By Tara Murray
Westmeadows is focused on the task at hand in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 1 north Tony Issacs Shield grand final, after a protest of its semi-final result was dismissed.
Craigieburn lodged a protest with the VTCA after its match against Westmeadows had a delayed start to play on Sunday because of a wet ground.
As reported by Star Weekly, day one of the game was called off because of heavy rain last week.
Sunday’s match was delayed and became a 31 overs aside, which Westmeadows won.
Warriors captain-coach Tarek Moughanie said they were relieved that the protest was over and they could focus on the grand final.
“”We think the right decision was made,” he said.
“Things like this can bond a group more and it might work in our favour. It’s great to see how much everyone cares about playing in a grand final.
“We’re looking forward to hosting the grand final against Glenroy the next two weekends.”
Moughanie said Sunday’s issues arose because there was heavy moisture overnight on Saturday, on top of rainfalls earlier in the week.
The club had kept the wicket uncovered on the Saturday, at the permission of the association, to try and further dry it out to get play on Sunday.
“The VTCA acknowledged there was nothing we could have done differently to impact the moisture on the ground,” Moughanie said.
“They contacted the council to confirm that the sprinklers didn’t come on.
“Our groundsman Matt Prescott worked tirelessly on Saturday and Sunday. The work he put in was why we got a game in.
“It was a good game of cricket.”
Craigieburn president Gerard Laffan said they wouldn’t be making any comments.
Victorian Turf Cricket Association president Steve McNamara said the sub-committee had decided that the result would stand.
“Craigieburn felt the ground was wetter than it should have been and lodged a protest,” he said.
“The sub-committee found nothing untoward happened and the result from the game will stand.
“It [the grand final] should be a cracker of a game.”
