Groundsman saves cricket match

AN expert groundsman turned up to watch a cricket match in March on Saturday and ended up repairing the pitch.

Mel Pooley, who has a Master of Science in Sports Surface Technology and is a lecturer for the Institute of Groundsmanship was walking up to The Avenue to watch March Town first team take on Burwell in a crucial Tucker Gardner Division One clash, when he saw the players crowded around the crease.

Play had been stopped for about 45 minutes because rain had made it difficult for the bowlers to keep their footing.

March's regular grounds man Phil Goodfellow was away playing for March second team.

Mr Pooley, who lives in Doddington, retired from the position at the end of last season.

He said: "I saw people milling around so walked over to see what was going on.

"The pitch just needed some basic foot-hole repairs so I just put in a selection of soil. It's just a case of knowing how to do it."

Mr Pooley, who is also a pitch advisor for the England and Wales Cricket Board, added: "I used to play cricket and I began helping out with the pitch at March and then became the grounds man. If I do anything I go off and study it and it's become quite a passion of mine."

The match re-started but with reduced overs and it finished as a draw.

See Video clip at the following link Cambs Times