Promise of fishing, waves, lures Carnarvon cricketers away

There won’t be a regular cricket season in Carnarvon this summer, for a couple of pretty good reasons.

One of them is surfing, and the other is fishing.

The bad news is with a declining population and fewer opportunities for young people to stay around town, there are fewer people overall to put on the pads.

Carnarvon Cricket Association representative Tom Van Dongen said the town would hold a 30-over competition for five rounds between the Whalers and Canarvon clubs — the third team that would usually make up the competition, Gascoyne, won’t be entering.

To raise interest in the game, the association was trying to get stronger lights put in at the ground to allow night games, Van Dongen said.

“More people would be interested in playing in the cool,” he said.

“A lot go fishing on a Saturday.

“If the weather’s good, half the people go missing because they’ve got a boat.

“A lot (are also) more interested in surfing.

“You just need another 10-15 people interested and you’d form the third side.” Member for North West Central Vince Catania has announced a $1 million commitment for lights at the Festival Ground if the Nationals form government.

According to a statement from Mr Catania’s office, the proposed lighting would allow clubs to hold training and play small-ball sports like cricket at night to avoid the heat in summer.

“The wide use by many, including the cricket, soccer, netball and football associations, school sporting events, personal trainers and community groups, further supports the need to continue to fund improvements and upgrades,” the statement said.