It might seem to be an unusual partnership between two different sports, but it has worked well in practice since the start of the cricket season.
"We used to have clubrooms on the ground floor of the old University Oval grandstand," University-Grange committee member Tim O'Sullivan told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
"We've never had a home base since the reconstruction of the University Oval in the early 1990s and have been bar-hopping since then."
The cost of renting the facilities in the rejuvenated University Oval grandstand - about $9000 a year - was beyond the cricket club's budget and it had to explore other options.
The North East Valley Bowling Club has facilities that include a lounge, dining room, kitchen and rooms for committee meetings.
The joint venture plan followed recommendations made by the Dunedin City Council last year when it suggested clubs should explore the feasibility of multi-use for its facilities.
"We can support more people using our facilities," North East Valley manager-greenkeeper Terry Scott said.
"It is good for us to expose our facilities to more people and to other sports. University-Grange are using the facility for social functions, committee meetings and as their home base.
"We are finding that the cricketers are taking an interest in bowls and the bowlers are following the fortunes of the cricket club."
The shift has obviously worked well for the University-Grange club, which won the Dunedin one-day title with a game to spare last weekend.
"I think our success has stemmed from our link with the North East Valley club," O'Sullivan said.
"The players enjoy the facilities and the ability to socialise together."
The cricket club put the proposal to the bowling club last winter and it has worked well for both groups.
"It is a win-win for both of us," O'Sullivan said.
