The Newcastle District Cricket Association first-grade grand final between Wests and Merewether is expected to get underway at some stage across Saturday and Sunday despite the Hunter’s midweek deluge.
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Groundsman at No.1 Sportsground pulled back the covers on Thursday morning and worked on the wicket following Wednesday’s heavy rainfall, which included recordings of 70mm at Nobbys Beach and more than 150mm around Wallsend.
However, the pitch remained intact and NDCA chairman Paul Marjoribanks was confident play would at least start this weekend, if not finish as per schedule. Spare days are available for the showdown next week.
“I spoke with Peter Terry [curator at No.1 Sportsground] on Thursday and he had the covers off most of the day working on the wicket,” Marjoribanks said.
“So I think there will be at least some play over the weekend, if not all of it.”
Showers returned in Newcastle on Thursday afternoon and are forecast for Friday, but expected to clear for Saturday and Sunday with partly cloudy or sunny conditions.
If the first-grade grand final isn’t completed this weekend, the 180-over encounter can continue into the allocated spare days rather than re-starting.
Good Friday and Easter Saturday have been set down for this scenario.
Two years ago Merewether and Hamwicks played into a third day. Hamwicks resumed their second innings the next Friday at 4-37 needing 75 runs off 10 overs after Merewether finished one ahead on the first dig.
