West Newport’s Christian Elliot will be hoping for a big score in the WDCA grand final against Williamstown Imperials on the weekend. 62202 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By LIAM TWOMEY
ON paper it looked like a blockbuster weekend of finals for teams in the Williamstown and District Cricket Association.
Mother nature had other ideas though with a downpour of rain on Saturday making it impossible for any cricket to take place.
The weekend’s draws mean the A1 grand final will be contested by the Williamstown Imperials and West Newport with both teams proceeding at the expense of Grand United and the Williamstown Colts respectively.
“It was really unfortunate that neither of our A1 games were able to get a start so the top two sides will go through,” Williamstown and District Cricket Association chairman Mark Keating said.
“With all the rain it was just too wet to get a start on either ground.”
The Imperials will go into the final as favourites to take out the premiership after an outstanding home and away season saw it claim top spot on the ladder with just one loss for the year.
The two sides have met twice throughout the season with a draw in round two before the Imperials thrashed West Newport by 101 runs in round eight.
“It should be a really good game and I think they will be pretty evenly matched,” Keating said.
“West Newport have played in the last two (grand finals) and won one and lost one and I don’t think Imperials have been in a grand final for a number of years. Everyone should be looking forward to it.”
If West Newport is to cause the upset it will rely heavily on bowlers Corey and Christopher Irvine. The pair has been outstanding all season taking a combined total of 64 wickets.
Williamstown will be looking towards gun all rounder Owen Alsop to finish off what has been a fantastic season with both bat and ball.
Alsop has made two 50s batting in the middle order for the Imperials and taken 33 wickets as an opening bowler.
In the A2 division, Saturday’s rain means Footscray ANA will meet Melton Centrals Cricket Club Inc in the grand final.
“We will have our fingers crossed for better weather this week. We are a bit unusual because for our turf finals we allow six days and play over three weekends,” Keating said.
“That caters for a weekend like this one where they can’t get on. It leaves plenty of time to get results.
“On the semi-final weekend we are always praying for good weather because if we can’t play that weekend then that’s it.
“It’s always a nightmare for administrators if this weekend is rain-affected and for the clubs that have worked hard to get into third and fourth position. They missed the opportunity to play, which is unfortunate for them but there is nothing you can do about the weather.”
