Washout a cruel end to Mudgeeraba’s season

MUDGEERABA Nerang cocaptain Kevin Chapman is still coming to terms with the cruelty of the sporting gods after rain robbed the Bushmen of the chance to fight for their Kookaburra Cup future on Saturday.

With fifth-placed Burleigh snapping at their heels, Mudgeeraba entered its finalround battle with Helensvale Pacific Pines knowing the loser would likely be sent tumbling out of top four.

Instead, their fate was decided by Mother Nature.

While Burleigh cruised to victory against Coomera Hope Island at Avid Concrete Oval, a rain-soaked draw between the top-four rivals at Nerang RSL Oval kept Helensvale in third but sent Mudgeeraba crashing to fifth.

For Chapman and his teammates, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

“We’re pretty gutted, for your season to be decided by weather,” said Chapman, who made 16 in Mudgeeraba’s total of 4-67 before play was abandoned.

“When you play, you’re the masters of your own destiny. If we beat Helensvale we would have played finals cricket, but you can’t control the weather.

“The first game after Christmas we got beaten by Coomera and Andrew Robinson scored a hundred. We look back at that and (rue it). We also got rained out against two sides who finished mid to low table.

Despite the disappointing finish, Chapman, who only returned to the club in December, said the campaign had been a successful one.