TORRENTIAL rain which engulfed the city of Wyndham throughout last week and left cricket pitches derelict on Saturday played right into the hands of Hoppers Crossing in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division.
The Cats needed only a share of the points with Airport West-St Christophers in their final round stoush at Hogans Road Reserve to reach the senior division finals for the first time in club history.
The decision to abandon the day’s play was a no-brainer with relentless rain making the ground unplayable, but it still took the captains of both sides and the umpires until after 4pm to make it official with so much riding on the result.
Before the rain came down in bucketloads, the equation was simple: the winner goes to the finals, the loser can book their end-of-season trip.
The curve ball was the bad weather and that was always going to favour the Cats, who held down fourth spot by a narrow 0.42 of a point and it meant they did not have to chase down a tricky 232 for victory.
While the run chase would have made for enthralling viewing, Cats president Steve McNamara was confident his side would have made full use of the “batter’s paradise” and was just relieved to have his club’s outstanding summer rewarded with a finals berth.
“It was pretty frustrating sitting and watching the rain,” he said.
“The mood was pretty buoyant. Everyone is excited to be playing finals first season back in the division.
“It’s a real fillip for the club and a credit to ‘Browny’ [coach Darrel Brown] and his impact at the club.”
The Cats have undoubtedly drawn the short straw first up.
They will face triple reigning premiers Yarraville Club in the semi-final on the road at Hansen Reserve starting Saturday.
“It’s an enormous challenge,” McNamara said. “Yarraville Club has been the best side for a number of years.”
Confidence has not been in short supply at Hogans Road.
The Cats, promoted to the top flight after winning the north division flag last summer, went into the first day of pre-season with their sights set on not only consolidating a place among the elite, but challenging for supremacy.
The season was all plain sailing for the Cats until their shock loss to relegation-bound Williamstown CYMS in the penultimate round.
With a bit of help from mother nature, the Cats sneaked into fourth on the final day.
The two-day semi-final will be a Saturday-Sunday affair this weekend. The first ball is at 1pm.
