Newtown seals a new home base

THE Bluebags are set to continue their TRL resurgence at a new home, as they push for a return to the top flight.

NEW BEGINNINGS: Members of the Newtown Rugby League Club (from left) Robbie Witt, Cameron Moodie and Paul Dolley inspect the ground at the Jack Martin Memorial Complex. Picture: Bev Lacey

RUGBY LEAGUE: This time last year, Newtown's return to the TRL was a pipe dream, with the club hopeful of securing a spot in second division.

Now, Newtown has secured a home ground to call its own as it looks to ramp up its bid for a return to the top flight.

The club recently undertook the redevelopment of the Jack Martin Memorial Complex in Drayton, where the club will be based from 2020 onwards.

"It's been in the pipeline off and on for most of the year,” Newtown president Paul Dolley said.

"We've had a few other options, but this one came out as the best option for the club moving forward.

"It's more of a location thing for us. We didn't really want to get tied in with another club, we wanted to be a standalone club.

"This was pretty much the only facility around with the size that we needed to run the juniors and seniors out of.”

The Jack Martin Memorial Complex will be the home of Newtown in 2020. Picture: Bev Lacey

Newtown's return to the TRL has been successful both on and off the field.

The club has enjoyed an unbeaten season in the second division competition to date, claiming the President's Cup and booking a spot in Saturday's grand final qualifier.

They have also seen impressive crowd numbers throughout the year while being based at Glenholme Park.

They look to take that success to the next level in 2020, with the club looking to field teams in A-grade and reserve grade, as well as juniors.

"We're still waiting to hear about the status of the juniors but we're hoping to hear something very soon,” Dolley said.

"We've put in an expression of interest for A-grade and reserve grade for next year and to move out of second division.

"We've got a lot of player interest and numbers are looking good at the moment.”

With things progressing smoothly at the moment, Dolley said the club was well on schedule to have the grounds resurfaced and clubhouse renovated for next season.

"At the moment the fields are looking like a cow paddock so we've got a couple of machines in here taking the top off the fields,” he said.

"Over the next couple of weeks we'll get some manure and stuff into the ground and start getting it ready for the turf.”

Originally published as Newtown seals a new home base