CRICKET


Another of the helpers, Andy Winch (left), with Gary Sandwell


Gary Sandwell with ‘extremely handy’ ECB covers


fungicide whilst continuing to brush regularly.


“Gary cut the square again in February


and it’s beginning to look good. Fortunately, we stand on chalky ground so the square and outfield drain quickly, so we may not have suffered as much as many other clubs have with the excessively wet winter.” March is the month when Rafe hopes the weather has been fine enough for them to begin pre-season preparation. “We cut the square again, scarifying both ways, then cut again, picking up all the debris that scarifying has brought out.”


“Avoiding too heavy a scarification is important as we are still in the early stages of preparation so need to take care not to overdo the operation.”


In April, after ensuring the square has been set out correctly, rolling is a key task and needs to be done both ways, Rafe explains. “A spring fertiliser is sprayed on the square this month and we are cutting, scarifying and rolling full on now until our first fixture in early May.” “Andy marks out the strip we are going to use for the first fixture, then we cut, scarify


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cut again and roll.” Westgate bought their roll-on covers from the ECB, when the Board was running a special offer. “We paid around £1,500 for them and they come in extremely handy,” says Rafe.


“Gary and I begin preparing for the Saturday fixture on Thursday. If rain is forecast, on go the covers. They make the strip sweat though, so we take them off if there has been no rain. After cutting the square on the Friday, we roll them on ready for the game, removing them at least forty minutes before the start, then run the mower over the strip.”


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Freephone 0800 500 3900 www.gostd.com PC April/May 2020 99


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