This forced the match to be transferred to Richardson Oval.

After the Ararat Rural City triple booked the facilities at Alexandra Oval for the Sunday and the Ararat Eagles Football Club graciously forgoing their booking of the facility, it was a great disappointment to both Grampians and Maryborough junior teams to arrive and find because the automatic sprinkler system had not been re-programed, the pitch unplayable.

These kids really look forward to playing on the best ovals in town, it might be their only chance to be centre stage.

Not withstanding this setback the 'LanneNeil' Shield game proved to be as exciting as it is possible to get as from the last ball Maryborough required one run to win and Grampians required one wicket for them to win. Maryborough got their run and the shield will be retained by them until next year.

Grampians were best served by Tom Williamson who made 46 of the 132 runs Grampians total and took two wickets.

The Grampians cause was not helped by a large number of extras.

The GCA receives annual invitations to enter teams for two T20 tournaments.

These entries are club based and both culminate in finals on Australia Day.

The first is run by the Central Highlands VCCL Region with the finals being played at Daylesford's Cricket Willow and the second by the Warrnambool DCA at Warrnambool.

Normally the GCA runs its own competition, but this year ran out of time to finalise it by the entry date of December 10.

Instead the executive decided to ask the top two teams on the one-day ladder to nominate for the T20s.

Tatyoon, the top team have opted to enter the Warrnambool competition leaving Swifts/Great Western to attend the Central Highlands competition.

The GCA is starting to plan for the 50th anniversary next season, which will culminate in a big reunion weekend on the Australia Day weekend 2015.

It is planned to stage a get-together of all former players, officials and umpires in the Ararat Town Hall where the team of the 50 years will be announced.