But we don't need to get rid of all reps. We certainly need to dispense with 10s and 11s. 12s I can live with, then run 14s and 16s to fit in with the 15s and 17s JGC. Zone reps are superfluous and they aren't really representative of anything as zones no longer exist do they?
I do feel strongly that reps should be played at the end of the village season not during it. I'd run a selection process which involves the senior club playing a role - not the shenanigans of dads etc. It could be the first Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the September holidays for example, which gives teams time to prepare and allows country teams to travel. 14s and 16s are part of the trial process for JGC.
Selectors will always make mistakes and quite often there's not much difference between the last 3 or 5 selected and the next 4 or 5, but it's a much easier pill to swallow when one of the boys who beat you in doesn't have a parent picking the team.
If we accept that is it only an issue for U14 anD u16 reps then it wouldn't be too hard to find two parks that have two rugby fields that do not have cricket pitches, or are not council controlled.
How about Rockdale? I've been to Under16's and U15's there before. Good sized ovals x 2. couldn't recall any cricket pitches. Probably non-council controlled because the boys played in some fairly wet conditions with parts of the oval and surrounds under water.
Can't recall too many cricket pitches at Rat Park. Plenty of ovals there, although there is some baseball action I think.
No cricket at Latham Park. Two ovals there but not too much warm up space.
No cricket at TG Milner, but that may become a construction site soon. Two ovals with plenty of space for warm ups.
Hire Riverview. They won't be using their ovals for the U16 National tournament anymore.
There are plenty of options if we are only conducting two age group carnivals.
Think how much money will be saved on purchasing "look at me, I'm someone important" branded jackets for Coaches, Managers, Assistant managers, Selectors, Tournament officials, Committee members etc.