Clubs win turf territory

Ian Ferguson
DEVON Meadows and Clyde Cricket Clubs gained a significant bonus for their players, and for West Gippsland cricket in general, when the Shire of Casey recently granted the two clubs dual occupancy of the E.G. Allen Reserve turf wicket at Cranbourne for the 200607 season.
It is believed that Devon Meadows and Clyde will alternate their home games at this venue, and by early next season all WGCA senior teams will have played at least one round of turf cricket during their homeandaway fixtures.
The wicket should be available for use by round three, which means that the first WGCA club game to be played on turf will be staged in November. West Gippsland will also use the E.G. Allen Reserve for its association fixtures, which will provide valuable preparation for its Melbourne Country Week campaign in February. Current WGCA representatives speak in glowing terms about the quality of this Cranbourne surface.
Cliff Carson from Devon Meadows and Steven Houlihan from Clyde were the two respective club presidents who led the campaign to secure the ground for local cricket.