ALLANSFORD and West Warrnambool will face off in a rescheduled Warrnambool and District Cricket Asso-ciation (WDCA) one-day final in February.
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A postponed round one fixture was washed out on Saturday, while yesterday’s scheduled one-day final was also affected.
The round one matches will now be abandoned, with the one-day decider to be played on Sunday, February 2.
WDCA officials considered rescheduling the round one fixture for a second time and had identified Sunday, January 12 as an option.
But it was scrapped altogether after consultation with clubs on Saturday night, paving the way for an Allansford-West Warrnambool grand final.
The Gators finished atop the Hopkins conference with three wins, one loss and a draw, edging out Brierly-Christ Church and Merrivale on percentage.
The Panthers sat a game clear of Wesley-CBC in the Merri conference, having notched four wins and a draw.
WDCA general manager Michael Harrison said a lack of available days forced round one to be cancelled.
He said January 12 was the only viable option with the Cross Border Cup against Mount Gambier pencilled in for January 19.
“We were in consultation with the clubs and there are a lot of trips to the one-day international in Melbourne on the same day and the tickets are already bought,” Harrison said. “It’s in the best interests of cricket to put the games as a washout round.
“It’s been a very unusual cricket season with so much inclement weather.
“There is nothing much you can do about the weather.
“It’s just made things a little difficult from time-to-time but we’ll move on.”
Allansford skipper Kyall Timms said moving the one-day final to February would give the association and clubs a chance to promote it as a showcase.
“We know who is playing so we’re able to do a bit more promotion and it’s during the holiday season so hopefully we get a crowd,” he said.
Timms said the Gators’ one-day final berth was reward for sitting atop the ladder.
“We would’ve liked to have beaten Woodford yesterday and get in that way but you can’t help the weather but that is reward for finishing on top,” he said.
West Warrnambool coach Dean Hurford said he backed the executive’s decision.
“It is a good thing they have cancelled round one,” he said.
“Rescheduled once is fair enough.” Hurford said the Panthers would be better placed for a flag tilt in February.
“It is a good thing for us because we had two guys out — Jed Turland had his wisdom teeth out on Thursday and Ben Dobson is away so it probably worked out all right for us,” he said.
“It’ll be good to test ourselves against a side like Allansford. They have good experienced guys.”
Allansford will play Nestles in the division two one-day final.