make sure it doesn’t happen again.’’