Organisers hopeful cricket cup final can go ahead despite ground damaged after Highland Games

ROSS County Cricket Club say they are confident they can still host the North of Scotland Cricket Association Cup final at Castle Leod despite their ground being severely damaged after the Strathpeffer Highland Games.

Club secretary Chris Blake says the club are working hard to rectify the damage which was caused at Castle Leod after the Strathpeffer Highland Games which took place on Saturday.

The venue is due to host the Nosca Cup final between Northern Counties and Forres St Lawrence this Saturday, but the game was in doubt earlier this week due to the damage which was caused.

Blake says the club were disappointed to find the state of the ground after the Strathpeffer Highland Games on Saturday.

But they are confident the game can go ahead this weekend and make the venue fit to host a cup final.

Blake said: "We arrived on Saturday night to a sight of devastation and it was disappointing.

"We agreed car traffic could go across our pitch on the basis they put down ground protection which wasn't done.

"The pitch was left a real mess, so what we did on Sunday and Monday is we have raked up the mud and straw.

"We managed to get a roller which flattened out most of the ruts.

"It still looks awful, but we are confident that it is safe to play and with a bit of luck this week, it should firm up and we can get the game played.

"However it is disappointing it happened, as our groundsman Renato Belli is down there three times a week making sure the grounds is nice.

"We take real pride in our park and it is disappointing we have invited two teams to play on a surface which isn't quite what we want to be.

"The cup final will be safe to play and i'm confident the game can go ahead, but it will not look pretty at all."

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