Warriors defy washout talk for rain-round win

THE Geelong Cricket Association has confirmed Modewarre will keep the points won in Saturday’s rain-affected round of cricket, despite confusion over the rules.

The Warriors’ clash against Guild-Saints was the only first XI game to be completed in GCA3, prompting uncertainty about whether Round 10 should be deemed a washout.

But GCA president Barry McFarlane said Modewarre had been awarded the points, given two of the other three grounds were initially declared capable of play after inspections on Saturday morning.

“The grounds committee can call off a round in any section of cricket, but only if 75 per cent of grounds are unfit to play,” McFarlane said.

“So if it was determined prior to play that three of the four grounds weren’t fit, then that decision (to abandon the round) would have to be considered.

“But only one ground in Division 3 (first XI) was deemed unfit for play.”

McFarlane said all clubs were issued a memo on Friday requesting an update on the condition of grounds following a heavy downpour.

“If any of the clubs had issues with their ground, they were asked to contact the grounds committee and we would inspect the ground,” McFarlane said.

“We heard from Modewarre, and their ground was fine, and St Albans-Breakwater contacted us and said their ground was unfit.

“The grounds committee inspected Thomson’s ground on Saturday morning and it was deemed 50-50 and it wasn’t called off, so the ground’s committee didn’t call off three of the four matches.

“So as far as the GCA is concerned, Modewarre’s points stand.”

Not a ball was bowled in the GCA2 clash between Manifold Heights and St Peter’s, while Grovedale and Lara did not take the field in the firsts or seconds as grounds around the region were rain-affected.

Thomson and Waurn Ponds-Deakin players waited several hours in an attempt to play at Godfrey St Oval, but the match was eventually abandoned.

“It was more the fringe of the wicket,” Tigers president Stephen Crane said.

“We made an unfortunate call to use a smaller cover instead of the big one, and a bit of wind had forced some water underneath as well.

“We were a show to play, but then the heavy shower came down and it wrote it off. It was a bit disappointing for us because it probably cost us three points, as it turned out.”