The 2019/20 cricket season has been scorched by bushfires and flooded by heavy rains, but that hasn't stopped the Goulburn representative cricket team from qualifying for both the Stribley Shield and Burns Cup finals.
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After a largely unsuccessful 2018/19 representative campaign, GDCA vice president and head of the representative selection committee, Bob Smith, said he was not surprised by the team's success this season.
"Last year we had a lot of unscheduled instances where we couldn't get anywhere near our best team together," Smith said.
"This year is a little similar in that we probably still haven't put our best team together, but it's been a stronger season than last."
The Stribley Shield final is set to be played this Sunday at Goulburn's Seiffert Oval, between Goulburn and Cootamundra.
Though Smith cannot yet announce the lineup of this weekend's side, he confirmed it is looking "strong".
"We're quietly confident, having the home ground advantage is massive," Smith said.
"We're a couple shy of our best available team, but it'll still be a strong team."
Smith also made a point of congratulating the team which travelled to Wagga for the third round of the Stribley Shield.
With two representative fixtures on the same day, the GDCA was forced to field two weakened sides, but those who played in the Stribley match ensured Goulburn would host the final despite losing.
"We've got to thank the guys that went to Wagga a lot, because they kept the loss sufficiently narrow to get the home final," Smith said.
"That was a big effort by the fellows in Wagga, because we were under strength, there's no doubt about that.
"The loss to Wagga was quite an honourable one."
The Burns Cup final will be played next Sunday, March 1, between Goulburn and Far South Coast. Uniquely, the fixture was decided despite only one match having been played in the tournament.
Goulburn's February 2 win over Yass was the only one of four pool games to be completed, as the other three were either washed out or called off due to bushfires.
This, Smith explained, meant Goulburn was through automatically by virtue of its sole victory, while the second spot in the final was decided based on seedings.
"There always has been a seeding when we played in Southern Zone. It was worked out on how you finished the previous year," Smith said.
As the Far South Coast won the 2018/19 Burns Cup, it was the first seed and subsequently progressed to the final.
After both finals places were decided, there was one more obstacle to overcome: both were scheduled for February 23.
Smith thanked administrator of ACT Southern Districts cricket, Luke Masullo, for his work in rescheduling the Burns Cup final.
"I've got to acknowledge Far South Coast and Luke Masullo ... they were great," Smith said.
"Luke agreed to transfer it to the following week, and there were no complaints from the Far South Coast."
The Stribley Shield final between Goulburn and Cootamundra will be played this Sunday, February 23, from 10am at Seiffert Oval. It will be followed by the Burns Cup final at Cooma's Rotary Oval on Sunday, March 1, from 10am.
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