Upgrade Your Practice Nets Like Henley CC | total-play

18th June 2014

Berkshire side Henley Cricket Club is reaping the benefits of a newly refurbished practice nets facility following works carried out by ECB Code of Practice non-turf system installer and approved system supplier, total-play Ltd.

The club’s existing nets had been in place for 15 years and, in addition to no longer providing the required quality of play for coaching and practice, had become unsafe to use and were something of an eyesore. With the club meeting all costs for the project internally, it researched the market for a contractor capable of upgrading its nets to the best possible standard. With three proposals on the table, the club selected total-play, as Club Grounds Chairman, Dylan Jones explains:

“Not only did total-play provide the most competitive quote, but we were impressed with James’ advice and understanding of our needs. The solution they put forward was great, communication throughout the project excellent and the work carried out quickly. The response to the refurbishment has been very positive from all playing members, and the facility is no longer the eye sore it once was. I’d happily recommend total-play to any club looking to refurbish practice net facilities.”

In terms of the solution provided, total-play took into account the fact that the club has suffered flooding due to proximity of Thames and a number of other factors in its proposal; as Business Development Manager, James Coney, explains:

“Past flooding of the facility meant that both the playing surface and the aggregate sub base had become contaminated and surface levels had failed in a number of areas. The existing facility’s carpets were also only 2.74m wide with infill, so they weren’t full width; causing unnecessary maintenance.”

Once the existing carpets had been lifted, the aggregate sub-base was agitated, new steel uprights installed to replace those damaged by a car collision and new, imported primary quarried aggregate laid to enhance surface levels. New shock pads were then fitted and full width carpets laid throughout the facility to provide a seamless, lower-maintenance playing surface. Finally, the facility was fitted with total-play’s HD Protection Tunnel netting – which prevents balls crossing between lanes through a unique ‘cocoon’ netting system – in a bespoke green to minimise visual impact.