EVEN the prospect of a spare weekend appears unlikely to save the Newcastle District Cricket Association first-grade grand final from an anti-climactic finish.
After last week's play at Lynn Oval, the decider was intriguingly poised, although home team Stockton held the upper hand against Hamilton-Wickham.
Batting first after winning the toss on Saturday, Stockton posted a competitive total of 150 and then reduced the visitors to 3-21 by stumps.
Wet patches on the pitch delayed play from resuming until 4.30pm on Sunday, after which Hamwicks were dismissed for 82, losing their final first-innings wicket after 6.30pm.
The Pumas then signalled their intentions to continue playing for an outright result and took an early wicket to leave the Seagulls 1-0 in their second dig before bad light stopped play.
That meant there were potentially 73.3 overs remaining to be played this weekend.
Stockton skipper Nick Foster said on Friday, however, that both the wicket square and surrounds were covered in puddles when he inspected them on Thursday afternoon.
"It's rained pretty well every day this week and we've had no opportunity to cover it," Foster said.
"It's just waterlogged."
If play does not resume, Stockton will be declared winners on the strength of their first-innings result and will collect their ninth premiership title and first since 2004-05.
"Depending what happens over the next couple of days, it could potentially be a bit of an anti-climax," Foster said.
"But there are some things outside your control.
"If it turns out that we can't get on and the result falls our way, I guess we have to look back and remember that we've played some really good cricket and celebrate a successful season."
