IT wasn't the way they wanted to end the season but Albion Park skipper Adam Coughlan was still elated his club are South Coast first grade premiers, after the final was washed out at Geoff Shaw Oval.
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Some of the heaviest rain in years meant not a ball was bowled in the decider against third-placed Oak Flats, the Park winning the title as minor premiers.
Coughlan admitted there were "mixed emotions" to be champions with the final unable to be played.
"It wasn't the way we wanted the season to finish with no chance of playing the final, but everybody tries to finish as high as possible and knows the reward for being minor premiers," Coughlan said.
"We wanted to play the final and get a result but that wasn't possible.
"The whole ground wasn't fit for play - the wicket wasn't right and parts of the outfield were destroyed.
"If you put your body weight on the ground it just sank below the surface in places.
"It could be four of five days before you'd get a game on the ground which is really disappointing for the two teams."
Albion Park stormed to their first top grade premiership since 2005-06 after playing their best cricket late in the season.
A century from Graeme Smith was the difference in the semi-final against Shellharbour, while Albion Park beat Lake Illawarra in the final round to clinch the minor premiership.
Oak Flats skipper Ryan Chatterton admitted it was a disappointing end to the season.
"That's the way it is . . . we needed a few more days of sunshine," he said.
Lake Illawarra took out second and fourth grades, while Warilla Kooks defeated Oak Flats to take third grade.