Conflict arises over NZ rugby, cricket dates (Aug 29 1996)

A sporting conflict has arisen over the scheduling of major cricket and rugby matches within three days of each other at Lancaster Park in March

29-Aug-1996

From The Press August 29, 1996

Conflict arises over clash of rugby, cricket dates

A sporting conflict has arisen over the scheduling of major cricket and rugby matches within three days of each other at Lancaster Park in March.

New Zealand will play Sri Lanka in a one-day cricket international on Tuesday, March 25, while in the draft Super 12 rugby draw the Canterbury Crusaders are scheduled to play a home game on Saturday, March 22.

The date clash is symptomatic of problems in major New Zealand centres which have dual purpose grounds, with rugby now being played in March, a time traditionally the domain of the cricket season.

The Victory Park Board, which owns Lancaster Park, believes a compromise between the codes will resolve the issue, says general manager Campbell Prentice.

He said a meeting will be held by the VPB along with cricket and rugby officials to sort out the situation.

"There could be a little problem towards the end of the month. But as I understand it, the Super 12 draw is not completely finalised and Canterbury are keen to play a match out of Christchurch. I`m sure we can work something out," Prentice said.

Canterbury Rugby Football Union chief executive Steve Tew was yesterday investigating the matter. Canterbury Cricket Association executive director Tony Murdoch said he acknowledged there was now a blurring of the seasonal lines.

"That will affect us over Shell Trophy fixtures this season. But we are a joint partner in the park and understand we will not always get everything we want."

Murdoch said the CCA had agreed to transfer a trophy match between Canterbury and Central Districts, originally scheduled for Lancaster Park in mid-January, to Rangiora because of a probable clash with a rugby league match.

He said the CCA had been reasonably satisfied with the condition of Lancaster Park soon after the Auckland Warriors played a match there last February.

"We could have played on it, although you can never guarantee the weather," Murdoch said.

Prentice said it was hoped to introduce portable cricket pitches in the future but the technology for moving them from the south ground to the oval would not be available until after next season at least.

Planning is still well advanced for floodlights to be in place for the day-night cricket match between New Zealand and England on February 20. The next step is for submissions to be received at a hearing in mid-September, resource consent approval having been given.

Meanwhile in Dunedin, the one-day match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka on March 27 has placed the Otago Rugby Football Union, the owner of Carisbrook, on a sticky wicket as it wrestles with the dilemma of trying to fit it in with the Otago Highlanders` Super 12 rugby programme. While dates for next year`s Super 12 programme have yet to be confirmed, it is understood the Highlanders have matches scheduled for Carisbrook on March 2, 8, and 23.

The cricket season was scheduled to end at Carisbrook on February 18 but the announcement has thrown the plans of the ground staff into turmoil.

OCA chairman Bob Macdonald acknowledged the timing of the one-day international was "awkward".

"They (NZC) have made it awkward for us but we made enough noise when we weren`t allocated one, so we have to make it work. It`s an opportunity to show what we can do."

Macdonald said the ORFU was "bending over backwards to help. They`ve been very, very good".

Source :: The Canterbury Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)