Dartmouths game against Torrington RFC at Norton Field last Saturday was held up for 10 minutes after a Torrington

player complained to the referee that he had rolled in dog mess whilst tackling a Dartmouth player.

The referee Mr Steve Smith of Bideford called for Club Captain Ricky Seymour and Dartmouth Committee members to check the rest of the field.

The search resulted in the finding of at least four areas of dog mess both on the field and goal area.

The player was given a clean set of kit before the game could be resumed.

Dartmouth Club Chairman, Dave Bradley said:

“This is an ongoing problem at Norton Field and has been so for the past couple of years.

“Most dog owners are responsible and pick up after their dogs,

but obviously there are still a small band of locals or visitors who use our Rugby pitch to exercise their dogs and then just walk off leaving the mess for Rugby

players to roll about on.

South Hams

District council are aware of this on going health issue and the club will again approach them to make periodical visits and issue fixed penalty notices to those offending.

We will also request further signage to be displayed around the pitch and additional bins to place their dog mess in.

Parts of wales have recently

introduced a law whereby it is an offence to walk your dog on marked out sports pitches.

Perhaps, South Hams District Council should introduce a similar bye law.

As a Sports Club, we do not want to go down the route of installing covert nature cameras, but if it helps to catch those offending, then perhaps it’s an option we may consider.

We ask that those responsible dog owners who use the area of Norton field , take a photo on their phone of those offending and send that information to South Hams District Council.

The Club feel very sorry and upset for both Home and away teams who have to use Norton Field.

Visiting teams go away from Dartmouth remembering it for all the wrong reasons.”