DISCUSSIONS this weekend in Sydney could provide the impetus for the resurrection of the Mid North Coast Premier League hockey competition in 2016.
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Manning Hockey president Craig Colvin will speak with his Hastings counterpart at the Hockey NSW annual meeting and at the State presidents' meeting.
Mr Colvin said he has had informal discussion with Hastings officials on the matter.
He warned that nothing definite will be determined this weekend, but hopes this will be the catalyst for further talks before the start of the 2016 hockey season.
The premier league started in 2008 initially involved clubs from the Manning, Hastings and Macleay. However, numbers gradually dwindled, with Manning clubs making up the bulk of the teams in the competition.
Only one Port Macquarie side played in the 2014 premier league and this club withdrew in 2015. Four sides took part in the Manning A-grade competition this year.
Mr Colvin has spoken to representatives from the Manning clubs since the end of last season and all are keen to have Port Macquarie clubs involved again.
He understands two Port Macquarie sides are keen to return to a premier league-type competition next year.
"Apparently they're top heavy with juniors up there, but not-so-much with seniors,'' he said.
However, Mr Colin added that a structure will have to be put in place that is agreed to by all clubs. He said this will probably mean playing matches on Thursday nights as well as Saturdays, probably at both venues.
"I don't want to see a situation where we're playing games at 9.05 at night during winter,'' he said.
Mr Colin confirmed that Wingham wish to remain in an A-grade competition next year.
Wingham returned to A-grade this year and struggled initially.
However, the Wingham's performance drew praise from premiership winning Chatham coach Frank Birkefeld who said the side was highly competitive by the end of the when they were able to field their top team. Mr Birkefeld predicted Wingham would be a finals contender in 2016.
Mr Colvin expects there will eventually be more interaction between the Manning and Hastings associations at both junior and senior level.
"I don't think the associations can do without each-other,'' he said.
"There's no reason why we can't break-up our junior competitions and have matches between division one boys and girls teams.''
The Hastings association currently has one synthetic surface field, with Manning boasting two.
Hastings eventually hopes to have a second field.
