RAIN CHECK

Soft wickets put GCA season opener in doubt

GEELONG Cricket Association grounds chairman Darren Hauenstein believes it is “unlikely” the new season’s turf competition will start on time as the region suffers a “wetter than usual September”.

The GCA is due to begin competitive games on

October 1, but with more rain than predicted in August and September, many grounds across the Geelong region have not been prepared for cricket.

Hauenstein said the competition’s scheduled start depended on the rainfall over the next few days.

“There’s a lot of grounds that are a long way behind where you’d normally want to be,” he said.

“We’re definitely on the back foot to try to play cricket and the weather is making it pretty hard for everyone.

“It really depends on how the weather goes over the next two or three days.

“It looks like there will be a decent amount of rain on Monday and Tuesday.

“It’s touch and go to see if we’ll be right to go by next Saturday.”

GCA1, GCA2 and GCA3 are all scheduled to start their seasons on October 1, while the new GCA4 competition is set down to start one week later on October 8.

Hauenstein said the GCA might try to move the round to an open weekend later in the season or potentially a Sunday fixture instead.

“I know South Barwon’s ground hasn’t been mowed yet,” he said. “They’ve been trying to for the last month but they haven’t been able to get on to the ground because it’s too wet.

“Football finals have also been held later on some of the grounds because the GFL didn’t use GMHBA Stadium like they have in the past.

“We’ll give the teams an idea of what the grounds are like and then the committee will decide on whether they cancel the whole round completely or try to shift the round to a Sunday or later in the season.

“It’s probably pretty hard to find a replacement ground or round to play cricket, the women’s competition obviously runs on the Sunday too.”