Maybe it was Wallsend clinching the minor premiership over University in a dramatic last-round fixture that almost went ahead in wet and dark conditions with minimal overs remaining, but eventually saw no play whatsoever.

Maybe it was Hamilton-Wickham uncharacteristically missing the semis despite having already taken out both the one-day and T20 titles.

Maybe it was Toronto finishing with the wooden spoon just 12 months after breaking through for the club's maiden major crown.

Maybe it was No.1 Sportsground being out of action for first grade despite no upgrade work occurring.

Maybe it was the threat of bushfires and skies blanketed in smoke before Christmas.

They're just a few of the things that made 2019-20 such a remarkable season.

Ultimately, however, there was a feeling of what might have been when play-offs were scrapped a fortnight ago to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

On what marked grand final eve and the cancelled NDCA lunch, Wallsend batsman Jacob Montgomery was on Friday named player of the year having topped the district aggregate (644 runs) and average (92).

Merewether were crowned club champions.

On the representative front, Newcastle won the NSW Country Championships decider while Lake Mac Attack held aloft the T20 Regional Bash trophy at the SCG. Stockton's Nick Foster captained the Bush Blues.

NDCA introduced a Women's T20 League, claimed by City. Sienna Eve was named player of the final. Kirsten Smith captained the Newcastle Blasters during the inaugural female T20 Regional Bash.

Tragedy also struck the region's cricket fields this summer, with Simon Marks (Dora Creek) and Rod Tinworth (The Bay Hotel) dying on the same Saturday while playing in Newcastle City and Suburban competitions.

NDCA LADDER: Wallsend 63, Wests 61, University 59, Merewether 54, Hamwicks 42, Charlestown 45, Belmont 45, Cardiff 36, Stockton 30, City 27, Waratah 23, Toronto 21.

TOM LOCKER CUP FINAL: Wests 125 (Puru Gaur 52, Kain Anderson 2-19) lost to Hamwicks 4-127 (Ben Balcomb 46 not out, Gaur 2-15)

T20 SUMMER BASH FINAL: Pumas 5-155 (Jason Keelan 60 not out, Dan Bailey 4-28) def Whips 9-122 (Marcus Hainsworth 32, Kain Anderson 3-16)

HIGHEST SCORE: 206 - Andrew Harriott (University)

BEST INNINGS FIGURES: 9-52 - Nathan Hudson (Waratah-Mayfield)

BEST MATCH FIGURES: 13-73 - Dan Bailey (Belmont)

EPIC CLASH: Hamwicks fell just one run short of University's 6-377 at Passmore Oval.

ROOKIE: Teenage batsman Joey Gillard played beyond his years for Belmont.

BIG MOMENT: Wests all-rounder Joseph Price scored a match-winning century in "honour" of partner Raani Bennett less than a week after she died near their Adamstown home.

NEWCASTLE HERALD TEAM OF YEAR

Jacob Montgomery (Wallsend) - Three centuries for the 25-year-old in what was a career-best campaign.

Andrew Harriott (University) - Joined the double hundred club and key to Sea Dragons' top order.

Rhys Hanlon (Hamwicks) - Five fifties in what was his first season over 500 premiership runs.

Puru Gaur (Wests) - Rosellas newcomer who made quite the impression, travelling from Scone.

Marcus Hainsworth (Belmont) - A combined 597 runs across all three formats.

Simon Moore (Merewether) - Averaging almost 50, the Lions captain again led from the front.

Matthew Bench (Charlestown) - Magpies gloveman bagged the most competition dismissals with 27.

Dan Bailey (Belmont) - A district-high 37 wickets, plus T20 victims, for the paceman from Cahill Oval.

Aaron Bills (Wests) - Talented leg-spinner who relished his fresh surroundings at Harker Oval.

Tim O'Neill (Merewether) - Lions veteran claimed 33 round scalps, including a 10-wicket match, at 11.39.

Matthew Willett (Cardiff-Boolaroo) - Two spinners slightly ahead on wickets, however, with two specialist tweakers already in the XI he was the next best seamer on 30 scalps.