Compost and lime for rugby field

SHIN splints should soon be a thing of the past for the players in the Vikings Christian Rugby Academy.

The academy has a beautiful rugby paddock, situated on the Norwegian Settlers’ Church ground, but it has developed a reputation for being rather firm.

“It’s a dust bowl,” joked local farmer Scott Kvalsvig, who was called in by Pastor Trevor Downham to help.

Scott is something of a soil expert, especially in that particular area, where his Marburg Banana Farm is based.

“There is very little topsoil and what the field needed was some good compost and organic matter. The pH balance was way out,” he said,

Scott makes his own environmentally-friendly compost, helped by the fact that he also farms cattle, and has a saw mill.

He delivered 20 tons of the compost to the field last week, delivered with assistance from the local Mascor John Deere tractors branch.

Further, 800kg of lime was donated by Idwala Carbonates, with thanks to Gary Wood.

“We’ll mix it into the soil and get a decent covering for the field. It’s probably something we should look at doing annually. It’s a nice community effort,” said Scott.

Some of the Vikings players were on hand to help take delivery of the compost and lime, namely Kabelo Moche, Vincente de Faria, Jaques Petzer-Moore, Joseph ‘Richie McCaw’ du Preez and Xolela Daniels.

Dawie Snyman, the Vikings manager, was grateful for the donations and work being done.

“We’re looking forward to a softer field this season,” he said.