MARCH Cricket Club is still reeling after crows destroyed their outfield over the winter.

About 70 crows wrecked havoc in January and February, causing significant damage to the turf.

Club members have been working around the clock to get The Avenue Sports Ground, Burrowmoor Road, March, in a satisfactory condition for the start of the new season.

But while the club was able to stage a friendly match on Saturday, this Sunday’s county match has been relocated to Harecroft Road, Wisbech.

Les Mills, club chairman, said: “We think the crows were after the grubs that live under the turf.

“The problem is because of the weather conditions they have been digging down and taking massive divots, which has caused tremendous damage.

“What’s happened is quite unusual but I read the other week that badgers had destroyed the turf at Rickmansworth CC.”

Groundsman Mel Pooley has re-seeded the outfield and hopes, now the weather is improving, it will be back to its normal high standard in six weeks.

He said: “It’s quite an annoyance because we have a reputation for producing one of the best outfields in the county but something like this is completely out of our control.

“We will not give up and in a couple of months you will never have known it had been attacked.”

March’s friendly with Downham Town CC on Saturday was able to go ahead because the club used a pitch which was right on the edge of the square, on the side of the ground which is in better condition.

But Cambridgeshire County Cricket Club’s game against Cumberland County Cricket Club would have had to be played on a pitch in the middle of the ground, which has yet to recover from the damage.

Mr Mills said: “It’s disappointing but we are grateful to Wisbech for helping us out and accommodating the game.”