Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association departs Country Week after wet weather and a lack of grounds
Wet weather and a lack of available grounds consigned FTGDCA’s Country Week campaign to the sheds, and coach Dain Howe isn’t happy.
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Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association’s VCCL Country Week campaign fell victim to wet weather and a lack of available grounds last week.
After qualifying for the Provincial semi-finals of a rain-marred event on Thursday, Ferntree Gully was set to play Ballarat at Schramms Reserve while Bendigo was drawn to play Sale-Maffra at Croydon Park.
With both grounds ruled unplayable, and no other grounds available, the semi-finals were scrapped and the two higher-ranked sides, Bendigo and Ballarat, progressed to the grand final.
Ferntree Gully coach Dain Howe said his side was left shattered to have been bundled out so cruelly.
“We had a cracking outfit and were a real good chance,” he said. “We were up and about and flying.”
After a win over Mornington Peninsula in the opening game at Frankston’s Jubilee Park on the Monday, FTGDCA was 0-15 chasing Traralgon and District’s 151 at Bayswater Oval the next day before heavy rain consigned that contest to the sheds.
With its place in the crossover semi-finals already secured, Ferntree Gully was drawn to play Bendigo in the final game of the group phase at Gordon Barnard Reserve in Camberwell on Wednesday. But a damp surface and water under the covers prevented any play.
“There was no real urgency to play,” Howe said. “We’d (both) already qualified for the semi-finals. The umpires hung around for a while and tried to get a T20 up.
“Then at 5pm that night we got a call saying ‘that’s the end of your carnival’.
“They couldn’t find any grounds, but they found grounds for the Division 2 games.
“The boys were shattered. We had the side to beat everyone for the first time in Ferntree Gully history.”
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That there was a lack of any available ground on which to play a semi-final in the top grade of such a prestigious event frustrated a bemused Howe.
“There’s 38 Premier (Cricket) grounds and 50-odd sub-district grounds and then all the suburban grounds,” he said.
“Or wash Division 2 out and give the grounds to Provincial.
“Or play T20s and play double-headers.”
With players having to give up holiday time when making the commitment to play Country Week, as well as the cost of getting a team to the event — Howe said the association had spent in excess of $6000 on accommodation and expenses — many would now reconsider whether taking part in the event is worth the effort.
“That could be the end of Country Week,” he said. “I know Geelong want out.”
For the record, Bendigo won the grand final at the Albert Ground on Friday when it held Ballarat to 8-219 and then reeled in the target for the loss of six wickets.