MPCA: Soggy grounds impact cricket on the peninsula

Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association has cancelled some Round 1 games due to the condition of grounds. Here’s the update.

The MPCA is hoping to start the season on Saturday, despite a wet September. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association has cancelled some Round 1 games this weekend due to the condition of grounds.

All lower grade matches — A and B Grade — have been cancelled for the opening round of the 2022-23 season.

But all 1st and 2nd X1 games will go ahead as scheduled.

The MPCA senior pennant committee, in conjunction with the board, released a statement on Tuesday morning.

“Due to the condition and unavailability of a number of grounds with the recent wet weather we have experienced, all A and B Grade cricket has been cancelled,’’ the statement said.

“Not all games in all grades could be played so to keep the integrity of the competition fair from Rd 1, no play will take place in the lower grades.’’

Melbourne’s wet weather in September has caused several competitions across the metropolitan region to push their start dates back by at least a week until October 8.

The MPCA sent an email out to clubs last week asking about the condition of grounds.

“We’re trying to get on the front foot to find out where we’re at this far out,’’ MPCA general manager Jason Nagel said last week.

“There are a couple of grounds that we know are cooked, there’s a couple that are definitely out in the lower grades.”

It’s been a wet September.

Local cricket has dealt with Covid-forced delays in the past two seasons.

“At the end of the day we want to get back to playing,” Nagel said.

“If that means it’s ones and twos (to go ahead) and we play on the ovals available then so be it.

“There will be some sitting back going, ‘just call it so we know what we’re doing’, and there will be others saying, ‘we’re here to play cricket so let’s play cricket’.

“You’re never going to please everyone so we will do what we think is the best decision for cricket.”

Dandenong and District Cricket Association, Victorian Sub District Cricket, VTCA and Cricket Southern Bayside — all turf competitions — have already postponed play on Saturday.

On Monday, Box Hill Reporter District Cricket Association — a synthetic comp — abandoned play in Round 1.

Meanwhile, Nagel said junior cricket on the peninsula was on the rise again.

“The junior numbers look like they’re up by about an extra half a dozen teams from last year,” he said.