Cranfield Oval Upgrades Unveiled

Upgrades to Cranfield Oval including new change rooms, seating and netting have now been completed.

The home of the Young ‘Yabbies’ received the upgrades from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund, which contributed $280,833 to construct seating, a storage shed, new change rooms for women, men and referees and goal nets.

Previously, the Club has received grants to fix drainage on the site and to turn a single oval in to two grounds, with a total of more than $900,000 in Government grants being spent on the site.

Young Yabbies Rugby Union Football Club president Cec Finley said the upgrades have had an immediate positive impact for the club, reducing the risk of player injury off the field. “We’ve been able to put in some new netting so we won’t be chasing balls out on to the street and down in to the creek,” Mr Finley said.

“It’s been a godsend for us to be able to improve our facilities, not only for our players but for our spectators and our sponsors.”

Mr Finley said the upgrades have created new opportunities for players. “Being able to build female change rooms means for the first time in our club’s history we have a women’s side entered in to the Central West Rugby’s Oil Plus South West Women’s Competition.

“We’ve been able to attract players to this team with these new facilities which is fantastic.”

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the upgrades highlighted the NSW Government’s commitment to regional infrastructure and sport. “It’s fantastic to see what the Young Rugby Club is doing and how they are working to expand their sport for all players, with these new change rooms catering to both men and women,” she said.