DOMAIN OVAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 39, 25 November 1938, Page 3

DOMAIN OVAL

USE IN WINTER TIME.

SPORTS ASSOCIATION’S DISCUSSION.

That some arrangements be made whereby the Ashburton Domain Oval could be vacated by winter sports bodies not later than the last Saturday in August of each year so that spring top-dressing work could be carried out before the ground hardened, was the request made by the Ashburton Cricket Club in a letter which was received by the Management Committee of the Ashburton Sports Association at its meeting on Wednesday evening. The president (Mr J. B. Nicoll presided.

- To obtain the best results, top-dress-ftig should be carried out in the autumn or early in the spring, but that was not possible under the existing conditions by which winter sports bodies had the use of the Domain Oval, continued the letter./ It was a waste of time and money top-dress-ing in the autumn because of the young grass and new soil being kicked out through football. Because football was played on the Oval up to September 17 this year, top-dressing could not he carried out at a time to give satisfactory results. As a result, both the Ashburton and Old Boys’ Cricket Clubs bad not been able to use the Oval up to the present, although the first round of the competition had bec-n completed. This was affecting the enthusiasm of members. “Rugby was played on the Oval omy five times during the season,” said Mr Robilliard. “I think the Oval itself is at fault and not the type of sport which is played on it. Nothing 'has l>een don© to the Oval for the last 20 years. The only treatment it has had was by the Rugby Union two years ago,” he added. If another ground could be made available for the Ashburton and Old Boys’ Cricket Clubs for the early part of the season, the difficulty might lie overcome, said the president. Autumn top-dressing could not he carried out while football was played on the Oval. It was said that if the Curator of the Domain took control of the grounds for maintenance purposes, they would have to be vacated by t.v.e various sports bodies when they were required, and no clubs would wish to act against the advice ol the Curator in this respect. On the motion of Messrs N. llobulianl and C. Bishop, it was decided to leave the matter until the policy of the Ashburton Domain Board about the future maintenance and control of the grounds in the Domain was known.