Fire photo.
CRICKET
The Illawarra Twenty20 first grade competition has been cursed by rain for a third straight year after Saturday's opening round was washed out.
A week of sweltering temperatures was followed by rain on Saturday leaving all five games in the revamped competition to be called off.
Last season Wollongong were declared champions despite the semi-finals and final being washed out, while in 2010 there was hardly a T20 ball bowled, with the tournament abandoned without a winner.
Coming off the wettest season in memory last season, Wollongong skipper David Studholme echoed the views of all players following a washout in just the second week of new season.
"It's frustrating but there's nothing you can do when it rains," he said.
This season Cricket Illawarra has elected to play the Twenty20 tournament over five rounds, followed by a top four semi-final in January and final on February 17.
Round two is Saturday, October 27, with Dapto hosting Keira and Balgownie at home to University in Pool 1.
In Pool 2, Wollongong host Northern Districts, Corrimal host Wests Illawarra and Port Kembla are at home to Helensburgh.
Illawarra cricket return to one-day games this Saturday, with Wests Illawarra hosting University, Keira at home to Port Kembla, Helensburgh at home to Northern Districts, Balgownie hosting Corrimal and Dapto at home to Wollongong.
