Blues-Redbacks clash abandoned

Persistent rain in Sydney has ensured that the Pura Cup match between New South Wales and South Australia has been abandoned without a ball being bowled. Any last hope of scheduling play in the match was scrapped this morning when the same drenching rain that has fallen on the Bankstown Oval to wash out the previous two days of this game continued into a third.

It has been nearly twenty-eight years since the last occasion (the Queensland-Victoria match in Brisbane in 1972-73) on which the entirety of an Australian domestic first-class match was surrendered to poor weather. But there was never really any chance of avoiding this unpleasant fate once Sydney's weather became the hostage of a series of low pressure systems early on Monday morning.

The two sides accordingly leave the ground with no points to show from a contest that had offered plenty in the way of excitement. The outcome will represent a particularly significant blow to the Blues, who would have been hoping to capitalise on the last state appearances for the season of a number of their international representatives. Similarly, though, the South Australians would have been optimistic about their chances in the match in view of their excellent recent record against the Blues when the two teams have been at full strength.

New South Wales remains in second position on the Pura Cup table (with eight points from three matches), while the South Australians continue to occupy fifth place (with no points from two matches).