THE Northern District Cricket Association’s top three A Grade teams have started to open a gap between themselves and fourth-placed side, Nondies after Saturday’s matches were abandoned due to extreme heat.
The association made the decision to cancel all senior matches on Friday night after the Bureau of Meteorology forecast a maximum temperature of 44 degrees – three degree above the association’s heat policy threshold of 41 degrees.
It was the third consecutive weekend that weather impacted on matches, with round 11’s matches called off due to extreme heat and rain impeding on round 12’s results.
The biggest benefactors of the cancellation are competition leaders, Wandella and defending premiers, Leitchville/Gunbower, who were to meet at the weekend.
Less than three points separates both sides, with Leitchville/Gunbower yet to take to the field in 2018 after having the bye on January 12.
Cohuna United, who are less than one point behind the defending premiers in third spot on the ladder, are also yet to record a result this year after their round 12 encounter with Nondies was washed out.
The cancellation of matches will impact Nondies the most, with the side now nine points behind United, with all sides to play each other once in the final five rounds of the season.
Meanwhile, Wandella is the biggest benefactor of the weekend’s B Grade matches being called off.
The defending premiers had the bye last weekend, and despite the fact that third-placed Barham/Koondrook and fourth-placed Leitchville/Gunbower have edged closer to the Riverside Park tenants, both teams could have moved ahead of the Bombers if scheduled games had occurred.
The decision also means that competition leaders, Nondies remain undefeated in season 2017/18, with the Cohuna Recreation Reserve-based team holding a 10-point advantage over Wandella.
