The Goulburn District Cricket Association representative team's first Burns Cup game of the year was scheduled to take place at Seiffert Oval today - until it rained for nearly 24 hours straight late last week.
Roughly 70ml of rain fell across Friday and Saturday, which forced the Goulburn Mulwaree Council to close all sporting grounds in town for the weekend due to safety concerns.
And although GDCA rep selector and team vice-captain, Dean Roxburgh, believes the last 24 hours have been sunny and warm enough for play to have proceeded today, he does not blame council for making the decision it did.
"The grounds were prepped pretty well, I think there might have been a chance, and Bob [Smith, GDCA vice president and curator of the Seiffert wicket] thinks there may have been a chance as well," Roxburgh said.
"The curators around here are doing a fantastic job around the area, so I think it could have gotten up.
"But the council closes grounds nice and early to make sure that everyone knows ... and it's about safety first."
The decision to call off the game might not have been left to council at all were it not for a late change of venue.
Originally, the game was scheduled to take place at Yass's Victoria Park. But due to a double booking, the Yass District Cricket Association asked if Goulburn could host the first fixture and the GDCA agreed.
This now means that there is just one game left in the Burns Cup pool rounds, on January 9, which effectively becomes a semi-final.
"We're going in to win each game, and this one is the most important because it gets us through to the final," Roxburgh said.
But, although there were initial concerns that the lack of play might impact Goulburn's readiness for rep cricket, Roxburgh is now confident the team can get the job done having seen many of the players in action.
"I watched the Under 19s go around the other day, and a few of the boys in that squad are looking really good with the ball, so I can't wait to see them get out there," he said.
"[Yass] is going to be in for a really big shock, this side's ready to go.
"A lot of us local guys in Goulburn train together, and a lot of the Canberra boys have been getting on to play ... we're training together and training hard."
The second Burns Cup fixture will now take place on January 9 at Victoria Park in Yass from 10am. The GDCA side will be selected from the squad and announced prior to the match.
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