Cricket: Rain gifts shield to Rodney

Rodney's Kevin Forde said his players would have preferred to have won the title on better terms.

Rodney have taken the Dargaville Shield off defending champions Mid Western without lifting a finger.

The final was scheduled to be played on Saturday, however, unfavourable conditions at Bourne Dean Domain in Kaipara led to the match being abandoned.

Pleased to stop the rampant run of Mid Western, who have held the Shield for three successive years, Rodney's Kevin Forde said his players would have preferred to have won the title on better terms.

"It was a bit of a hollow victory not having to play for it," Forde said, "we ended up winning the Dargaville Shield [but] without bowling a ball.

"It's a bit unfortunate ... but we'll take it and look forward to defending it next year," Forde added, while also highlighting that a replay match or rain day on the calendar could offer a fairer outcome next year.

Along with the Dargaville Shield final being called off, the playoff for 3rd/4th between Whangarei North and Whangarei South was also abandoned due to rain, although the sides managed to get through some overs at Kensington Park, Whangarei, before conditions took a turn for the worse.

Both matches of the reserve grade Greg Guy Shield playoffs were also rained off.

Next weekend marks the start of the premier men's 2015/16 Lion Red Cup, and the opening round will see City take on Maungakaramea at Cobham Oval, Whangarei Boys' High School host Kamo, and Kaipara host Onerahi at Bourne Dean Domain.

Round one of the reserve grade 40-over competition is also set to begin next weekend, with Kerikeri High School's 1st XI hosting Whangarei Boys' High's 2nd XI, Northern Wairoa hosting Maungakaramea in Dargaville, and the City reserves playing Bream Bay at Kensington Park. Kamo's reserves have the bye.