‘MALICIOUS’ fire damage to a cricket pitch in Tywyn left it unplayable just days before the opening match of the season.

The pitch at Cae Rhianfa was burned on the evening of Monday, 26 April, just hours after officials were at the pitch to prepare ahead of the season opener.

Simon Jenkins is secretary, treasurer and safety officer at Tywyn Cricket Club. His son was alerted to the fire at the pitch and went to investigate the damage.

Simon told the Cambrian News that what had happened to the pitch was “gut-wrenching”.

He said: “The fire was on the length of the pitch, making it completely unplayable. It’s beyond repair.”

Helen Lewis, headteacher at Ysgol Uwchradd in Tywyn called the actions “reckless”.

She said: “These are the school playing fields, used by pupils and local organisations and sports clubs, from toddlers to adults. It is a community facility.

“The news of such malicious damage to the cricket wicket is at the very least shocking. Even more astounding is that the damage was caused as a result of a seemingly deliberate act of setting it alight.

“This is sad, disappointing and devastating.

“This is an act of arson which has destroyed property belonging to the school. They could have been burned themselves by their reckless actions.

“Such actions demonstrate a lack of respect for the community in which we all live, for facilities used by so many, and a total disregard for the impact of their actions upon others.

“Those who are responsible should be held accountable.”

Simon added: “Our first match of the season was supposed to be taking place on Sunday.

“My son got a phone call on Monday the evening to say he should go down to the pitch.

“My first thought was that maybe it was just a small paper fire, but it burned right through the top layer and melted the plastic. It’s impossible to play on.

“We’ve had support from the town and the cricket community. The team we were due to play at the weekend, Aberystwyth, have said they will help us out.”

He added: “We lost the whole of last season due to coronavirus and being unable to play on that pitch.

“We were so looking forward to getting started this season and then something like this happens.

“Unless we can raise the funds and get the new pitch in again soon, we won’t be able to play in Tywyn again this year.”

Simon added: “This has happened four days before our first match of the season. We’re only a small club and we have members who do a lot to promote cricket in Tywyn. What’s happened is gut-wrenching.”

Tywyn town councillor Matthew Cooling said: “Cae Rhianfa is a shared space that is used for sport by many in our community; it’s extremely disappointing to see that the actions of a few mindless individuals starting fires are spoiling the facility for everyone else, and could jeopardise cricket in Tywyn for the rest of this year.

“There has been widespread local concern recently about young people starting fires in the dunes and leaving behind piles of rubbish too.

“I’d urge anyone who witnesses this kind of unacceptable anti-social behaviour to make a report to the Police on 101.”

North Wales Police confirmed they were contacted at 9.45pm on Monday to report fire damage on the artificial cricket pitch in Tywyn.

A fundraiser page has been started towards a new pitch. To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-replaced-our-damaged-pitch