Wodonga hopeful Cricket Albury-Wodonga will allow COVID-affected round to be caught up

Provincial first and second grade, District first and second grade, C grade and under-14s matches were called off after the Victorian government announced a five-day snap lockdown last Friday afternoon, which was lifted at midnight on Wednesday.

A decision on whether last weekend's postponed round we be caught up, as well as any potential changes to the finals format, will be decided at a Cricket Albury-Wodonga pennant committee meeting.

The Provincial grand final is scheduled for March 27, which is the same weekend as the opening round of the Ovens and Murray football season and doesn't allow any wriggle room for the cricket to be pushed back a week.

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"The way we've read the information, we're allowed to play all matches in Victoria," CAW chairman Michael Erdeljac said.

"All CAW Provincial first and second grade, District first and second grade, C grade and all the juniors that didn't play last weekend, will play this weekend.

"They will be new games and we're in the process of working out how we will play finals and what we do with the COVID round.

"That will be organised in a meeting."

Reigning premiers Wodonga are among the clubs sweating on a catch-up round to be played, sitting half a game outside the top six in eighth spot.

The Bulldogs have been on the back foot most of the season with five washouts not of any help.

"We've been decimated with the washouts at the start of the season, so it's tough for us because we've got to have everything fall our way before finals to get back into the top six," Wodonga president Brad Andrews said.

"It would be our preference to have last weekend's game played and would probably be the preference of all the teams outside of (leaders) North Albury.

"At least then everyone is on the same page and it's an even playing field going into the last three games.

"Only two weeks ago we were second in A grade and now we're eighth and our B graders are sitting eighth and last weekend probably didn't help them.

"If we win this weekend our season is still alive, but if we lose it could be season over, we just don't know.

"We could have every senior team playing finals this year, which would be great for the club."

The finals race is wide open in Provincial, with eight teams in top six contention.

North Albury has all but sewn up top spot, but there's just six points between Albury in second down to Wodonga in eighth.

The Hoppers host Corowa, Lavington takes on Wodonga Raiders, Albury meets Belvoir, St Pats face Wodonga, New City awaits Tallangatta, while East Albury has the bye.

District matches pit Baranduda against Barnawartha-Chiltern, Yackandandah is up against Dederang, Kiewa clashes with Mount Beauty, while Eskdale's slim finals chances hinge on victory against Bethanga.