Sometime between 5pm Friday evening and 10am Saturday morning a car was driven onto the Hereford Street grounds, where it then tore up the surface. 

The damage was contained to the main field. 

St Pat’s president David Chapman said he was notified Saturday morning by several of the club’s members. 

“As soon as I got word of it, I drove down and met with seniors and juniors representatives, and the police and council representatives were there,” he said.

“It was just reassuring to see [the police] down there investigating.” 

He said the damage to the ground would be covered by insurance, but it was still a big setback for the club.

“It is just so disappointing to have that kind of setback at the new grounds,” Mr Chapman said. 

In the meantime, he expects that security will be increased around the grounds. 

“It’s just a shame that in today’s day and age that we’ve got to go to the nth degree on security,” Mr Chapman said. 

He said council had been incredibly helpful since the damage was discovered and he wanted to extend his thanks for the quick response. 

“The local council has been absolutely fantastic with the grounds and the clubhouse ... they’re just as angry and frustrated as we are [by the damage],” he said.

“They are not wiping their hands of it and are doing what they can for the junior and senior players.” 

St Pat’s teams played at Jack Arrow Oval in Kelso until the end of 2012 and since then have played their home games at Bathurst Sportsground, which wasn’t specifically designed to be a rugby league ground. 

Bathurst Regional Council had set aside $2.5 million for the construction of new fields on a tract of land on Hereford Street in September, 2015. 

In the same month the club received a $75,000 Footy Facilities Fund grant to go towards a new clubhouse.

The Footy Facilities Fund is a joint initiative between the NRL and the NSW Government, to assist grassroots football clubs across the state.

Construction began on the new fields in mid-2016, with the new turf then laid on the first field in April this year. 

The turf had been specifically grown for the field. 

It was anticipated that the St Pat’s club would be able to use the new grounds from the start of the 2018 season. 

Mr Chapman said it was important that the club had a quality surface to play on, particularly after so long without a formal home ground, and that it would take the teams to the next level.

“We know we are going to get there. It is a setback, nothing but a distraction, but we’ll get back to waiting for a good surface,” he said. 

Chifley Local Area Command duty officer Gerard Powell said police only have basic information at this stage and are continuing to investigate. 

He said anyone with information about what happened should contact Bathurst Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.