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You have to feel sorry for the local, junior cricket teams which missed out on the chance of playing in their grand finals this season.
For the second consecutive season, the dreaded inclement weather has played its part in deciding the outcome of the finalists in about a dozen divisions.
Last weekend’s Camden District Cricket Association’s games were postponed because grounds were unplayable due to wet weather.
Unfortunately for the the teams finishing third and fourth on their respective ladders and due to contest the play-offs, the party is over for them for yet another year.
It’s heartbreaking for the older group of juniors aged 16 to cope with, so imagine how difficult it must be for a 10-year-old to understand.
One week they have the chance of grabbing a place in the decider - the next week the season is over.
A possible solution could be for the association to start the competition a week or two earlier, or allow a few weeks later in the season to play the deciders.
And as there is still some daylight after the young cricketers finish school lessons, maybe a semi-final over two nights midweek could be the favoured option.
Otherwise, what’s the point? - might as well get a 20 cent piece out and shout heads or tails!
Tahmoor teams suffered badly as all five of its teams’ chances of grabbing grand final glory literally went down the drain with the weekend’s cancellations.
It has sent the alarm bells ringing in my head for the coming winter season in various codes.
What will happen if the region falls prey to a sustained deluge of wet weather over several weekends and games have to be cancelled.
With only one or two weeks pencilled in to play catch-up, washed out games, what will the powers-that-be do if eight or more rounds in a 20-round competition are cancelled.
I realise this is unlikely but we can’t control the weather.
Nobody can say for sure we won’t be in for long wet spell - just like the Narellan Vale residents would have laughed at you if you had told them they would be hit with a tornado, which did eventuate in the early hours of last Sunday morning and wreaked havoc.
If I was a coach I think I would be gearing my team up to get off to a flying start and rack up as many wins as possible in the opening rounds just in case the season is cut short.
The other alternative, which is a strong possibility, is to force teams to play several matches in the same week - not possible I hear you say - but ask Narellan Rangers M-League soccer team if that was the case last season when their resources were drained, playing an unreasonable amount of games over a very short period.
Let’s hope the biggest problem with weather this coming season is that the sun is shining too strongly and hampering the vision of goalkeepers as they jump to catch the ball.