Cricket: Weather seals Kaipara Flats' fate in finale

Kaipara Flats batsman Kyran Dill was restricted to only three runs in the Oxford Trust two-day cricket final against Maungakaramea at Cobham Oval, along with his team's hopes of claiming an outright win when the weather intervened. Photo/John Stone

The rules are the rules as far as Maungakaramea are concerned, after securing the Oxford Trust two-day competition title with what was essentially a no result.

Heading into the final, Maungakaramea, having placed top of table at the end of pool play, only needed to draw to secure the win - leaving Kaipara Flats needing to win outright to claim the spoils.

However, with rain coming in patches over the weekend, Saturday lost a whole session in total and Sunday didn't do much better.

But, Maungakaramea captain Neal Parlane wasn't complaining yesterday afternoon when the game was called off early.

"The rules aren't great but we're not complaining," he commented. "A game is a game and competition is done."

Parlane sympathised with Kaipara slightly, though, saying it wasn't ideal that the game, and the two-day title, was finished in just over 100 overs.

Kaipara Flats coach Kevin Forde said it was a frustrating and unsatisfying weekend for him.

"What is a hard task in the first place - to get an outright result - is tough, and then losing two-and-a-half-hours on the first day makes it even harder," Forde lamented. "It was one of those things; you've got to force the issue and teams have to play different types of cricket, both teams attacked the game and played quite positively."

For Forde, a frustrating factor was the whole unknown. Even if his side was good enough to win outright, he'll never know.

"Who's to know what would have happened if we had enough time, if that changed the approaches of each team."

However, next weekend will see the teams lock horns again - although, the match will be a bit better scripted this time as a winner will be decided by what happens on the field.

Maungakaramea will look to defend the Dargaville Shield, which is like the Ranfurly Shield of Northland club cricket, against Kaipara, with both sides looking to get bragging rights after this weekend.

Other Lion Red Cup matches next weekend see Onerahi Central play Kamo at Kensington and Zest Insurance Whangarei Boys' High School host City.