The race to the Men’s McDonald’s Country Championship title has ended abruptly, courtesy of a rouge storm that swept through Blacktown International Sports Park on December 1, leaving the highly anticipated grand final clash between Newcastle and Western unfinished.
Western, eyeing their first championship title since 2016/17, had completed their innings before the weather intervened.
In the Southern Pool, Western overcame an opening-day loss to Greater Illawarra with two bonus-point wins against Riverina and Southern Districts to finish one point clear at the top of the table – edging out Greater Illawarra and Riverina, who both ended on 13 points. Mitch Bower picked up seven wickets across the competition, while Cooper Brian starred with the bat for Western, hitting 116 off 107 against Greater Illawarra before finishing the regular rounds with 142 runs at an average of 47.33.
Newcastle once again proved why they are the team to beat, as they aim to write another chapter in their storied history with a sixth consecutive championship title. Their Northern Pool campaign started strongly with a win against Central Northern, but a shock loss to North Coastal created a do-or-die scenario in their final group match.
Newcastle bounced back and were far too strong, finishing with a 186-run win over Central Coast, highlighted by a century from Aaron Wivell (117) and an unbeaten 98 from Logan Weston. Aaron Bills was the pick of the Newcastle bowlers, finishing the rounds with seven wickets at an average of 16.43.
You can view the competition results that have led to Newcastle and Western qualifying for the final: HERE
The grand final will be replayed at a date still to be determined.