High praise for new surface

GLOWING: The Wairarapa United women's team go through their paces under the lights at Memorial Park on Tuesday night. PHOTO/BARBARACAFFELL

THE $2.1 million artificial turf and lights installed at Masterton's premier sporting venue, Memorial Park, have already been given the thumbs up by the footballing fraternity.

Wairarapa United's Central League and Capital third division men's teams and also their Capital first division women's side trained there for the very first time on Tuesday night and they could not have been more glowing in their praise of the completely transformed No.1 ground.

"It was amazing ... absolutely amazing," club president Phil Keinzley, who also doubles as coach of the women's squad, said. "Honestly, I couldn't be more impressed, the whole set-up is brilliant."

The width of the surface combined with the superb lighting meant all three Wairarapa United teams could go through their training routines for the first time, something which Keinzley said was not possible at any other venue in the local region.

"That sort of thing is terrific for club spirit in that the players can mix and mingle a lot easier than they can when they are training at different times, and often on different days."

Other big pluses were the evenness of the surface which allowed for a much more consistent bounce of the ball than the grassed pitches, the strength of the lighting which allowed for clear vision from any part of the playing field and the general atmosphere of training and playing in a stadium environment.

"The whole place has got a special feel to it, it's hard to explain but we've certainly had nothing like it for football in this area in the past," Keinzley said.

"It could be quite intimidating for visiting teams, and that's always a big plus too, isn't it?"

The Memorial Park facility is, of course, multi-purpose with rugby and football set to be the major users. It will officially be opened on Thursday, April 30 but inter-club fixtures in both codes will be played there over the next two days.

The Tui Cup premier division rugby fixture between Marist and Gladstone will kick off at 7.30pm tomorrow night while a senior reserves rugby match featuring Masterton Red Star and Eketahuna at 1.30pm on Saturday will be followed by two football games, the first a Wairarapa division one match between Wairarapa United Skulls and Trevs Sports Masterton Athletic at 3pm and the second the Central League game between Wairarapa United and Stop Out, which will get under way at 5.30pm.

The highlight of the April 30 opening will be a clash between the Chiefs and Hurricanes Super 15 development rugby squads which will be preceded by junior football and rugby games.