Winter Sports - Rugby


but it has not been used for a number of years. It is in our plans to bring it back into operation if we can attract another hockey team to play here. It has been used for car parking more recently, but hopefully in the future we will return it to a sports pitch,” said Moore.


With heavy usage, the pitches


at Ballyclare Rugby Club are subject to compaction and drainage issues, but a rigorous maintenance programme helps ‘iron out the wrinkles’. “Last year, we used a BLEC


Groundbreaker to open up the ground and let the air in,” said Moore. “We used it across all pitches to relieve compaction.” “It’s a relatively simple


concept. The blades penetrated the ground and made trenches eight inches deep. This lets lots of air into the ground structure and helped the drainage a great deal. The contractor brought in the machine and it certainly did a great job for us.” Moore added that the only


pests that have an adverse effect on both the rugby pitches and the cricket grounds are rabbits - and lots of them. “They really play havoc with


our grounds here and we try to control them as best we can.” The club has a good working


relationship with the local Antrim and Newtownabbey Council which supports the work of both the rugby and cricket clubs. In fact, the rugby club hopes to purchase its own tractor in the coming months with some financial assistance from the council.


“We don’t have a lot of machinery or equipment of our own here,” said Moore. “We do have a Fleming finishing mower, but we depend on the loan of a tractor from local farmers or other sports clubs to operate it!” “A local farmer also donated an old Cambridge roller to us at one stage which we were very grateful for. It does help the grounds a lot come the spring time or after heavy playing use, weather permitting of course.” Up on the main pitch, where


the first team play, volunteers have planted 400 native trees over the past two years to increase shelter for players and spectators. A couple of other interesting


additions to this pitch area are the ‘President’s Bench’, where the president likes to sit to enjoy matches, and the new digital scoreboard that was installed in 2016. “We like to have something


new added each year,” said Moore. “Or even something changed. That keeps us fresh and modern.” “I have to say all the members


here, from both clubs, have immense pride in the facilities. We enjoy looking after the place and are thrilled that so many people want to be members here at both the clubs.” “The rental arrangement we


have with the cricket club works very well for us. Of course, the same with any marriage, it has to be worked at but, in the end, the two sports combine well together and offer the local community and beyond an


The President’s Bench PC FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 I 59


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