The BCA’s clash with Mornington Peninsula 2 was abandoned without a ball being bowled after umpires called an end to proceedings at Ivanhoe Park about 2pm.

That result meant the BCA – which is unbeaten after the opening three days of the carnival – was ousted from top spot on the division two ladder.

The BCA is now second heading into the last round match against top side Leongatha on Thursday.

Rain has hurt the BCA’s chances of promotion during the past two tournaments, with the team unbeaten across the 2014 and 2015 carnivals, but still yet to gain promotion to the provincial division.

“Obviously with what’s happened in the previous couple of years it was mentioned that it’s (the rain) come back again, but in the end it is completely out of our control and just something that you have got to deal with along the way,” BCA captain Heath Pyke said after the wash-out.

Pyke said he was keen to play despite the wet conditions on Wednesday.

“Umpires had a look (at the wicket) with both captains and we were prepared to get out there and have a go and they weren’t really prepared to get out on it and have a go, so unfortunately umpires had to rule and decided to pull the pin,” he said.

Pyke said it was in the BCA’s “best interests to play” given the possible reward of winning the match.

“Theoretically, if we had have won then that would have pretty much sewn up the finals spot for Friday, but instead we head into (Thursday) with what pretty much will be a cutthroat semi-final,” he said.

Victory against Leongatha would almost certainly secure the Ballarat boys a top two finish and a place in Friday’s final, but Pyke said that could still be obtained even with a loss.

“We still can, definitely, (but) it just depends on other games then,” he said.

“The fate’s in our own hands in that regard, but it would have been nicer from our perspective to probably tidy things up (Wednesday), hopefully get a win and then that way you are going into (Thursday) without any consequences.”

Pyke said the confidence was high within the group after a strong start to the campaign.

The BCA shot to the top of the competition thanks to crushing victories against Hamilton and Ferntree Gully and District before Wednesday’s drawn result.

“We’ve managed to piece together a very good squad and results-wise it has been really pleasing thus far, but unfortunately with (Wednesday) being a wash-out, you go into (Thursday) needing to perform probably just as well, if not better than what we have on the first two days,” Pyke said.

Thursday’s match will be played at Greenvale Reserve.