Derby off as vandals flood EP’s pitch

VANDALS put paid to East Preston Cricket Club’s derby against local rivals Clymping on Saturday as they reportedly tampered with the home side’s sprinkler system and flooded the pitch.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Jun 2013, 15:30 BST
Howzat? Well, it was far too wet to play at East Preston after vandals flooded the pitch ahead of their derby match with ClympingHowzat? Well, it was far too wet to play at East Preston after vandals flooded the pitch ahead of their derby match with Clymping
Howzat? Well, it was far too wet to play at East Preston after vandals flooded the pitch ahead of their derby match with Clymping

One of the sprinklers – which requires tools to operate – had been turned on, and left on for more than 30 hours, leaving parts of the wicket under inches of water.

EP captain Andy Reeves said: “Somebody turned on the water to the square – it was one of the sprinklers, we have two up there. I went up there at 5.30pm on Friday and, at first thought, it had been on for just three or four hours.

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“Colin (Smith) who is the groundsman said it had been on since about 9am on Friday morning, but now we think it was from at least 8.30am on Thursday morning.

“It was 100 per cent vandalism and thoroughly deliberate. It was not done by accident, somebody turned it on on purpose and with all the games called off over the weekend it ruined the enjoyment for about 50 or 60 people.”

EP were hoping, after initially thinking the water had been on for just a few hours, the pitch would dry out overnight, but this proved untenable with the pitch still sodden on Saturday morning.

Reeves is hoping that the West Sussex Invitation League will agree to extending the season by a week so the game can be played, rather than just issuing the usual 10 points each for a cancelled game, due to the exceptional circumstances.

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He added: “Clymping came up with moving the game to Littlehampton, but, by that time, we had told everyone it was off. Bearing in mind the circumstances, rather than 10 points each, and as we do not have a free Saturday like Clymping, we are hoping the league will agree to extending the season by one week to September 2.”

EP are aware, however, that other clubs in the league may object to any possible rematch and it will have to be agreed by all clubs and the league.

Clymping captain James Salisbury said: “I was surprised that they did not inform anyone or us a bit sooner. I can’t really say too much as we were not the home team and it wasn’t up to us. We were disappointed, though, as we wanted to play.”