Flooded fields to have a flow on effect following weekend washout

Narrabri District Cricket Association was forced to call off all three matches scheduled to be played on Saturday, October 29, in the third round of the 2022/23 campaign and declare them as draws after all fields were recently flooded.

It was the second weekend in a row that cricket was cancelled after all round two matches were also washed out.

It is a trend that looks set to continue for first grade cricketers, with Collins Park, Hogan Oval and Leitch Oval all not expected to be ready to play on until later this month.

The NDCA board will meet this week to discuss the return date as well as the potential creation and release of a new draw.

If the decision is made to create a new draw, one day matches are expected to be played during the T20 period from early December until February next year, during which red ball cricket was scheduled to break.

However, the second grade one day season could return as soon as this Saturday, with the synthetic pitches at Cooma Oval an option to host the round four match.

That decision is one of several that will be made at this week’s NDCA board meeting.

Also to be decided at that meeting is the outcome of the opening round first grade match between Tatts and the Western Razorbacks, which was called off as the Razorbacks could not field a team due to some players from Wee Waa and surrounding areas not being able to travel to Narrabri due to flooding.

Meanwhile, the NDCA’s rep team is scheduled to play its first game of the 2022/23 MA Connolly Cup campaign on Sunday.

The Pink Slugs’ round two clash is against Gwydir and is scheduled to be played at Bingara.

That game would be the first this season for both sides after all round one matches on Sunday, October 23, were called off due to wet weather and flooding in the region.

Narrabri was scheduled to play away from home against Armidale that day.

While the Pink Slugs meet Gwydir this Sunday, the other second round game in pool A will see Moree host Armidale. Inverell has the round two bye.

Narrabri’s first home game of the season is scheduled to be played at Collins Park on Sunday, November 20, in round three against Inverell.