By TERRY MADDAFORD
The place where everyone is supposed to get a bargain is set to end cricket's days at Cobham Oval in Whangarei.
Negotiations between the Whangarei City Council and potential buyer The Warehouse are expected to be completed by February as the home of Northland cricket for almost 50 years is set to move.
But not far. The council is planning a new development just over the hill in an area of land adjacent to what used to be Okara Park, and more recently the Northland Rugby Stadium.
Northland Cricket executive officer Bruce Scott confirmed the pending move, saying that the association and the City Cricket Club, which is also based at Cobham Oval, are not upset over the situation, and will not be going to their existing alternative, Kensington Park.
"We are more than happy with what the council has planned for our new ground," Scott said.
"It will be developed especially for cricket, with a sand-based, sand-slit surface and with plans for an artificial wicket as part of the pitch block.
"We will have a pavilion, which will include an indoor facility. As a fully enclosed cricket ground we feel it will be something special. We feel it is time to move on and this is a great opportunity."
While the Northland stalwarts fully support the move, there will still be some sadness at losing a ground which has a place in the sport's history and helped to produce some outstanding players.
Of the Northern Districts squad, the association can claim Michael and Neal Parlane, James and Hamish Marshall, Alex Tait, Joseph Yovich, Brett Hood and Bruce Martin as products of Northland. In the past, many players, including Bryan Young, Brian Dunning, John Parker, Barry Cooper, Steve Scott, Matthew Bell, Dion Nash, Murray Child and Craig Presland, have entered the first-class arena from Northern Districts' northern-most association.
Surprisingly, the Oval has hosted only 10 first-class games. The first, in the 1966-67 season, is one Northern would happily forget after being skittled by Auckland for 127. In the same game Bob Cunis bagged seven for 30 for Auckland.
Cunis later moved north and played a role in the continuing fortunes of Northland cricket.
There have been happier times at the Oval. Northern scored 363 against Central Districts in 1983-84, and in 1972-73 John Parker scored a career-high 195 against Canterbury.
The most recent first-class fixture was five years ago between New Zealand A and Zimbabwe.
This season at the Oval, Northland will host Shell Cup and Trophy matches against Canterbury. There will also be two women's State Insurance Cup games, against Auckland on January 20 and 21.
If the sale of the ground proceeds, cricket could be at its new home during the 2002-2003 season.
Cricket: HQ on the move
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.