HUNT FOR VANDALS AFTER CLUB ATTACK; Cars race across batting crease

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), June 23, 2009

Byline: NEIL ATKINSON

A LEADING cricket club is at war - with local vandals.

Police have now launched an investigation after cars were raced across the cricket field at Shepley Cricket Club.

At least two cars were seen racing across the field when the club was hit by vandals in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Four pitches were damaged, including those that were being prepared for next weekend's double-header of Drakes Premiership matches.

The two cars were seen chasing each other across the playing area.

There is also damage to the outfield and surrounding grassed area, caused by wheel spin and handbrake turns. .

Club secretary Ian Watkinson said that it was not the first time this sort of thing had happened.

"We've had a couple of similar incidents earlier in the season, but then the damage was restricted to the grassed car park.

"This development is far more serious. Fortunately, the square was very hard after a spell of good weather, so the damage is limited and we'll be fine for the weekend once groundsman Ray Horrocks gets to work.

"We have first-team games in the Drakes Premiership at home both Saturday and Sunday and we are determined they will go ahead.

"But had this happened after a week of wet weather, we would have struggled to get the games on this weekend. As it is the marks will be there, but we have filled in the gouges." Mr Watkinson said the vandal attacks had increased in intensity in recent weeks, after years of a relatively trouble-free existence for the Marsh Lane side.

The cricket club is fairly isolated but has not suffered much in the way of damage or vandalism.

"This season the incidents have really spooked us.

"The previous incidents saw cars being driven around the car park and the landscaped grassed area, but they stayed off the cricket field.

"This time they have gone on to the field itself and caused a real mess.

"There is a gate which was not locked, but in the past that has been lifted off its hinges." A neighbour, disturbed by the noise of the cars, saw the weekend incident and has been able to give police a good description of one of the vehicles.

Anyone with any information is asked to call PC Richard Hobson on (01484) 436898..

CAPTION(S):

DAMAGED: Tyremarks scar the pitch and batting crease at Shepley Cricket Club