The Ovens and Murray Bowls Region was the first to make the call, with midweek pennant action on Tuesday, January 27 canned as the mercury reached 41°C for a third successive day.
Weekend pennant competition soon fell the same way, with the combination of prolonged heat throughout the week, as well as the forecast high temperatures on Saturday, leading the region to cancel all play.
“This decision has not been taken lightly and was made understanding the position teams are on the ladder and bowlers wanting to get back to the competition,” the Ovens and Murray Bowls Region said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, the deciding factor in making this tough decision was the extreme temperature over the past week, the fire situation, the predicted temperature of 43°C at Yarrawonga on Saturday and the temperature data indicating that Yarrawonga will reach 37°C at 11am (earlier than all the extreme days over the past week).
“The pennant committee has an obligation to ensure the welfare of all bowlers and the impact for those living on the land or the bush.”
While there was no alternative to the decision, it could have an impact on a number of sides’ finals hopes, including Benalla’s A2 weekend pennant side, which enters the final round of the regular this weekend.
Having split the points at the weekend with Mansfield, Benalla sits third on 118 points, six points ahead of Mansfield in fifth, with the two sides having split the points at the weekend.
With Mansfield playing sixth-placed Wodonga and Benalla facing second-placed Kiewa, the lack of a result at the weekend has left Benalla susceptible, with a strong result crucial if it is to secure a finals berth.
Wangaratta and District Cricket Association also fell victim to the heat, with all weekend games called off on Thursday due to the forecast temperatures for Friday and Saturday well and truly exceeding the league’s heat policy.
Benalla was set to host Wangaratta Magpies at Benalla Gardens Oval in the A-grade competition as it continued the hunt for a second one-day win this season, however, will have to settle for split points instead.
It marks the second time in three rounds since the Christmas break that play has been abandoned, with the games scheduled for January 10 having also been cancelled due to the threat of fires in the region.
The Bushrangers’ A-grade side will be back in action against City Colts this Saturday at Wangaratta’s HP Barr Reserve, with Benalla looking to make amends for the last meeting between the two sides, which saw the Colts claim a 59-run win.
