Two sporting codes have clashed over the use of the
Centennial Park Oval on February 11.
Both want the main ground at
Whitestone Contracting Centennial Park - North Otago Cricket
to defend the Hawke Cup it won last season, North Otago Rugby
for a Super 15 pre-season match between neighbours
Highlanders and Crusaders.
Neither will give way, passing the buck to the owners of the
ground, the Waitaki District Council, to make the decision
when it meets on Wednesday.
Three sporting codes use the oval - cricket, rugby and
athletics.
In the past, they have managed to resolve any clashes but the
situation which has developed has been looming for years as
traditional summer-winter sporting seasons overlap.
In particular, rugby's Super 15-Heartland rounds have
encroached into the summer sports' seasons.
Community services group manager Thunes Cloete, in a report
for Wednesday's meeting, said the council now had to weigh up
the merits of the Hawke Cup cricket defence from February 11
to 13 or the Highlanders-Crusaders rugby match on February 11
and decide which should get the oval.
Last month, a meeting between the sporting codes and council
staff discussed various options, but no resolution could be
reached.
"Both codes need the best-quality playing surface available,
as well as the best facilities - changing rooms, spectator
accommodation, corporate opportunities and food and beverage
facilities," he said. The date of neither fixture can be
changed.
After considering alternative facilities, including sports
grounds, the Centennial Park No 2 ground was the most
suitable, with the council having to decide which match
should go there.
North Otago Cricket could play the cup defence at an
out-of-town venue, but would lose the home town advantage.
Mr Cloete said the Hawke Cup would be played over three
consecutive days, the opposition staying three nights and
bringing an unknown number of spectators.
The Highlanders-Crusaders teams would stay one night.
Ten to 12 All Blacks could be involved and as many as 5000
people could come from outside Oamaru.
Mr Cloete has not recommended one option or another, putting
up opposing recommendations to shift either the cricket or
rugby match to the No 2 field.
david.bruce@odt.co.nz
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