Gisborne awarded GDCA McIntyre Shield premiership as season cancelled
Gisborne has completed an undefeated season after being awarded the GDCA McIntyre Shield premiership following the league’s decision to cancel the season’s grand finals amid COVID-19 crisis.
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Gisborne has been awarded the 2019-20 McIntyre Cup premiership after the GDCA cancelled its grand finals.
The Dragons had been set to meet Diggers Rest Bulla in the decider on Saturday and Sunday but the association made the call following advice from Cricket Australia to stop all competitions due to the growing coronavirus crisis.
As a result, Gisborne has completed an undefeated campaign and claimed its first McIntyre Cup premiership since 2016-17.
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Dragons skipper Jarryd Vernon said it wasn’t the way he wanted to win the premiership but believed the right decision had been made.
“It’s an interesting scenario but … it is what it is,” he said.
“It’s not the way you want to end the year but at the end of the day we’re well deserved premiers.
“Not losing a game all year is pretty special.
“It’s a credit to the boys, a lot of hard work goes in off the field as well so we can get on the park and play our best cricket.”
Gisborne claimed a 73-run victory over arch-rivals Bacchus Marsh in the semi-final, while Diggers Rest Bulla punched its ticket with a 79-run triumph over Sunbury United.
The Burras lost just two games this season and fancied their chances of causing a boilover in the grand final.
Skipper Rhys Berry understood the decision but felt “hollow” having come so close to a drought-breaking premiership.
“It’s disappointing but it’s obviously out of our control, there’s nothing we can do about it,” he said.
“We’d lost two games all year, had a good win in the semi-final, and we were going in ready to go.
“It’s a strange feeling. People think cricketers just rock up on Saturday and play but people sacrifice a lot and to not get a result feels hollow.”
GDCA president Rob McIntyre said in a statement it would be unreasonable to ask players, officials and spectators to put themselves at risk.
With no play possible in the grand finals, the league decided the higher-ranked qualified team would be awarded the premiership.
East Sunbury and Eynesbury will earn promotion after claiming the Johnstone Shield and Jensen Shield titles respectively.