Based on the forecast there looks a real chance Mother Nature could play a role in this weekend's Orange District Cricket Association grand final, and Orange City skipper Ed Morrish is desperately hoping cricket's cruellest of mistresses remains at bay.
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Any loss of play over the weekend would dramatically the Warriors' decider hopes, with the minor premiership-winning Cavaliers already needing just a draw to reclaim the Challenge Shield any loss of play for rain plays into their hands.
But that's something Orange City experienced in last weekend's preliminary final win over CYMS, a delay for rain and bad light late on Sunday's second day helping to stifle a small green and golds fightback and helping the Warriors force a draw.
"That's the thing ... it played into our hands a little bit in the preliminary final so we have to deal with it if it goes against us but it's a grand final, so we know everything will be done to get on and there's a lot of cricket over two days," Morrish said, diplomatically.
We've not beaten them, but there's no better time to do that than in a grand final.
- Orange City skipper Ed Morrish
"But it'd be nice if that rain stayed away, for sure."
Morrish and his Warriors are massive underdogs this weekend, there's no doubting that considering they've not even come close to knocking off Cavaliers this summer.
In fact they've been hammered all three times they've met, by 123 runs, 117 runs and then finally 222 runs in the regular season's penultimate round.
The departing Josh Doherty's been at the forefront of those wins, and is one four Cavaliers bats to have tonned up against the Warriors this year alongside Ryan Kurtz, Kaleb Cook and Bailey Ferguson.
That's despite the Warriors' attack largely being considered the competition's best.
"Yep, we probably haven't been at our best against Cavaliers this summer, we're aware of that ... we've not beaten them, but there's no better time to do that than in a grand final," Morrish said.
Jeremy Bartier comes back into Orange City's top grade to replace the unavailable Craig Rogan, who skippered last year's premiership win, while Harry McGregor is also fit and ready to go after initial fears he may be ruled out due to an injury suffered last weekend.
"Harry's good to go, he's sweet, which is good news for us," Morrish said, with his side one of four Orange City outfits contesting grand finals this weekend.
"We try to make a point of leading from the front in first grade so we want to do our bit for the club in those terms."
The opening delivery of the 2018-19 grand final is scheduled to be bowled at 1pm at Wade Park on Saturday and continues from 11am on Sunday.
- ORANGE CITY: Ed Morrish (c), Blake Weymouth, Darren Barrett, Nathan Rosser, Shaun Grenfell, Lachie Coyte, Andrew Gordon, Jeremy Bartier, Brett Causer, Jackson Coote, Harry McGregor
- CAVALIERS: Matt Corben (c), Kaleb Cook, Ryan Kurtz, Bailey Ferguson, Josh Doherty, Mitch Black, Hugh Middleton, Max Pearce, Wes Lummis, Hudson Izzard, Mark Maybin, Ryan Noon
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