Sports Bowl should be redeveloped

Grab the moment.
That should be the catch-cry for the Masterton District Council and the Wairarapa Soccer Association after the success of Sunday's "friendly" between Wellington Phoenix and the national under-20s at the Pugh Sports Bowl.
The lauding of the Sports Bowl by management of both teams as a potentially superb facility for soccer should be the catalyst for that potential to be developed to the maximum extent.
Not two or three years down the track, but now.
Considering the rain which had fallen over the preceding 48 hours the playing surface was in excellent order for Sunday's game.
Yes, there were a few damp patches but the fact the quality of soccer was hardly affected by the wetness of the pitch spoke volumes for those responsible for its upkeep.
It is important, though, to remember that soccer is mainly a winter sport and that if grounds are to be considered on a regular basis for major matches then they need to have a surface which recovers quickly from the vagaries of the weather.
With that in mind soccer officialdom here might well be advised to take a quick trip to rugby headquarters at Memorial Park.
Ground conditions there have improved markedly since a sand-based surface was introduced some years ago and something akin to that could be a boon for the Pugh Sports Bowl as well.
And if that doesn't fit the bill what about investigating the introduction of an all-weather artificial surface, perhaps along the lines of those which have proved such a godsend for hockey in areas all over New Zealand, including the Wairarapa.
The fact the Sports Bowl is a natural ampitheatre-type ground with its banked terraces already makes it spectator-friendly but if it is to become a soccer showpiece then permanent covered seating would need to be provided there as well.
Perhaps that could be constructed on the opposite side of the field to the terraces although studies would need to be done to ascertain whether the normal weather patterns would make that a viable proposition.
Adding to the importance of enhancing the Sports Bowl sooner rather than later is the fact that projects of that nature are always best done when enthusiasm for the sport is running high. The thrill of seeing the country's latest Hyundai A-league club under the leadership of the iconic Ricki Herbert taking on the country's best young talent had the 1000 or so people who watched the action thirsting for more of the same, and believe me it wasn't only the soccer community who were impressed by the skill levels and non-compromising attitude of the participants, let alone the pace at which the game was played.
Further boosting soccer's profile here over the weekend was the continued success of Wairarapa United in soccer's answer to rugby's Ranfurly Shield, the Chatham Cup.
By registering an extra time win over Palmerston North End in Palmerston North on Sunday, Wairarapa United advanced to the fifth round or last 16 of this competition, a huge achievement when you consider two of their beaten opponents play a grade above them at club level and would therefore normally be expected to dispose off them without too much fuss and bother. It is unlikely very unlikely that Wairarapa United will go all the way in the Chatham Cup because they are now reaching the point where the heavyweights on the club scene start to flex their muscles but even if they fall at the next hurdle they have done themselves proud.Finally, back to the Phoenix. The only blot on a great promotion for me on Sunday was the colour of their strip. Black is dull and uninteresting and yes, that does count for rugby as well and I always thought any side with Wellington in their name would and should have gold as their dominant colour. Maybe that will be the case come the Hyundai A-league in August. Here's hoping anyway.
But boy do the Phoenix have a plus in the form of coach Herbert. Not only for his obvious skill in the coaching field but for his willingness to speak off-the-cuff to the media basically any time of the day, and night.
For us hard-working journos it makes a nice change, I can tell you.
And how about his comments on Soccer New Zealand's website about Sunday's match. "It was great to bring the game to Masterton.
"We are going to be a football club that embraces New Zealand, and it was a real privilege for us to play in front of the people of Wairarapa." he said.
Plenty of brownie points there eh!