Rovers net a possible big bill for damage

NEW YEAR'S EVE gales have caused hundreds of pounds-worth of damage to the Rovers AC's new sightscreens and nets. Winds whipping off the sea regularly make life very difficult for sportsmen at the Port Soif ground, but in the early hours of Monday morning it created a scene of destruction when four 12ft-high sightscreens were blown onto the practice nets.

Paul Porter, Rovers' cricket secretary, estimates that more than £700-worth of damage was done.

'The sightscreens went over onto the nets and they are now in a heap basically,' said Porter.

'There's a bit of damage to the screens. The axles are bent but are still usable, but the nets will have to be rebuilt with new scaffolding poles.'

The screens were purchased before the start of the 2006 season that saw division one weekend league cricket played for the first time at Rovers after a new grass wicket was laid. The club hope their insurance covers the cost of the damage.

According to Porter, the screens were fastened correctly and he was surprised that they were forced over by the elements.

'They are really heavy and were tied up and put away properly. We had no idea they were going to be blown over. It must have been really windy.'