A WEDDING and washouts could combined to propel United to the top of the Mid North Coast Premier League cricket ladder after this weekend.
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United was due to play last placed Nulla on Saturday at Chatham Park. However, Nulla has forfeited the game so United will benefit by six points.
"Apparently one of their players is getting married and most of the team will be going to that,'' United captain Ricky Campbell explained.
"Their second grade is still in line for the semi-finals so they don't want to take players out of there, so they've forfeited our game.''
United moved to within one point of Wingham after last weekend's games. Wingham will play Rovers this weekend, however, rain is predicted.
"If the games are washed out the teams gets three points each,'' Campbell explained.
"That would take us to the top of the comp.''
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United and Wingham will meet in the final competition round next weekend at Cedar Party Reserve.
"Wingham's played the best cricket all season and they deserve to be on top, so hopefully their game goes ahead this weekend,'' Campbell admitted.
"But we'll still take it.''
He knows from personal experience the advantage of finishing minor premier.
"I remember a few years back when I was with Cundletown, we finished minor premiers and won a grand final after it was washed out without a ball being bowled,'' he said.
It was the opposite for Wingham last season in the premier league when no play was possible in the grand final because of rain. Macquarie, the minor premiers, were declared premiers.
However, the forfeit isn't good news for United pace ace Sam Whitbread, who is the leading wicket taker in the premier league.
Whitbread has 27 scalps and leads Nulla's Dan Baker, who has 24. Neither will get a chance to add to their tally on Saturday. Wauchope's Aaron Hagenbach and United's Tom Burley share third on 22, although Burley also won't be bowling this weekend.