Tara Murray
Diggers Rest Bulla has been left shattered after the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup grand final didn’t go ahead.
The Burras were due to face Gisborne in the grand final on the weekend, but the game was called off by the GDCA due to the growing COVID-19 pandemic.
Gisborne, as the higher ranked team, was declared premiers.
Burras playing coach Rasika Batepola said it was the worst result for them.
“We are gutted,” he said. “In the good form we are in, we thought we could come away with the game.
“Everyone has been in great form and we thought it could continue.
“There’s nothing that we can do.”
It was double pain for the Burras with their third XI in the same position. That side finished third, while their opponent Riddell was minor premiers.
Batepola said he had been told it was the first time in the clubs history that all three sides made finals, so it was disappointing not to walk away without a single premiership.
“That’s life,” he said.
“The president and the committee are telling me how proud they are of all the club members and what we have done.
“Hopefully achieve more next year and we believe in ourselves. Hopefully we’ll strengthen the club and hopefully have four teams next year.”
