Netting the very best

THE Burras might not be having the best season on the field, but the new state-of-the-art cricket nets at Rowley Allen Reserve will hopefully change that.
Keysborough Cricket Club, with funding from the City of Greater Dandenong council, has received three new cricket nets for club and community use.
The $100,000 nets include three grades of synthetic turf for the run-ups, pitch and around the pitches, lock-up facilities for one of the nets and better cushioning for bowlers running in.
Non-Keysborough club cricketers also able to use two of the nets at their own leisure.
Keysborough Cricket Club President Darren Chatfield said the facilities would greatly benefit the Burras and the greater community, with the risks associated with the old nets gravel and concrete set-up now gone.
“State of the art facilities we’ve now got, beforehand we had concrete raised, very dangerous nets for the players with gravel around the sides,” Chatfield said.
“We’re hoping that for the community, people using the nets will turn into players for our club and it gives the players an air of confidence with the new nets that we can hopefully transfer onto the ground on a Saturday.”
City of Greater Dandenong Councillor Roz Blades said the nets would be fantastic for the community well into the future.
“I think that they’re well deserved and I also think that by giving some public access as well as cricket club only access, we’re getting probably the best of both worlds,” Cr Blades said.
We’re very pleased at the council to provide a facility that with the synthetic grass, will last a long time.
That will hopefully encourage some kids to join the cricket club, practice at the nets and join in sport so we’re very pleased.
“Everyone there (Keysborough CC) is enthusiastic and it’s good for them and very good for the local youth.”