Drainage Key To Big Cup Game

Illawarra Mercury

Friday July 18, 2008

By MIKE DRISCOLL

DRAINAGE issues at North Dalton Park need to be overcome before Wollongong can be confirmed to host a Ford Ranger Cup game between arch-rivals NSW and Victoria in November.

The game is scheduled for Saturday November 29 with Cricket Illawarra, in conjunction with Wollongong City Council, keen to sort out drainage problems at the venue.

"We're delighted to have the opportunity to host such a prestigious game," Cricket Illawarra spokesman Gordon Treadwell said yesterday.

"We're working through a drainage issue at the ground and have been given until September 1 to report back to Cricket NSW that we'll be able to take up the opportunity to host the game."

Last December North Dalton Park was to have hosted the first Australian domestic one-day match in Wollongong, with NSW taking on South Australia.

But after a week of heavy rain the game was called off without a ball being bowled. A small section of the ground, in particular near the eastern boundary, did not drain well and caused most concern to the umpires.

Meantime, Cricket Illawarra is still working through its competition draw for the 2008-09 season, but if the NSW vs Victoria game does go ahead, there'll be no junior or senior cricket on November 29.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

Back to News Index | Back to Home