Katikati Cricket Club members have been left disheartened by vandalism after vehicles were used to rip the turf to shreds.

The members now face hours of extra time and expense correcting the damage done last weekend.

Club president and groundsman Ben Warren had arrived on Saturday morning to prepare the grounds, which are shared with Katikati Football Club, for the upcoming match that day.

He discovered that overnight “pathetic vandals” had done skids and donuts across the entire turf causing deep grooves and divots.

Drone photo of the damage. Photo / Phillip Magnussen

The perpetrators had broken through the bollards at Moore Park. It is believed a ute was involved as it appears items had fallen off the back of it.

It is also believed the same boy racers were “making a night of it” as other areas in Katikati show evidence of skids.

The game on Saturday was able to go ahead but club members and volunteers spent hours the following day putting down topsoil and levelling the turf.

Absolutely gutted

“The damage will require considerable time and expense and a huge effort to repair,” Katikati Cricket Club Facebook page states.

“The grooves are deeply into the turf. This unique turf surface only grows during the hot part of the year.”

Club treasurer and senior captain Brody Gilroy said everyone’s really gutted to see this.

“It just feels like you’re trying to do something healthy and productive on a Saturday and also provide a space for the club and the community, and it’s this counter-productive, antisocial behaviour like this that’s kind of frustrating.”

The vandalism’s disheartening due to the considerable time that goes into maintaining the turf, he said.

Brody Gilroy beside the grooves which have now been filled in with topsoil. Photo / Rebecca Mauger

“Ben does the majority of this work, making it one of the nicest places to play in the Bay of Plenty and other teams notice as well.

“Lots of hours goes into it... it might just seem like a patch of grass but for a sport or a club, it’s our patch of grass.”

The club is offering a reward should the culprits be identified. Brody urges anyone who has information to get in touch via messaging on the Katikati Cricket Club Facebook page.

Katikati Police were unavailable for comment but are looking into CCTV in the area.