BDCA fixture: Two more rounds, but grand final format scrapped as part of BDCA’s COVID mitigation plan

Two more rounds of the Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association season will be played before a fast-tracked finals series begins as part of a plan to dodge growing COVID-19 case numbers The South Western Times revealed last week that the association had tabled two options with clubs, which were discussed at Monday night’s executive meeting. One option was to end the regular season after Saturday’s matches and begin finals this weekend, while the other was to play out the final rounds of the season as planned. But a letter to club presidents on Tuesday instead confirmed rounds 15 and 16 would be played before the finals begin on February 26. The plan will also see the traditional two-day grand final scrapped in favour of a single one-day game, but the finals schedule will be confirmed some time next week. Association president Russell Lindroth last week floated the idea of the semifinals and preliminary finals being played on consecutive days to shorten the three-week finals series down to two. The news means the derby between Marist and Colts at Forrest Park will go ahead after Colts leapfrogged Marist into second after the Blues were beaten by Eaton on Saturday. Leschenault will host Donnybrook in a clash which could ramifications for both clubs’ finals hopes, while Hay Park face Dalyellup and Eaton have the bye. Mr Lindroth confirmed last week that the remainder of the women’s season would be going ahead as planned, with the final round of the regular season to be played on Sunday. In grades where teams finish with an uneven number of games played, ladders will be determined by a quotient, while the number of games required for a player to qualify to play finals remains at five. The BDCA was contacted for comment.