CYMS Cougars batsman Harry Brennan doubles up as a member of the Dubbo District Cricket Association (DDCA) match and grounds committee, and after preparing pitches all season, he expects the rain to make things difficult for players in this weekend's grand finals.
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The pitch at No. 1 Oval, where Rugby will meet Macquarie in the Whitney Cup decider, has been under covers most of the week but Brennan is hopeful the work done in the weeks leading up to the finals will be enough to keep it in good condition.
"It had four or five weeks good preparation leading into the semi-finals and after the bit of rain on the weekend we had some preparation time on Monday and Tuesday before the rain again," he said.
"It could very easily be wet under there, we just won't know until we take the covers off."
With rain reported to ease on Friday, Brennan admitted he was hopeful some sunshine would allow them to do plenty of work on the strip before the final but said, with the amount of rain that had fallen, there was every chance there would be an advantage for the bowlers.
"There will be a bit of life, the water will just squeeze into the surface a bit and it could be sweating under there too," he said.
The sweating of the pitch under the covers will be a point of concern for both sides and Brennan gave a strong warning, using the match between his own Cougars and Souths last season as an example of what can happen.
"It will affect it a fair bit," he said.
"Last year we played a game there where it was covered for about three days leading up to play and we came out and rolled Souths for about 30 or 40."
Souths were all out for 32 that day, with Cougars opening bowler Ben Strachan taking five wickets and with quicks such as Ben Patterson, Ben Taylor and Dan Horrocks at Rugby and James O'Brien, Tyler Cleary and Ben Page at Macquarie, it could be a difficult grand final for batsmen.
Despite this Brennan has still predicted a close grand final and was pleased with how No. 1 had been playing, especially in last weekend's semi-final where even the threat of rain didn't ruin a thrilling match.
"I don't think it will give anyone an advantage, it will actually bring them closer together," he said.
"Watching the semi I saw Jacob Harvey bowling his medium pace and he was getting deliveries up around Sean Mason's head when he was batting so I was happy to see that and when a semi-final goes down to the last 15 overs you know the pitch has played alright."